The constant-flow near-infrared tool for grain and oilseeds analysis © Claas

Analysing grain nutrient content on the combine opens up valuable opportunities for segregated storage and more finely targeted fertiliser use – and that facility is now available on model-year 2026 Lexions.

Claas has experience of near-infrared measurement and analysis thanks to the Nutrimeter option for its Jaguar forage harvesters, but the Nutrimeter Grain system is a first for its combines.

See also: Driver’s View: Guy Walker rates Lexion-like Claas Trion 760

It draws on patented sensor technology first developed by the Technical Research Centre of Finland and commercialised by the spin-off business GrainSense. There are said to be more than 2,500 GrainSense analysers in more than 40 countries around the world.

A particular breakthrough for grain protein and rapeseed oil content came with the ability of the sensor to take its measurements from flowing grain rather than only static samples.

The Lexion installation creates a bypass in the grain elevator that continuously feeds a small amount of grain through a so-called “integrating ball”. Measured values are displayed on the Lexion’s Cebis terminal and uploaded to the Claas Connect portal, with the real-time availability of this data offering segregated storage management opportunities.

When cutting high-quality milling wheats, for example, trailer loads with different protein contents could be directed to separate storage bays or bins as they are unloaded to optimise returns. It should also be helpful that the “transmissive measurement” method used by Nutrimeter Grain is employed in the grain trade.

Segregated storage apart, live mapping of the measurement data can be used to inform subsequent decisions on variable-rate fertiliser applications and, in future, allow detailed mapping by variety for ongoing yield and quality trend comparisons.

Wider cut – a Lexion 8900 with 15.3m Convio Flex header © Claas

15.3m Convio Flex header arrives in the UK

Following a reportedly successful introduction in Australia, Canada and the US, a 15.3m version of the Claas Convio Flex draper header is now available for the biggest Lexion combines.

Offering a 24% increase in working width over a Convio 1230 or a near-11% gain over a 13.8m version, the newcomer is equipped with a flexible knife, as well as all the features and automatic functions seen on other sizes in the series.

These include Active Float field surface pressure, which can be infinitely adjusted at the touch of a button for ground-hugging cuts in badly lodged cereals and in peas, grass and other low-growing crops.

When operated in Flex mode, the cutterbar automatically adapts to ground contours by as much as 90mm upwards and 135mm downwards from the rigid setting.

Stabiliser wheels with hydro-pneumatic suspension keep the table on an even keel and mechanical drive goes to the twin knives and the intake auger, while hydraulic motors power the side gathering and centre belts, reel and rapeseed knives.