Press Releases   August 19, 2020

John Deere introduces new header lineup to the Australian market

Closeup of a new header in use

The HDR maximises combine performance through greater grain capture across various crops, changing conditions and uneven or rolling terrain.

Crestmead, Queensland (19 August, 2020) — John Deere has updated its entire header lineup for combines to include new HDR Rigid Cutterbar Drapers, RDF HydraFlex™ Drapers, a BP15 Belt Pickup, and CR and CF Corn Heads.

Each is compatible with most S Series and T Series Combine Harvesters, as well as the recently announced John Deere X Series, to help achieve maximum harvesting capacity while minimising grain loss when operating under a wide range of crops and conditions.

John Deere HDR Rigid Cutterbar Drapers are ideal for small grains, canola and pulse growers who want to maximise their harvester's hectares per hour across various crops, changing conditions and uneven or rolling terrain, while capturing more grain – especially for down or lodged crops.

"The HDR has a new hinged frame that provides unmatched terrain-following capability with twice the wing range as a MacDon® FD1 FlexDraper®, and with uniform cut height," John Deere Tactical Segment Manager, Marko Koelln, said.

"Easy to use, these drapers pick up and sweep the down or lodged crop across the cutterbar to recover more crop thanks to a consistent distance between the reel fingers and cutterbar, improved reel range and increased reel-drive motor torque.

"Optional John Deere Grain Saver Draper Belts can also help to reduce canola cutterbar loss by up to 25% when compared to traditional, smooth draper belts."

HDR Drapers are available in 10.7 m (35 ft), 12.2 m (40 ft), 13.7 m (45 ft) and 15.2 m (50 ft) cutting widths to bring more crop into your combine with each pass.

"By upgrading from our 13.7 m (45 ft) draper to the new, larger 15.2 m (50 ft) version, farmers are able to cover around 10% more ground each day, for improved time and input cost efficiencies," Mr Koelln said.

John Deere RDF HydraFlex Drapers are built on the field-proven cutting technology of the existing John Deere 700FD, while providing new features to reduce grain loss. These new drapers are compatible with new X Series, as well as with S Series and T Series Combine Harvesters dating back to model year 2012. All RDF HydraFlex Drapers feature a new Two-Speed Center Feed Section that lets operators slow down the feed drum and centre feed belt by 20% compared with the 700FD.

"This puts more grain in the tank by reducing free grain loss, while operators can easily go from low to high speed when direct heading canola," Mr Koelln said.

"RDF HydraFlex Drapers reduce grain loss and let operators harvest at faster speeds without sacrificing cut quality."

These Drapers carry over the field-proven John Deere 10 cm (4 in.) double-cut, dual-drive shaft HydraFlex Cutterbar. The knife system provides industry-exclusive cutting performance by making 1,980 cuts per minute to enable faster harvesting speeds, while there is a choice of two centre feed belt options to optimise the RDF HydraFlex Draper for multiple crops and conditions. The Standard Centre Belt is recommended for crops like soybeans or an optional cleated centre belt is suited to feed higher-volume crops, like canola, into the feed drum.

John Deere is also offering the BP15 Belt Pickup for small grains and canola growers who need to harvest more hectares per hour with an X Series, S Series or T Series.

"Growers can easily handle high volume crops in tough conditions with the new belt pickup that delivers a 20% faster feed rate than its predecessor, the John Deere 615P," Mr Koelln said.

"The BP15 has a wider feederhouse opening with adjustable feed auger flighting and fingers that allow this belt-pickup platform to harvest more hectares."

The BP15 features improved feed rate adjustability to handle large or bulky crops with a standard two-speed auger drive sprocket that delivers a 20% faster feed rate when needed, that's ideal for harvesting canola. A slower speed feed rate can be used for less bulky crops like cereals and grass seed, while a factory-installed crop shield minimises grain loss by preventing it from building up and laying on the feederhouse.

"Less time will be spent making adjustments as no tools are needed to modify the height of the large, 51 cm (20in.) gauge wheels for varying window conditions and crop types," Mr Koelln said.

In addition to the Drapers and BP15 Belt Pickup, a new line of Corn Heads has also been developed. For harvesting leaning, down or fallen crop, CR Rigid Corn Heads can be equipped from the factory with Active End Fenders that pull more ears into the head as the harvester moves through the paddock. John Deere CF Folding Corn Heads include all the features of CR Rigid Corn Heads but offer a low-profile folding frame and an industry-leading fold cycle time of less than 60 seconds when connected to S700 Combine Harvesters. They also cut down costs by eliminating the need to purchase a header trailer.

Each of the new Drapers, corn heads and the belt pickup come with a header control unit (HCU) that communicates seamlessly with the combine. The HCU saves head-specific factory calibration settings and collects and sends header-width information to the combine for accurate yield mapping, and detects and reports header-specific diagnostic codes, plus tracks hours of use and maintenance intervals.

"Our new headers will be a powerful addition to the market and available alongside the 700D Draper which has, for many years, been a mainstay of the Australian farming industry's harvest equipment lineup," Mr Koelln said.

John Deere dealers will start taking orders from August for a limited number of headers scheduled for delivery in Harvest 2021.

About Deere & Company:

Deere & Company (NYSE: DE) is a world leader in providing advanced products and services and is committed to the success of customers whose work is linked to the land - those who cultivate, harvest, transform, enrich and build upon the land to meet the world's dramatically increasing need for food, fuel, shelter and infrastructure. Since 1837, John Deere has delivered innovative products of superior quality built on a tradition of integrity. For more information, visit John Deere at its worldwide website at JohnDeere.com or in Australia at JohnDeere.com.au.

Media Contacts:

Stacey Wordsworth
0438 394 371
stacey.wordsworth@bluehillpr.com.au

Hannah Hardy
0421 196 004
hannah.hardy@bluehillpr.com.au