John Deere has recently announced a fulsome list of upgrades to its forage harvester range which rightly entitles them to be described as new machines.
However, when making the announcement, the company slipped in the news of its latest engine option almost as an afterthought.
There are two model ranges within Deere’s forage harvester portfolio, the F8 models and the F9 machines.
The F9 machines may be powered by John Deere’s own JDX18 engine, yielding up to 820hp, or a Liebherr 24.2L V12, which powers the F9 900 and 1000 models, and it is this engine that delivers 1,020hp in the larger of the two.
Further down the order, engine power has been increased across the whole range with the smallest F8 100 having 425hp at the entry-level end of the scale while the F8 600 now offers 645hp.
Sitting comfortably
The company has also paid a good deal of attention to adding further comfort for the operator and machine utility.
The ActiveSeat in the F8 and F9 series swivels 16° to the right and to the left for easy access and visibility.
The optional ActiveSeatTM II adds fully adjustable electric controls, cooling and heating, a massage function, and active suspension technology that isolates up to 90% of vertical movements for a smooth ride.
A new forage-harvester-specific menu on the G5 screen allows operators to quickly adjust the most relevant machine functions with one fingertip. The screen is 35% larger and 75% faster than previous displays, with a high definition 1080p screen.
Quality forage
The spout now can be rotated up to 230° for optimal unloading, while the redesigned steering system of the rear axle delivers a 6m turning radius for tighter – and therefore quicker – headland turns.
There is also an Active Fill Control feature which utilises a stereo camera system to control the rotation and flap position of the spout, automatically tracking transport vehicles and aiming the crop into trailers for an optimal fill strategy.
Included amongst the improvements is a new inoculant dosing system which works with HarvestLab sensor readings to optimise silage quality through adjusting the dosing rate.
The system features a 50L insulated concentrate tank for concentrated additives as well as a 325L tank for high volume application and water.
