Cropping farmer Hannes Joubert believes the recently launched John Deere S700 series combine harvester will improve farmers’ income and grain quality
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Currently looking to purchase two S700’s, Joubert who manages Bungulla, an 11,000-hectare cropping operation in Western Australia, says his love of John Deere machines began 12 years ago.
“This is where the love for the ‘green machines’ started – the technology and engineering is far superior to anything you can find out there,” Joubert says.
The Bungulla operation runs three John Deere combine harvesters and Joubert was keen to see how the S700 stacked up against previous models to see if there was much improvement.
He says he was impressed by the S700 series’ improved camera technology when comparing it against its predecessors.
“We are very much in love with it,” Joubert says.
Its ability to visually set specifications and view a live feed of the grain elevator were highlights, as were the measuring sensors inside the grain box.
“You should get better control over quality of the grain, that’s the most fantastic thing that this machine can bring you,” Joubert says.
“And with payment for grain based on the quality, that means higher returns for crop farmers,” he adds.
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The new ‘operator friendly’ cab also impressed Joubert thanks to its ability to fight operator fatigue as well as its new swivel seat (the first from John Deere) with all controls attached to the armrest.
“You have got to give everybody the best work environment you can,” Jourbert says. “We want to minimise driver fatigue and down time and that means making the job as comfortable and productive as possible for operators.”
Bungulla upgrades its harvesters every second season to keep within warranty, hold value and keep up with developing technology, and it’s worth the investment says Hannes.
“Basically, harvesting is the ultimate reward for 12 months’ work – you have got to get it right,” Joubert says.