Combine choice for 950ha

Wilba · Feb 20, 2022

Hi all,

Just after your thoughts. Currently looking at changing our combine, farming 950ha with roughly 430ha in group 1 wheat looking to hit the highest premiums possible. Also growing spring linseed, borage, peas and beans. On the floor drying in every grain store, but no continuous flow dryer. Estate is essentially ring fenced so not hugely spread out. Everything for the most part is chopped other than what we require for the stock. Should also say estate is on fairly hilly ground, but not hilly enough to justify a hillmaster, just more of a horsepower requirement.

What are you running in similar circumstances? and anyone hiring their combine on this hectarage?

Thanks in advance,
Will

Drillman · Feb 20, 2022

As with all combines regardless of brand the answer is buy the biggest you can afford.

Farma Parma · Feb 20, 2022

The biggest Yellow or Green or Light green/white you can afford or dark red or worse one of them odd Grey/black ones that has no identity whatsoever
Local Estate cuts about same acres across about 5 farms all spread out 42ft Yellow Monster. they manage it in Northumberland iffy shorter harvesting days.

Spencer · Feb 20, 2022

Batt said:
Hi all,

Just after your thoughts. Currently looking at changing our combine, farming 950ha with roughly 430ha in group 1 wheat looking to hit the highest premiums possible. Also growing spring linseed, borage, peas and beans. On the floor drying in every grain store, but no continuous flow dryer. Estate is essentially ring fenced so not hugely spread out. Everything for the most part is chopped other than what we require for the stock. Should also say estate is on fairly hilly ground, but not hilly enough to justify a hillmaster, just more of a horsepower requirement.

What are you running in similar circumstances? and anyone hiring their combine on this hectarage?

Thanks in advance,
Will

What have you got at present?

Wilba · Feb 20, 2022

Spencer said:
What have you got at present?

We've got a Claas 780tt with a 12m header, but have dropped our combinable area with more of a concentration on being a mixed farming estate now. Can't really justify the cost of the new 780 equivalent across our lower hectarage.

l'ordinary bonville · Feb 20, 2022

What part of the country?? Short harvesting days up north or endless summer down south?

Yield expectations of wheat? Big difference between 8.5t and 12t/ha

teslacoils · Feb 20, 2022

If you want all the premium from that wheat, you want to get a contractor in to cut you 300 to 400ac, and knocking the cost off the premium. Because one big combine won't get it all cut with a hagberg and your sanity.

Chae1 · Feb 20, 2022

Batt said:
We've got a Claas 780tt with a 12m header, but have dropped our combinable area with more of a concentration on being a mixed farming estate now. Can't really justify the cost of the new 780 equivalent across our lower hectarage.

Just keep your old one.

We ran our last 570 to over 3k hours without major drama's.

Wilba · Feb 20, 2022

l'ordinary bonville said:
What part of the country?? Short harvesting days up north or endless summer down south?

Yield expectations of wheat? Big difference between 8.5t and 12t/ha

Sorry should have said, based in the South. Our yield average is around 9.3T/ha

Wilba · Feb 20, 2022

teslacoils said:
If you want all the premium from that wheat, you want to get a contractor in to cut you 300 to 400ac, and knocking the cost off the premium. Because one big combine won't get it all cut with a hagberg and your sanity.

I know what you're saying and it can be stressful at peak times. But we use to cut 1100ha with one 780 and managed ok. I'd be more stressed trying to chase after contractors I think

Farma Parma · Feb 20, 2022

There is your answer keep what you have.
does anyone ever go smaller once they upped things
NEVER id say. if my acres drop coz of schemes things just last longer & do less.

Wilba · Feb 20, 2022

Chae1 said:
Just keep your old one.

We ran our last 570 to over 3k hours without major drama's.

Chae1 said:

Just keep your old one.

We ran our last 570 to over 3k hours without major drama's.

Click to expand...

Like to keep things in warranty if we can and maintain a regimented machinery replacement plan. But definitely something I'm thinking hard about, just getting an idea of what else is out there.

Two Tone · Feb 20, 2022

If you get on well with Claas, why change?
On that sort of acreage, I’d stick with either of the two manufacturing that started by only making harvesting equipment - Claas or NH.

I understand your warranty situation and wanting to maintain a regimented replacement policy, but I’d seriously think of sticking with the 780TT you’ve got.

Is there anything wrong with it?

Wilba · Feb 20, 2022

Two Tone said:
If you get on well with Claas, why change?
On that sort of acreage, I’d stick with either of the two manufacturing that started by only making harvesting equipment - Claas or NH.

I understand your warranty situation and wanting to maintain a regimented replacement policy, but I’d seriously think of sticking with the 780TT you’ve got.

Is there anything wrong with it?

Nothing wrong with it, just would be wary of running such a tech heavy machine out of warranty. Plus want an extended auger on the combine to match the 12m CTF lines I have implemented on the estate. Unfortunately cannot extend our existing auger, as requires a lot of additional strengthening.

s~~t shoveller · Feb 20, 2022

Surely it can’t be that hard to extend the auger…maybe they don’t want to and would rather sell another to you or is that a bit sceptical!

maybe even secondhand parts about for a 780.most would surely have longer auger

chaffcutter · Feb 20, 2022

Can you not extend your warranty with Claas?

There must be a way to get an extended auger on it, replace with a new one would be a repair so better tax wise?

or are you looking to utilise the 130% investment allowance?

bluegreen · Feb 20, 2022

I was watching a 780tt at work last harvest run by the Wright family in the fens near Cambridge, they bought it new in 2013 when the 780 first was launched, its done 9 years and handles around 3000 acres over a wide area. Obviously a very reliable combine. Given the sh1t the worlds about to experience I would definately keep your current one.

cousinjack · Feb 20, 2022

You need a fleet of maybe 20 New Holland 8040’s
With a good fleet of Ford 4000’s chasing them …

Lovely

db9go · Feb 21, 2022

Batt said:
Hi all,

Just after your thoughts. Currently looking at changing our combine, farming 950ha with roughly 430ha in group 1 wheat looking to hit the highest premiums possible. Also growing spring linseed, borage, peas and beans. On the floor drying in every grain store, but no continuous flow dryer. Estate is essentially ring fenced so not hugely spread out. Everything for the most part is chopped other than what we require for the stock. Should also say estate is on fairly hilly ground, but not hilly enough to justify a hillmaster, just more of a horsepower requirement.

What are you running in similar circumstances? and anyone hiring their combine on this hectarage?

Thanks in advance,
Will

Is this your place or are you a manager

Martin Holden · Feb 21, 2022

Batt said:
Hi all,

Just after your thoughts. Currently looking at changing our combine, farming 950ha with roughly 430ha in group 1 wheat looking to hit the highest premiums possible. Also growing spring linseed, borage, peas and beans. On the floor drying in every grain store, but no continuous flow dryer. Estate is essentially ring fenced so not hugely spread out. Everything for the most part is chopped other than what we require for the stock. Should also say estate is on fairly hilly ground, but not hilly enough to justify a hillmaster, just more of a horsepower requirement.

What are you running in similar circumstances? and anyone hiring their combine on this hectarage?

Thanks in advance,
Will

Borage?! Brave man! When it’s good it’s good but when it’s bad it’s bad sort of crop isn’t it?

Combine choice for 950ha

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100% I’ve had enough of farming!

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