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First Impression // John Deere S7 900

Harvesting in
the digital age
In February this year, John Deere announced a significant new                                                  game console - totally functional and
addition to its S Series combines, with some pre-production                                                    despite having a wealth of electronics,
machines being used for demonstrations around the country                                                      it is extremely intuitive - even for
this harvest. FMJ caught up with range flagship the S7 900                                                     someone like me! A large expanse of
                                                                                                               glass provides the operator with
WORDS AND IMAGES TERRY RICHARDSON                                                                              excellent visibility to the header and
                                                                                                               feeder, even when relaxing in the
 T he S series has long been              changes this new range was bringing         Below right: The cab     heated, ventilated leather ActiveSeat II
           John Deere’s best-selling      over the outgoing                           of the S7 combine        with massage function fitted as part of
           combine range. These new S7    S Series. Turns out there’s quite a lot to  comes from the X9.       the Ultimate package. Also at this level,
combines were launched to the world’s     get excited about.                          The very latest G5 Plus  the operator benefits from a fridge,
media on a digital platform,                                                          CommandCenter            touchscreen radio and five cupholders!
appropriate for the new ‘digital’ range      The new S7 Series has been               display provides a 35%
of combines. Available on-farm in         equipped with the same cab and              larger screen.           No need to slam
2025, a number of pre-production S7’s     exterior styling as the flagship X9         Operators also benefit
have been involved in a demo tour of      combines. The spacious cab is pure          from a leather           The cab door has also been designed
the UK, Deere quite keen to showcase      ‘climate-controlled’ luxury. Falling        ActiveSeat II, fridge,   to allow air dissipation, eliminating the
their potential new top-selling range to  conveniently to the operator’s hand is      touchscreen radio and    need to slam it to make it dust tight.
prospective purchasers. We were lucky     the CommandPro multi-functional             five cupholders! The     This is true automotive quality on a
enough to encounter the range-            handle, same as fitted to the tractors,     cab door has also been   combine. An LED lighting package
topping S7 900 as it made its way         providing control to virtually every        designed to eliminate    gives the operator full 360-degree
through the country to see what           aspect of the combine’s operation. I        the need to slam it to   nighttime visibility.
                                          liken it very much to a computerised        make it dust tight!
                                                                                                                  Incorporated within the new
                                                                                                               combine is new electronic

John Deere’s new
range-topping S7 900
combine harvesting
winter oats, near
Salisbury, Wiltshire.

20 WWW.FARMMACHINERYJOURNAL.CO.UK OCTOBER 2024