Know How / Combines This is your go-to area for everything related to combine harvesters. We offer tips for keeping old combines running well, how to select a new machine and all the specs and prices for the UK market. Latest combine articles MACHINERYCereals 2024: Case IH Axial Flow offers greater automationCereals 2024 was one of the first opportunities to catch a glimpse of Case IH’s latest single-rotor 260-series Axial Flow combines. Mechanically, these are near identical to current 250 series… MACHINERYCereals 2024: Latest NH CR10 twin-rotor combine packs 635hpHot on the heels of its flagship twin-rotor CR11 combine launch, New Holland has introduced a lower-powered CR10. Specs are almost identical to that of its bigger sibling, apart from… MACHINERY MAINTENANCELatest technology for putting out harvest machinery firesIt’s hard to imagine given the sogginess of the past 12 months, but there’s always a chance we could be in for a tinder-dry harvest, à la 2022. That year,… MACHINERYHow New Holland’s IntelliSense system solves harvest pressureHarvest has always been an extremely pressured time of the year - time is precious, manpower is precious and everyone and everything must pull together to bring the harvest home.… COMBINESJohn Deere S7 combines get more power and updated cabSingle-rotor S7 combine harvesters from John Deere have been treated to a host of updates, including new engines, cabin and residue management systems. Power ranges from 402 to 533hp (436… COMBINESNew Holland unleashes biggest-ever combine – the CR11New Holland has pulled the wraps off its highest capacity combine harvester yet, which it hopes will leave the competition choking behind its chaff spreader. Dubbed CR11, the machine has… COMBINESNew Holland introduces its highest capacity combine yetThe battle to build the highest output combine harvester is hotting up, with New Holland set to launch its biggest machine yet. Details are still thin on the ground, but… Combine reviews and testsSee all COMBINESDriver's view: SB Farming’s Fendt Ideal 9TThe Ideal 9T is the flagship model of Agco’s new Ideal combine range that’s offered in both Massey Ferguson and Fendt guises. One of the first farming businesses to take… COMBINESDriver's view: Peter Booth's Claas Tucano 320We get the details on Angus arable farmer Peter Booth’s Claas Tucano 320 that replaced a near-identical model in 2017. See also: Combine add-ons can help slash spread of weed seeds… COMBINESDriver's view: Richard Ledger's Claas Lexion 8900 combineKent farmer Richard Ledger is one of several UK growers to have run a pre-production version of Claas' latest range-topping Lexion combines. We get the verdict from driver Nigel Richardson.… MACHINERYCombine users give their verdicts two years onTwo years ago we picked seven different makes of two-year-old combine and got a warts-and-all report from their owners and drivers. We’ve repeated the exercise again this year to see… Driver's view: John Deere S690iVital stats Single-rotor threshing| 617hp Deere 6-cyl twin-turbo| 10.7m (35ft) header| 10,600-litre grain tank| Made in USA A bit of background How has it performed? Likes & gripes Farm facts… COMBINESDriver’s view: Robert Floyd’s 1989 Laverda 3850 combineA 1989 Laverda 3850 has been the combine of choice for Worcestershire mixed farmers Robert Floyd and James Kent for the past 13 years. The Italian-built harvester cuts about 80ha… COMBINESVideo: Claas launches biggest-ever Lexion combineClaas has just won the most recent hand of combine manufacturer Top Trumps after it launched its most powerful Lexion machines yet. The headline-grabbing flagship 8900 is the biggest in the… COMBINESDriver’s view: Claas Trion 750 rated after two seasons' workThe launch of the Trion combines two years ago represented one of the biggest-ever shake-ups of the Claas range. Slotting between the high-output Lexions and late-of-this-parish Tucanos, they promised something… COMBINESDriver's view: John Roberts’ Massey Ferguson Activa 7240We get the lowdown on the Massey Ferguson Activa 7240 combine run by Shropshire farmer John Roberts. Farm facts Napley Farm, Market Drayton, Shropshire Size 135ha Soil Sandy loam Crops… Driver's view: Deutz Fahr 6090Vital stats Six straw-walkers| 310hp Deutz engine| 7m Biso VX header| 8,500-litre grain tank| Made in Croatia A bit of background How has it performed? Likes & gripes Farm facts… Driver's view: Claas Cemos Automatic The Claas Cemos Automatic combine setting controller is due to be available next season. Andy Collings spoke to a grower who has trialled one this year. John Hawthorne Original… COMBINESDriver's view: John Deere CTS 9780i combineA large output when crops are at their driest was key for Dorset farmer James Reed. After doing his research, the hybrid arrangement of the John Deere CTS was the… Combine buying advice Ultimate guide to buying a combine 2023 Buying alternative combine headers - the options Guide to buying a used hill-sider combine Tips for buying a quality used combine on a £40,000 budget How Kent farmers saved £33,000 on buying a new combine What to look for when buying a used combine What costs to consider when increasing combine capacity Driver's view: Greenshields Agri's 13.7m MacDon FD2 header Combine guidesSee all COMBINESUltimate Guide to buying a combine 2024There are few machine and model updates for this year’s Ultimate Guide to combine harvesters – but there are some subtle changes to the tables themselves to make some of… MACHINERYTop tips to keep your combine running in the wetAugust invariably delivers a spell of bad weather, so we’ve put together 20 top tips from the experts on how to ease the flow of damp crops through the combine.