Feed pad with rubber matting hailed as game changer
For Otago farmers Michelle and Rogan Borrie, a newly constructed feed pad on one of their three farms has been a game changer.
The machine was originally introduced to the forage industry in 2007 as HarvestLab, then upgraded to HarvestLab 3000 in 2017.
Now the systems sensor capabilities have been extended for use in the grains sector. This offers the ability to continuously measure and monitor protein, starch, oil and moisture values in wheat, barley or canola during real time during harvesting. The data can be viewed in the cab, or in John Deere Operations Center™. This allows farmers to make critical marketing and management decisions before the grain has left the field.
HarvestLab 3000 offers customers new-level insights into the quality of their crop and input effectiveness. It is available as a field kit, having undergone two years’ worth of testing with Australian farmers.
“Currently, most farmers usually assess samples of grain with a stationary protein analyser back in the shed,” explains John Deere Precision Ag Manager, Benji Blevin.
“HarvestLab 3000, will offer a complete map of grain quality, which can be overlaid with a yield map. Farmers can see exactly what parts of their paddocks are producing the highest quality grain.
They 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 technology works as the combine moves through the paddock, with a motor-driven auger pushing grain past the Harvest- Lab 3000’s near-infrared sensor. Together with the StarFire™ receiver, site-specific data is generated on the Generation 4 Display and sent to Operations Center via JDLink™.
HarvestLab 3000 is available to order from April for easy integration into 2018 or later S700 Series Combines, before the 2023 harvest season.
