Big straw walker combine

laoisfarmer

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Laois , Ireland
After a difficult harvest combine capacity is up in the air . We currently run two 6 walker deutz's with 20ft cuts ,a 4075 and a 5690. While both good combines we are starting to think that one big combine might be a better option. Main reasons being staff issues and output , we loss one valuable driver during the busy period. It can be easier to get a tractor driver than a combine driver, we currently don't side fill which slows down operations.
One good operator keeping a large combine moving the whole time would be a better option.
One combine frees up trailers and drivers allowing side filling and maybe more output.
Rotary is not an option so looking at either a large new Holland cx 8070-8090 or maybe a new model or a class 670. Head width would be a maximum width of 25ft as straw is very valuable with use and wider heads make straw harder to get dry.
Any options and opinions on above combines are welcome. Tia
 

laoisfarmer

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Laois , Ireland
stick with two 20ft
straw behind bigger ones is mush

True point but this has been one of the harder to get straw and we have yet to fail, baled straw from a 25ft rotary yesterday that was down for 5 weeks and after being turned once on Monday it was dry on Tuesday, losses were significant but at least it was baled .
 

laoisfarmer

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Laois , Ireland
I can't comment on these models and your acres will dwarf mine (might be useful for people making comments to state acreage/crops). But with two machines you have some redundancy if one breaks down. One big machine not working is zero output.

The problem is when one stops both are nearly stopped to try get the other moving again as most times they cut together and the trailers drivers are away from the field.
 

T Hectares

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Berkshire
How much are you cutting in total and what do you cut in a day with the two Deutz's ??
What's your cropping consist of ??

*edit, just read the above post !!

Yep, you will lose lots of output with two combines stopping to unload, what do you cut with the two in typical day ??
 

laoisfarmer

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Laois , Ireland
How much are you cutting in total and what do you cut in a day with the two Deutz's ??
What's your cropping consist of ??

*edit, just read the above post !!

Yep, you will lose lots of output with two combines stopping to unload, what do you cut with the two in typical day ??

Crops would consist of 200 acres of winter barley with some winter oilseed rape, oats and wheat in between finishing up on 250 acres of spring barley. A very good day would be 50 acres. The problem is when combines split we get stretched on trailers and nearly all grain is hauled over an hour round trip.have a friend running a cx8090 and he would easily cut 50 acres in winter barley with very little losses, less diesel and men required although he would have larger blocks of land but would have longer distances to move between blocks.
 

KennyO

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Angus
I've been cutting 5 ac hour with an old TX66 this year in ripe crops. Drops to less than 4 when stopping to unload. I would say get the biggest modern walker machine and it should do you it easily if you keep it moving. We only cut half your acreage though.
 

Happy

Member
Location
Scotland
You will cut 50 acres a day with 1 NH CX8080 with 24/25' header

Easily.
Cut 60-70 acres here with CX8060 in an 11-12 hour day.
That's with a 20ft header. Smallest you can get on that machine. Sole reason is for a smaller bout of straw so that it stands a chance of drying out again should it get wet.

Neighbour's will think your crops are sh*te though given the speed that you have to fly along at to keep her full;)
 

Phil P

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
North West
I've cut over 60 aces a day in wheat and around 50 in barley with a 560 lexon 25' cut, thats emptying on the headlands.
Crop conditions and yields can massively alter output though, your better of looking at t/h than acres really.
And It's surprising how much more you can cut in a day with a good trailer driver along side.
 

T Hectares

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Berkshire
Sounds like you would easily match your current combines output.
Don't be put off by going from two to one, CX's are very reliable combines, and your improved efficiency will outweigh any breakdowns, mines a 9 year old 8090 that's lost a handful of hours all season over 1500 acres.

You'd really want to unload on the move to be sure though, and spend some time to get the unloading auger length right, no point driving on straw in catchy years...

Do you have a good NH dealer ?
 

laoisfarmer

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Laois , Ireland
Sounds like you would easily match your current combines output.
Don't be put off by going from two to one, CX's are very reliable combines, and your improved efficiency will outweigh any breakdowns, mines a 9 year old 8090 that's lost a handful of hours all season over 1500 acres.

You'd really want to unload on the move to be sure though, and spend some time to get the unloading auger length right, no point driving on straw in catchy years...

Do you have a good NH dealer ?

I agree with you on the unloading issue, that was most of the reason we didn't unload on the go, although the 5690 could do it but it's hard to get the driver (old man)to change habits . I follow the combine when not on the big baler, plan would be for me to transfer to combine full time and put our full time driver on the baler. On the dealer thing there would be an ok dealer an hour away but would have good independent mechanics an hour away also ,in fairness class would have very good support locally but not sure if I want to go for a class
 
Last edited:

eagleye

Member
Location
co down
we had a CX 8050 (20') in alongside a DF 4075 (18') in winter barley, neither side filling.
CX doing about 3+ acres/ha DF doing 2.5 ac hr in 4 tonne crops this year. CX has a bit more green growing bhind it now.
 

eagleye

Member
Location
co down
think thats right, we are considering moving up capacity as well.
CX ££££ DF 6090 ££ Claas 650 ££££, have NH dealer 30mins away but money invested a lot more
 

snipe

Member
Location
west yorkshire
Can cut 50ac a day with the smallest John Deere T series 5 walker. If you went for the 6 walker T series it's would be well on top of its job. (They are very kind on the straw too due to the way it flows through the drums)
 

laoisfarmer

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Laois , Ireland
Can cut 50ac a day with the smallest John Deere T series 5 walker. If you went for the 6 walker T series it's would be well on top of its job. (They are very kind on the straw too due to the way it flows through the drums)

John deere is an option , we do run John deere tractors and dealer would be good on combines with a neighbour being there combine specialist
 

Derek67

Member
Location
Northern Ireland
Crops would consist of 200 acres of winter barley with some winter oilseed rape, oats and wheat in between finishing up on 250 acres of spring barley. A very good day would be 50 acres. The problem is when combines split we get stretched on trailers and nearly all grain is hauled over an hour round trip.have a friend running a cx8090 and he would easily cut 50 acres in winter barley with very little losses, less diesel and men required although he would have larger blocks of land but would have longer distances to move between blocks.
Is this 50 acre per combine??
 

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