… MACHINERY2019 Ultimate guide to buying a combineIncreased automation to help both experienced and inexperienced combine operators is the highlight of upgrades to the latest crop of machines destined for harvest 2019. New sensor technology can now… COMBINESLancs engineer modifies mint Claas and Deere combine fleetFew combine harvesters leave a contracting business in better condition than when they arrived, but that’s usually the case for the cosseted examples run by Lancashire outfit A Johnson Agricultural… MACHINERY MAINTENANCELatest technology for putting out harvest machinery firesIt’s hard to imagine given the sogginess of the past 12 months, but there’s always a chance we could be in for a tinder-dry harvest, à la 2022. That year,… COMBINESCombine buyers guide 2018Combine makers around the globe have been rebuilding and updating their ranges ahead of next year’s harvest. With that in mind, our Combine buyers guide 2018 (PDF) contains the specs and… COMBINESVideo: Claas launches biggest-ever Lexion combineClaas has just won the most recent hand of combine manufacturer Top Trumps after it launched its most powerful Lexion machines yet. The headline-grabbing flagship 8900 is the biggest in the… COMBINESUltimate guide to buying a combine 2022After something of a stop-start harvest that for numerous growers involved cutting crops new to their rotation, manufacturers and dealers are looking to sign up customers for combines delivering additional… COMBINESOn test: Combine reversing cameras – which is best?Clobbering the back of your combine harvester against an oak tree or backing over the boss’s pickup is no fun whatsoever. So the addition of a rear-view camera to keep… COMBINESGuide to buying a used hill-sider combineTrue full body levelling on combines is not just a nice-to-have feature – for some farms it’s essential. And although the additional cost when buying new isn’t as much as… MACHINERYCombine buyers guide 2017Having the right harvester can prove vital for any arable operation. If you are thinking of updating your combine, our tables break down the UK options so you can directly… COMBINES16 nifty retrofit items to fine-tune your combineThe internet is awash with bolt on bits of technology to improve your combine's harvesting performance. We've picked out some handy items used by farmers all over the globe –… VideoSee all Video: Harvest 2015 filmed from the skiesBefore lashings of rain brought combining to an abrupt halt, Farmers Weekly hit the road with a high-definition drone to capture some aerial highlights of this year’s harvest. We started… MACHINERYClass Lexion 770 user's view[fwi_vidyard code="L-sGxm5SjRhWSED0nBHmvQ"] John and Tom Hawthorne are one of the first in the country to run the new Lexion flagship 770, equipped with a 40ft Vario header. Emily Padfield went to see how… COMBINESVideo: John Deere's monster £850,000 X9 combineUS firm John Deere has given its new X9 1100 combine and 12.1m HDX header a whopping £850,328 list price. The combine alone is listed at £725,908 and the HDX… MACHINERYMonster John Deere combine in action[fwi_vidyard code="dyrxMsd6xM87NQU70t8Yxw"] Boasting the largest grain tank on the market, the most powerful engine and new rubber track units, John Deere’s monster S690i rotary combine is out to impress. The… Combine insights and practical adviceSee all COMBINESUltimate Guide to buying a combine 2024There are few machine and model updates for this year’s Ultimate Guide to combine harvesters – but there are some subtle changes to the tables themselves to make some of… MACHINERYTop tips to keep your combine running in the wetAugust invariably delivers a spell of bad weather, so we’ve put together 20 top tips from the experts on how to ease the flow of damp crops through the combine.… SOILS6 top tips to minimise compaction at harvestClimate predictions indicate that for the next 20 years there is a 35-40% chance of a wetter-than-average summer, giving rise to the potential for disrupted and challenging harvests. Aside from… HARVESTWhat costs to consider when increasing combine capacityEvery year farmers face the same question: Should I buy extra kit to ensure a quick harvest and secure premiums, pay for a contractor, or risk rain delays? Each carries… COMBINESTrelleborg's self-adjusting VIP wheel kits: How they workA clever new system designed by tyre giant Trelleborg promises to reduce soil damage by automatically altering combine tyre pressures as the grain tank fills and empties. It’s an area… COMBINESHow combine add-ons can help slash weed seed spreadCombinable crop producers in the UK are being pushed into a corner when it comes to controlling herbicide-resistant grassweeds and it's looking increasingly likely that the answer will come from… MACHINERY2019 Ultimate guide to buying a combineIncreased automation to help both experienced and inexperienced combine operators is the highlight of upgrades to the latest crop of machines destined for harvest 2019. New sensor technology can now… COMBINESLancs engineer modifies mint Claas and Deere combine fleetFew combine harvesters leave a contracting business in better condition than when they arrived, but that’s usually the case for the cosseted examples run by Lancashire outfit A Johnson Agricultural… MACHINERY MAINTENANCELatest technology for putting out harvest machinery firesIt’s hard to imagine given the sogginess of the past 12 months, but there’s always a chance we could be in for a tinder-dry harvest, à la 2022. That year,… COMBINESRetrofit fire suppresion kit could save combinesIsolated in an air-conditioned capsule at the front of the machine, combine operators are usually completely unaware when there’s an inferno slowly building behind them. By the time they do… COMBINESCombine buyers guide 2018Combine makers around the globe have been rebuilding and updating their ranges ahead of next year’s harvest. With that in mind, our Combine buyers guide 2018 (PDF) contains the specs and… COMBINESVideo: Orkney contractor converts his combine to tracksFarming on the Orkney archipelago in the north of Scotland throws up challenges unlike anything on mainland Britain. The biggest of those is the weather – the Gulf Stream brings…