John Deere have recently updated its product ranges, with the round balers receiving additions that take them forward significantly.
All models of this latest generation of round balers from are now equipped with advanced ISOBUS capabilities, ensuring they can be fully integrated into the John Deere Operations Center.
While many digital innovations might appear peripheral to everyday farming, these improvements can add a good deal of utility to the machines.
An optional moisture monitor measures the average moisture per bale in real-time and alerts the operator on the tractor display if the moisture content deviates from the pre-defined setting.
Alongside the ability to track each bale’s size and drop location, this data can be documented in the cloud, offering the ability to record the number of bales per field and create dry-matter maps – though, as always, it is up to the farmer to make the most of this information.
Weave automation
Two of the variable chamber models – the V452R and V462R – have been given a a 15% increase in driveline power intake, which Deere claims translates to an 8% increase in productivity in the field.
The company’s innovative weave automation feature was introduced in the US in February.
Rather than automate the steering of the tractor as it passes down the windrow, a flexible drawbar automatically guides the baler left and right along the windrow, depending on how the chamber is filling,
According to John Deere, this system creates consistent bales.
It also enables the machine to accurately follow curved windrows, even at the field corners as it tracks the cut grass, eliminating missed crop and reducing tractor manoeuvres.
Also, the tighter turning radius makes manoeuvring the baler easier. The fast bale release system allows for unloading a bale and closing the gate in just three seconds, while the double-belt system has been upgraded to give 7% more compression.
Built-in weighing on balers
The wrapping baler models – C442R, C452R, and C462R – can now be specified with a built-in bale weighing system that is driven by strength gauges on each of the four transport table rollers, allowing for on-the-go measurement of each bale’s weight.
All new round balers now have hydraulically actuated knife engagement allowing the engaging or retracting of the knives from the cab, while the higher knife engagement force makes sure all crop gets consistently cut.
