Throughput has been the focus of a lot of combine launches in recent years. CNH has introduced new flagships across both its brands, while John Deere has worked to integrate features from the X9 down through the rest of the portfolio.
The aim is to increase output and precision, regardless of the combine size, with greater levels of in-cab control and automation to take the strain off the operator and maintain performance even as conditions change.
See also: Pöttinger launches new Cross Flow mower
These updates haven’t been exclusive to the highest capacity rotary machines. Straw walkers have also seen improvements, with new cabins and new integrated technologies.
Nearly every brand now if also offering a near-infrared (NIR) sensor, previously seen on slurry equipment and self-propelled foragers. By measuring the protein and nutrient levels of the grain, growers can understand in real-time how the crop measures up to premium standards, arrange storage, and even build a picture of what the following crop may need.
Capello
The Diamant corn header is one of the flagship products of Capello, a company from Cuneo, Italy. The Diamant model is an efficient, reliable and safe working tool, built with high-strength polymer bodies, and with a curving design that accompanies the flow of material in all working conditions, making field work easy and fast.
The frame has no exposed hydraulic cylinders and features a horseshoe shape that minimizes the oil requirement for tipping the header regardless of the number of rows.
What’s more, the header bonnets and tips can be dismantled easily without keys or tools.
The harvester unit is equipped with cob plates that move in a synchronized and simultaneous manner, eliminating product loss and improving crop cleanliness.
One of the highlights, reportedly, is the advanced horizontal stalk chopper, which is popular for its cutting along the ground and for the high quality of the chopped material but also for its low power absorption.
The stalk chopper is positioned to the left eliminating the problems of ventilation and clogging of the radiator caused by the vortex of dust generated by the rotors themselves.
The gear drive line (for 10- and 12-row Diamant headers) has been developed with materials from aeronautics and is therefore able to withstand very demanding stresses and thus offer high mechanical performance and durability.
Like Capello’s other headers, Diamant is compatible with all combine harvesters and self-propelled forage harvesters on the market and is available with different row spacers according to the different operating requirements of users.
Case IH
The latest Axial-Flow 260-series was previewed at Agritechnica 2023 and provides larger, high-resolution displays and automated efficiency, according to Case IH.
The dual Pro1200 displays enable intuitive and automation via Harvest Command technology, as well as new advanced guidance and mapping capabilities. The Pro1200 also offers connectivity to other Pro700-enabled machines within the same field.
The 260 series also enables growers to cover more hectares in less time with the Axial-Flow rotor and self-levelling cleaning technology.
These features are designed to increase throughput, improve grain handling, and simplify maintenance for a more productive harvest.
It is also fitted with Power-Plus CVT rotor reversing capabilities, allowing operators to clear blockages without leaving the cab.
Harvest Command has also been integrated into the 160 series. The system makes automated adjustments as field conditions change and reduces the number of decisions operators must make, ensuring consistency no matter who is in the cab.
Now small to mid-sized growers don’t have to choose between the right sized combine and access to technology.
The Axial-Flow 160-series retains the simplicity operators have come to expect from the Axial-Flow combine line, but with some additional benefits.
The higher-capacity grain tank, holding up to 12,500 litres (available only on the AF 7160), combined with the fuel efficiency keeps an operator moving during harvest.
And while that grain is being harvested, the in-cab adjustments and grain-on-grain threshing design maintains quality of the crop throughout the fields.
Claas
Claas has been celebrating in 2024, following production of its 500,000th combine harvester.
Having started production of combine harvesters in 1936 with the trailed MTB, the company now offers two ranges of the flagship Lexion, as well as the entry-level Evion, providing machines from 205hp up to 790hp, with straw walker or hybrid threshing and grain tanks up to 18,000 litres available.
Both enable a further increase in threshing efficiency thanks to the Dynamic Power engine management system and expanded Cemos functions.
Cemos is a self-learning, operator assistance system, which automates several combine functions, adjusting and making recommendations based on pre-set parameters.
Depending on the requirements, an enormous range of headers are available – from the conventional auger cutting unit to the automated Vario cutting units, through to the Convio Flex Draper with a flexible knife bar and flip-over reel control.
From October 2024, the digital networking of Claas combine harvesters with the rest of the fleet, operations management and the Claas service and sales partner will take place in the new Claas connect, which integrates the company’s digital services, including telematics and task data, and online shop into a single customer portal.
For 2025, all combine models will also come with a decal celebrating half a million combines, while a series of exclusive anniversary machines can be seen at shows.
Deutz-Fahr
Deutz-Fahr has made adjustments to the entry point of its combine range, replacing the 250hp C6205 five walker machine with the C6305.
Key to the new machine is the Commander cabin, which is brought down from the C7000 series.
The operator station includes a new multifunction joystick and controller, a new steering column, the combine control management (CCM) 7in monitor and performance monitor and access to the precision farming technology suite through the Smart Farming Systems (SFS).
The original C6205 was a simple mechanical machine with the concave adjustment being made by levers outside of the cab and no option of electronic adjustment of the sieves.
Now through the CCM display, settings can be stored and recalled for individual crops, adjustments made at your fingertips with an integrated performance monitor or the option of a full Yield Mapping as part of the SFS package. The SFS package also includes an additional 12in monitor, with feeds from the rear and side cameras.
