Friday, 27 June 2025 07:55

John Deere upgrades round baler line with ISOBUS integration and smarter features

Written by  Mark Daniel
All models are equipped with advanced ISOBUS capabilities, allowing them to be fully integrated into the John Deere Operations Centre. All models are equipped with advanced ISOBUS capabilities, allowing them to be fully integrated into the John Deere Operations Centre.

John Deere have recently announced upgrades to its round baler offerings, with all models of this latest generation equipped with advanced ISOBUS capabilities, allowing them to be fully integrated into the John Deere Operations Center.

While some digital innovations might appear frivolous for everyday farming, it would appear that some upgrades do add some utility to the machines.

Anyone who has spent time on a tractor seat will know the importance of a well-formed swath – ideally box-shaped and flattopped – ahead of the pick-up assembly. If the swath is significantly narrower than the pick-up, the operator will have to “weave” to fill the chamber uniformly.

JD’s innovative weave automation feature was first introduced in the US in February. Rather than driving to the left or right of the windrow for several metres, before switching to the other, a flexible drawbar automatically guides the baler left and right along the windrow, depending on how the chamber is filling.

The automated weaving feature is said to ensure consistently shaped bales, while also enabling the machine to accurately follow curved windrows, even at the field corners as it tracks the cut grass, eliminating missed crop and reducing tractor shunting. Additionally, the tighter turning radius makes general manoeuvring easier.

Two variable chamber models – the V452R and V462R – have been given a 15% increase in driveline power intake, offering a claimed 8% increase in productivity in the paddock, while the double-belt system has been upgraded to give 7% more compression.

The fast bale release system also allows for unloading a bale and closing the gate in just three seconds.

An optional moisture monitor can measure the average moisture per bale in real time and alerts the operator on the tractor display if the moisture content deviates from the pre-defined setting.

For those being asked for production and crop data – typically contractors – the ability to track each bale’s size and drop location data can be documented in the cloud, delivering the ability to record total bales per field and create dry-matter maps.

Combination baling and wrapping models, the C442R, C452R, and C462R, can be specified with a built-in bale weighing system, using strain gauges on each of the four transport table rollers, allowing on-thego measurement of individual bale’s weights.

More like this

John Deere Unveils JD, an AI Assistant for Farm Data

A long way from when AI meant plunging a plastic-covered arm armpit deep up a cow’s rear, John Deere has shown off its new artificial intelligence (AI) assistant, aptly called JD, which aims to simplify data processing on farms.

New CLAAS Swath Turner Fixes Twin-Rotor's Blind Spot

Twin rotor swathers have become the ‘go-to’ for forming swaths to feed hungry harvesters and balers, however, the design layout often means that crop located between the two rotors is not picked up, turned over or incorporated into the swath formed for subsequent harvesting.

Motueka Farm Machinery Sold as Sturgeons Retire After 44 Years

Close to the Abel Tasman and Kahurangi National Parks, Motueka is known for apples, pear and kiwifruit orchards, alongside specialised crops such as hops. Indeed, that specialisation, saw the area being the New Zealand centre of the tobacco growing, until the early 1980s.

Can-Am Unveils 2027 SSV, ATV Range With New Defender HD10

Can-Am has introduced its 2027 range of side-by-side vehicles (SSV) and all-terrain vehicles (ATV), including the industry leading Defender, the Maverick R and the hugely capable Outlander ATV, incorporating a host of advancements designed to deliver an exceptional riding experience.

Featured

Applications open for 2027 Zanda McDonald Award

Applications are set to open for the 2027 Zanda McDonald Award, a trans-Tasman award recognised for identifying and fast-tracking talented young leaders in agriculture and agribusiness.

GP Rural: New Pathway Proposed to Fix Rural GP Shortage

The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners (the College) and Hauora Taiwhenua Rural Health Network are calling for investment in a proposed new training pathway for rural GPs, warning that many rural practices are struggling to recruit while a large share of the existing workforce nears retirement.

CODC Sludge-to-Lauder Plan Slammed by Federated Farmers

Federated Farmers has called on Central Otago District Council (CODC) to drop or vote down a plan to truck sludge from Alexandra and Cromwell to farmland near Lauder, warning it would compound an "outrageous" situation created by a separate council's decision weeks earlier.

National

Machinery & Products

» Latest Print Issues Online

Milking It

» Connect with Dairy News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter