John Deere introduces grain-sensing tech for S700 combines

HarvestLab 3000 available to order for integration into 2018 or later S700 series combine harvesters

With John Deere’s new and innovative grain-sensing tech – HarvestLab 3000 – now available as a field kit, farmers will be able to capture a more holistic and accurate picture of their grain operations, John Deere said.

The technology was first introduced to the forage industry in 2007 as HarvestLab, and was later upgraded to HarvestLab 3000 in 2017. The latter version has expanded capabilities for use in the grains sector and is able to continuously measure and monitor protein, starch, oil, and moisture values in wheat, barley or canola in real time as the combine is harvesting.

The site-specific data can then be viewed in the cab, or in John Deere Operations Center, allowing farmers to make critical marketing and management decisions before the grain has left the field.

“John Deere has been working with Australian farmers for the past two years to develop the HarvestLab 3000 grain-sensing technology which will transform how they market their grain and manage their nutrient inputs,” said John Deere Precision Ag Manager, Benji Blevin.

“Currently, most farmers only have the ability to assess samples of their grains with a stationary protein analyser once back in the shed. Now, with HarvestLab 3000, farmers will have a complete map of grain quality, which can be overlaid with a yield map, and can see exactly what parts of their paddocks are producing the highest quality grain.

“Farmers will also be able to utilise HarvestLab 3000 to plan future fertiliser programs based on how successfully nutrients were converted into yield, protein, starch, or oil.”

The site-specific data can then be viewed in the cab, or in John Deere Operations Center, allowing farmers to make critical marketing and management decisions before the grain has left the field.

“John Deere has been working with Australian farmers for the past two years to develop the HarvestLab 3000 grain-sensing technology which will transform how they market their grain and manage their nutrient inputs,” said John Deere Precision Ag Manager, Benji Blevin.

“Currently, most farmers only have the ability to assess samples of their grains with a stationary protein analyser once back in the shed. Now, with HarvestLab 3000, farmers will have a complete map of grain quality, which can be overlaid with a yield map, and can see exactly what parts of their paddocks are producing the highest quality grain.

“Farmers will also be able to utilise HarvestLab 3000 to plan future fertiliser programs based on how successfully nutrients were converted into yield, protein, starch, or oil.”

“HarvestLab helps down the track for nutrition management. If you’ve got a field that’s got high protein areas or low protein areas, why was that?” Geoff Rethus said.

“The high protein may have been because you’ve over applied nitrogen to your crop. This can result in an extra expense for which you are not paid for, reduced yield because too much biomass has been produced, or you may have low protein, because you didn’t put on enough nitrogen to optimise your yield. With HarvestLab you can make a decision almost to the plant level.”

HarvestLab 3000 is available to order from April for easy integration into 2018 or later S700 series combines before the 2023 harvest season.