Three of the best combine harvesters on sale today
The combine harvester is not something that we think of everyday, but it is said to be one of the agricultural sector's most important inventions, and has completely changed how we farm. We take a closer look at three of the best.
What is a combine harvester?
A combine harvester (or known today simply as a "combine") is a large farming machine that is used in the harvesting process of cereal crops. It can reap, thresh and clean the crop in one, combined operation. The combine is one of the agricultural sector's most important machines, which has changed the world to become one of the most important labour-saving inventions in agriculture. Without the combine harvester, demand for foods such as wheat, oats, rye, barley, corn, sorghum, soybeans, flax, sunflowers, and canola would be near-impossible to meet.
Which are the top 3 combines?
The combine has come a long way since it was first designed by Reverend Patrick Bell in Scotland in 1826. The combine has had a long history of patent wars as well as development, but that was then and this is now. What are today’s bestselling combines?
1. John Deere S Series
The John Deere S Series is said to be the most advanced and most productive combine in the industry. The company has spent years developing it, to ensure that this machine offers the best levels of performance as well as reduced operating costs. One of the features which benefit the low operating costs is the brand's rotor technology, which gives you reduced power consumption leading to reduced operating costs. This combine also offers gentle threshing, which benefits the overall grain quality when harvested. The S Series also offers an advanced system called Active Terrain Adjustment. This feature automatically adjusts fan speed, chaffer position and sieve position, depending on the terrain in the field.
Standout features on the S Series:
Hydraulically tilt-able feeder-house, Active Terrain Adjustment, Single Rotor, ProDrive, HarvestSmart, and the Go Harvest Premium Combine Simulator, which enables effective operator training.
2. CLAAS LEXION 700 Series
Since 1995, the LEXION name has been synonymous with the highest-performance combine harvester range from CLAAS, and the 700 Series adds to the success rate by introducing a host of new and improved features. The LEXION is said to improve grain quality by around 20%, thanks to the APS threshing system which is a closed threshing drum. The combine also offers improved levels of straw management with a system called Special Cut. This system, in conjunction with power spreader (which features a mechanical drive), enables for an even spreading of straw over the entire working width. The CLAAS 700 Series make use of various Perkins premium engines, which offer outstanding power delivery with low fuel consumption.
Standout features on the 700 Series:
APS threshing system, APS HYBRID SYSTEM, high on-road speed, CEMOS AUTOMATIC, and the potent Perkins power plants.
3. New Holland CR Series
New Holland first introduced the Twin Rotor system nearly 35 years ago, and has since then revolutionised the way farmers harvested their crops. The latest offering from the brand is the CR Series, which, according to New Holland, offers the world’s best-in-class grain and straw quality, thanks to the gentle multi-pass action offered on this model. The CR also offers optional Dynamic Feed Roll, with integrated dynamic stone protection, which is said to have improved capacity by up to 15%. Another milestone for the CR Series is that, on 15th August 2014, the CR combine obliterated the harvesting record. During the record, it harvested 797.656 tonnes of wheat in under eight hours, in real-world conditions - a record which still stands today. The CR Series also offers extra-spacious cabins as well as the best-in-class noise reduction, for a comfortable operator experience.
Standout features on the CR Series:
Dynamic Feed Roll, SmartTrax, IntelliCruise, IntelliSteer, and Opti-Spread all aim to further enhance productivity.
The combine harvester remains one of the most important machines to ever be invented. Without it, the agricultural sector would be a very different place today, as too would the world. Companies are forever improving the technology offered in these machines, and the future of the combine harvester holds some impressive advancements in alternative forms of propulsion as well as autonomous technology.