John Deere has expanded its Machine Sync offering to allow foragers and tractors towing trailed harvesters to set the speed and travel direction of a tractor-trailer combination during crop unloading.

The first iteration, introduced in 2012, permitted combine drivers to take charge of the corn cart by synchronising guidance information once it was nearby, easing the unloading process and minimising losses – particularly at night and at relatively high speeds.

But the same technology can now be used for any harvesting process where crops are continuously loaded into trailers.

See also: Farmers build ultra-accurate GPS system on a budget

In particular, Deere is eyeing up customers working with trailed elevator machinery harvesting potatoes and carrots. It may also be useful for vegetable growers during planting applications.

The Machine Sync system requires JD Link telematics, a Starfire satellite receiver and a Gen4 Premium 4600 or 4640 display with automation activation.

Most customers would select all these components ex-factory when ordering a new tractor or self-propelled machine, although retrofitting is possible. The carting tractor must also be fitted with a stepless transmission.

© John Deere

It costs £1,425 on machines with Autotrac activation, or £425 for those with Premium activation. 

Deere has also launched a new app, developed by German start-up Solorrow, that allows farmers to create variable rate application maps for fertiliser spreading and other field operations.

Maps can be sent wirelessly to machines in the field via the firm’s Operations Center.

The John Deere in-cab display receives the data and then gives the Isobus-controlled fertiliser spreader or sprayer the site-specific application rate based on its current position in the field.