New options for MY22 S Series combines from John Deere

A half dozen new factory-installed options are available to order on the model year 2022 S Series combines from John Deere. The company also introduced several updates to front-end equipment this month.

"John Deere S Series Combines are a great harvesting solution for producers who grow corn, small grains, and pulses across North America. These new options can help farmers push the envelope of high-capacity harvesting while improving grain quality," says Ray Gherardini, marketing manager for John Deere.

AutoPath

Automation Activation 4.0 with Generation 4 Machine Sync and AutoPath is now a factory-installed option for the S Series. AutoPath uses guidance lines from previous passes, like planting, to automatically set hands-free navigation in the field. It helps to eliminate guess rows at harvest, regardless of equipment width.

LED lighting packages

The LED lighting options available on the larger X Series combines are available on the S Series now, too. The package includes additional forward-facing lights to brighten areas in front of and behind the combine. They also light up the grain tank, row finder, engine and service access areas, and the unloading auger.

Flat-tooth comb chaffer

The high-performance chaffer is now the flat-tooth chaffer. Canola farmers will appreciate the way it makes the combine easier to set. It also lowers tailings in weedy harvest conditions. The factory-installed flat-tooth comb chaffer is now available for both the S and X Series combines.

Three residue management options

Three new residue management options are available for order from the factory. First, the extra-fine cut chopper is available on S780 and S790 models for farmers who need to chop tough straw into fine pieces or possibly eliminate a harrow pass.

Second, farmers can order an Advance PowerCast tailboard with deluxe residue management for soybeans.

The premium residue management system includes the tough crop kit.

Remote grease line

Farmers can order an optional grease line for final drive zerks to make servicing more convenient and to help ensure regular maintenance is completed.

Kondex all-crop concave configuration

Farmers with small grains who need to harvest pulse crops in their rotation may appreciate the Kondex all-crop concave configuration Deere now offers. The Kondex concave is ideal for high-speed harvesting because it maximizes material-on-material threshing to keep the rotor full while driving through the field.

Front-end equipment updates

John Deere also made four updates to its front-end equipment offerings.

First, a new flexible cutterbar on Hinged Drapers (HDF) is available in 35- to 50-foot working widths. It features the same wing range of the rigid-cutterbar drapers (HDR), but with the addition of a flexible cutterbar to closely follow the ground.

"The HDF is the ultimate solution for on-ground cutting of crops," says Gherardini.

A new eight-row folding corn head (C8F) was also recently introduced. The narrow profile of this head makes transporting logistics easier.

Wing leveling hinged drapers are the third front-end equipment introduction Deere made recently. The wing leveling technology on hinged drapers allows the operator to set a home position for the draper. When it's set, the draper returns to that position when lifting on headlands to improve efficiency. The header can be set to lift in a smile shape or in a flat position. Wing leveling helps the draper clear debris or obstacles.

Finally, integrated transport is a new feature of John Deere hinged drapers, which improves harvest logistics by ensuring the draper is always close to the combine when transporting the machine between fields. Integrated transport mode enables the header gauge wheels to convert to transport mode, so it can easily be pulled from place to place.