NEWS RELEASE December 06, 2024
From the Canadian plains to Australian grain growing regions
Crestmead, Queensland (06 December, 2024) – John Deere Combine Product Specialist, Tyson Avery, has swapped the plains of Alberta, Canada, for the grain-growing regions of Australia, to further deepen his understanding of the needs of local farmers.
Starting in Geraldton, Western Australia, Mr Avery spent time training several customers in the region on the all-new John Deere S7 Series Combine Harvester, alongside the AFGRI Equipment dealership team, before heading to Queensland and following the harvest trail south through New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia.
"Connecting with farmers in Australia is very important to me in my role, but also to John Deere more broadly, because customers over here are very technology driven, and that has been very evident in what I've seen the past month," Mr Avery said.
"The new technology we've released in the John Deere combine harvesters is particularly valuable for farmers in this part of the world, and by seeing it in action here, we can really push the technology to its limits and help farmers get more out of their combines and more out of their crops in a day."
While the intricacies of food production can often be unique to a specific region, Mr Avery said the broader challenge for John Deere is making sure customers across the globe are getting the best from their equipment.
"The biggest challenge in my role is ensuring every customer gets the full benefit out of their machine and their technology, irrespective of their location or unique farming practices," he said.
"Our goal is to keep downtime to a minimum for customers, and make sure when they are running, they're able to push their machine to its full potential."
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John Deere Combine Product Specialist, Tyson Avery, Alberta, Canada, is visiting Australian grain-growing regions, to understand local farmers' needs.
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Tyson said after having seen the all-new S7 combine in action, "proof of the machines' ability to deliver is in the customers' experiences."
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Tyson said the biggest thing he's heard from growers, "is they want a machine they can trust."
Learnings from the Australian farming systems
While Mr Avery has picked up on some glaring differences between production in the Canadian provinces of Alberta and British Columbia, there have also been some similarities.
"Back home, we have wheat, barley, canola, lentils, field peas and faba beans, so the crop types here in Australia have been very similar to what I'm used to dealing with," Mr Avery said.
"The biggest difference is probably rainfall, especially when you're in your seeding season, and depending on where you live in Alberta, there's a lot of irrigation, which I know is a luxury not many people get around Australia.
"Because of this, the crops are a little bit lighter here compared to Canada, but it's been very nice to step in and have the same crops here as I deal with back home."
This foundation has also allowed Mr Avery a greater opportunity to understand the different farming practices between the two hemispheres.
"Because Australia doesn't get as much rainfall as other areas, it's been very interesting learning about how local farmers are trying to preserve as much water as they can," he said.
"The practices farmers are using to retain water and to make sure they have it in their soils and keep it there as long as they can has been a nice learning curve for me.
"I've been so amazed at how customers in Australia are getting the bushels they are with as little rainfall as they get in some areas, and it's pretty incredible to see how they've really adapted to make sure they get the most out of everything they have."
Knowledge of the difference in yield between the two countries also brings with it an understanding of one of the key priorities for Australian grain growers.
"The biggest thing I've heard from growers during my time here, particularly in areas where it's lower yielding, is they want a machine they can trust," he said.
"The grain that ends up in the bin is what keeps the farm going, and they really stressed to me the importance of ensuring they're losing very little grain throughout the harvest.
"Controlled traffic is also very big in Australia, and I've learned a lot about how much of a difference it has made to land management and crop yields over the past 10 years.
"Many farmers have stressed to me the importance of controlled traffic and what technology they need to be able to access in John Deere machines."
New S7 combine harvesters meeting the brief
This need for improved automation and best-in-class efficiency and productivity is being met by the redesigned and optimised S7 combine harvesters launched earlier this year.
Based on the acclaimed John Deere S Series combines which were released in 2012, the proven workhorse now boasts new engines that will deliver more fuel efficiency, a redesigned grain loss sensing system that will provide more accurate grain loss measurements, and new automation features that will take operator performance to the next level.
Having seen the all-new S7 combine in action in Canada and Australia, Mr Avery said proof of the machines' ability to deliver is in the customers' experiences.
"The new JD 13.6L engine is giving us a lower torque curve and the fuel savings have been a huge advantage for customers," he said.
"The upgraded technology has been the biggest driver for customers, particularly the Ground Speed Automation and Harvest Settings Automation, and many farmers believe in the ability of these technology packages to deliver productivity and profitability gains."
About John Deere:
Deere & Company is a global leader in the delivery of agricultural, golf & turf, construction, and forestry equipment. We help our customers push the boundaries of what's possible in ways that are more productive and sustainable to help life leap forward. Our technology-enabled products including the John Deere Autonomous 8R Tractor and See & Spray™ are just two of the ways we help meet the world's increasing need for food, shelter, and infrastructure. Deere & Company also provides financial services through John Deere Financial. For more information, visit John Deere at its worldwide website at JohnDeere.com or in Australia at JohnDeere.com.au.
Media enquiries:
Stacey Wordsworth
stacey.wordsworth@bluehillagency.com.au
0438 394 371
Sophie Day
sophie.day@bluehillagency.com.au
0408 935 885