The C6305 is powered by a 250hp Deutz 6.1 litre Stage V engine, with the option of a Turbo Separator (TS model) and in two specification levels, either the Farm-Line with a standard header, or Top-Line which comes with AutoControl to include automatic control of the header height and lateral flotation.
The C6305 can have an option of headers from 4.2 to 6.3m, while the grain tank capacity is 7,000 litres.
Fendt
There are a series of updates coming in 2025 to the Fendt Ideal combine range. Looking at the power units of the machines, the horsepower curve has been readjusted, enabling max power to be utilised at just 1,800rpm.
Moving through the machine, the standard small grain configuration of the concave has been adapted, with four high capacity 13.5mm concaves, with one blank per rotor, available for high-yielding scenarios.
In average yields, two of the 13.5mm concaves are replaced with 9mm versions, with two blanks per rotor.
A new actuator and speed sensor has been integrated into the chaff spreader, with the former reducing the risk of dust ingress, while the latter will inform the driver of blockages.
These are both standard, however staying with the rear end of the machine, it is now possible to specify the Ideal without a chopping unit and tailboard to facilitate the fitment of a seed control unit (SCU), to destroy volunteer and weed seeds.
There have also been updates to the SuperFlow headers, with 7.6m and 9m units now fitted with the Schumacher double cutterbar transmission.
The full SuperFlow range will also receive the double Schumacher knife as standard, as well as the option of short dividers as seen on FreeFlow and PowerFlow units.
John Deere
As covered on P22/23, the new S7 and T5/T6 combines from John Deere have received a series of significant updates, integrating technology from the company’s flagship X9 series.
The X9 is advertised as the 100t/hr combine, with losses reported to be less than 1%. Two models are available: the 639hp X9 1000 and the 700hp X9 1100.
Both are fitted with many of the same features, with headers up to 15.2m available, a 4sq m threshing area fed by a 1,720mm channel and 22.5sq m of rotor separation.
To handle the large headers and throughput, the feederhouse has a 6,165kg lift capacity, and when combined with the HD header, the wings react independently to undulations – providing up to 10deg of movement on each side.
The grain tanks can hold up to 14,800 litres of grain and unload at a rate of 162 litres/sec. At the rear, the PowerCast spreader has two mechanically driven discs which are mounted low to work efficiently even in windy conditions to widths up to 15.5m.
AutoSwap automatically changes the direction of the chopper, based on side winds and GPS data to ensure the best possible spread.
John Deere also offers the Combine Advisor package, which uses camera feeds to measure grain quality and foreign material and make automatic adjustments to maintain operator presets.
Massey Ferguson
Massey Ferguson has introduced a host of new features and options to increase performance and efficiency across its range of Ideal harvesters for the 2024 season.
The MF Ideal 7 now benefits from a new AGCO power 9.81-litre, 7-cylinder engine installation.
Rated power of 430hp is 38hp higher than the previous model, and its maximum power of 476hp is 25hp more than before.
A simplified design enables the new engine to meet Stage V regulations using a single turbocharger and without the need for an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve. According to the company, this will reduce maintenance and running costs.
On the precision farming front, MF AutoTurn, which automatically steers the combine to the next wayline, is now available with the option to also operate the headland management functions, including lifting and lowering the header and repositioning the reel, without operator intervention.
A new adjustable spout option for both the Streamer 140 and Streamer 210 improves accuracy when unloading on the move. Controlled by the Multifunction Lever, the spout has infinite adjustment within its 40° movement range.
All Ideal combines can also be equipped with a factory-fitted, heavy duty straw chopper knife option.
A special carbon treatment prolongs the sharpness and working life, which reduces downtime and running costs. This is suitable for use with the BaseCut or ShortCut straw-choppers.
Among other new options is a grass seed unloading kit, which uses long fingers to agitate the tank to improve the crop flow.
There are also new crop conversion kits, which include concaves to change from small to large grains or vice versa.
New Holland
The biggest news on the New Holland combine front is the two new flagship machines: the CR10 and CR11.
These will go into full production in 2025 and are said to offer near lossless operations, alongside massive header widths and capacities to cover ground quickly.
All CR and flagship CX combines can now be factory fitted with Near Infra-Red-based grain quality systems to help monitor protein levels.
Displayed as a map and visible in real time, the NutriSense system enables farmers to make informed choices for crop husbandry with nitrogen uptake but also enables segregation of crops based on protein content.
There have also been updates to the Varifeed headers. New models benefit from an increased knife speed allowing a clean cut at faster forward speeds while an easy to adjust auger height enables swifter adjustment when changing crops.
The knife drive has changed to a gearbox and telescopic PTO shaft to improve drive efficiency and reduce vibration.
A synchronised dual knife drive appears on the 10.6m and 12.5m variants with single sided attachment, using the auger to take the drive to the right-hand side of the header.
The wider headers also can benefit from hydraulically adjusted gauge wheels – particularly useful for wheeled combines
2025 will also see the 75,000th TC combine produced, with all models manufactured for that year sporting a decal to mark this achievement.
In line with other New Holland combines, the TC range will feature re-designed Natural Flow graphics as well as a black chin skirt for a more modern look.
This styling will also be incorporated across the CX mid-range and CH machines.