John Waechter, a Lyon County farmer, likely will be adding the largest combine that John Deere has ever made to his farm equipment next year.
“It’s very impressive,” Waechter, who was one of the farmers who got to test drive the machine, which is on a demonstration tour.
Richard Garber, manager of Deer Trail Implement, west of Emporia on U.S. Highway 50, said the machine is in production and the demo model is touring, giving farmers the opportunity to test it before they decide to buy one. Once the machine is finished with the tour, it will be offered at a discount price based on the number of hours it was used.
It will still be expensive. The base price for a 9870 STS corn combine is $304,368. Customizing to meet individual farmers’ needs raises that price.
Even around Emporia, where harvest yields were only average this year, the increased prices paid for the grain and beans that were harvested are encouraging some farmers to consider replacing old equipment.
The combine, which weighs in at 18 tons and stands more than 14 feet high, is a part of John Deere’s 70 series combines. The demo combine that is in Lyon County right now is the 9870 STS. Garber said the combine has a 13.5 liter engine and produces 480 horse power.
The grain tank in the combine will hold 300 bushels and has a 35-foot wide header, according to John Deere’s Web site.
According to John Deere’s Web site, the new 70 series is the latest in combine technology.
“These machines are the latest evolution in STS combine technology and are designed to provide customers with more capacity while managing the combine and harvest information in a simple, user-friendly environment,” said Seth Crawford, marketing manager of John Deere Harvester Works. “Large producers are always looking for more productivity and these new machines cover more acres in less time, deliver ultimate performance during harvest and offer additional residue-management choices to the producer.”
Garber said the combine is capable of doing more than 300 acres a day, depending on the type of field that is being worked.
“Normally in big wheat country where they have huge fields — out in Western Kansas — that’s easily obtainable,” Garber said. “Here an average would be 150 to 200 acres.”
Another feature of the combine is the engine, which features a DynaFlo II cleaning system with Increased cleaning capacity, according to the company’s Web site. The engine also regulates itself.
“It has what we call intelligent power management,” Garber said. “That measures the load the machine has on it ... it tells the engine how much power to produce and when.”
The combine also has several high-tech features, including the CommandCenter display, which is standard equipment on all combines according to John Deer’s Web site. The display provides real-time information to the farmer about yield and moisture content.
“It also provides text messages from the combine to the operator regarding easy calibration, diagnostics and systems-alert information,” according to the Web site.
The 70 Series STS combines use HarvestSmart technology, which allows the operator of the combine to preset harvesting capabilities. This allows the machine to automatically adjust threshing and field speed and provides moment-by-moment status information.
Garber said he’s been getting positive feedback from farmers who have test-driven the combine. Garber added that the dealership has targeted farmers who are likely to purchase one, especially since the dealership is picking up the tab for bringing the unit in.
“We have some real costs in bringing this in and moving it,” Garber said. “As a (John Deere) dealer that is part of our expense.”
- For more information, go to the John Deere Web site, www.deere.com.