John Deere agricultural technology has come a long way in recent time, providing producers with digital tools to enhance the overall crop farming process. With the harvesting season beginning in the next few months, producers will likely look to their combine technology to help guide them to a high yield.
At their most recent product introduction, John Deere introduced a number of new products and capabilities, including enhancements made to S-Series combines. Let’s take a look at the technological features that can be found aboard the 2014 John Deere S-Series combines and how they can assist the crop production process.
JDLink
Combine operators need to simply activate the service with their dealer to begin the information-sharing process. This solution allows farm managers and combine operators to locate machines in the field, protect machines from theft, keep accurate maintenance checks, follow machine hours, and much more.
John Deere FarmSight
John Deere FarmSight is a complete solution that allows farm managers to easily gather and access data about machines and fields. The automated equipment brings more precision, convenience and uptime to the operation. Wireless communication through GPS receivers and display systems as well as remote support with dealers keeps combine operators connected with critical components of the production process.
Interactive Combine Adjustment
Pre-set combine settings aren’t always the best strategy during the harvest, especially in varying field conditions. The Interactive Combine Adjustment (ICA) allows operators to select several harvesting strategies and a choice between single or multiple optimization targets. So, whether the operator values grain quality, throughput, a cleaner sample or straw quality, direct feedback from the ICA will be provided. By optimizing combine settings on-the-go, adjustments can be easily made, bringing more consistency and accuracy to the harvesting process.
John Deere Machine Sync
Keeping track of equipment in the field during the harvesting season can be a challenge. Machine Sync provides wireless network machine-to-machine communication up to ten machines at a time (combines, tractors, and grain carts). Using the GreenStar 3 2630 Display, combine operators can send “ready-to-unload” signals, prioritize combine order, align tractor and grain cart speeds for simplified unloading of grain, and more. This wireless network can reduce wait time, fuel consumption, and even ground compaction.
Harvest Smart
During the normal operation of a combine during harvesting season, the operator manually changes the ground speed of the combine by moving the hydrostatic control handle forward or rearward to try to keep a consistent crop load in the combine. With Harvest Smart combine technology, the combine automatically calculates what speed is ideal for the current conditions, and adjusts the speed accordingly, on-the-go. More consistent crop loads will result in higher grain quality and better utilize machine capacity.
Service ADVISOR Remote
During harvesting season, time is extremely valuable. While accidents and breakdowns are part of the farming business, the amount of time combines are down in the field can be minimized with the use of Service ADVISOR Remote. Combine operators can work and have their machines worked on, all at the same time, allowing dealers to view the machine while in-use for faster, simpler troubleshooting, potentially saving a service call.
TouchSet
Through the use of TouchSet, combine settings such as rotor rpm, concave opening, fan speed, and main chaffer will be automatically adjusted based on conditions. This technology offers nine personal crop settings the combine operator can store along with the 25 preset factory crop settings already available, providing ample customization for any harvesting task.
Combine technology will likely continue to be a large part of the future of farming. The technological enhancements added to the 2014 John Deere S-Series combines are just a few tools farmers can use to get an upper-hand. If you enjoyed this post, or want to read others, feel free to connect with us on Facebook!