Thursday February 29 Ag News

 Nebraska Beef Council March Board Meeting

The Nebraska Beef Council Board of Directors will have a virtual meeting at the NBC office in Kearney, NE located at 1319 Central Ave. on Monday, March 11, 2024 beginning at 12:00 p.m. CDT. The NBC Board of Directors will discuss strategic planning. For more information, please contact Pam Esslinger at pam@nebeef.org.  



I-29 Moo University Dairy Beef Short Course on March 21 to provide the latest economics, genetics, marketing information

The 2024 I-29 Moo University Dairy Beef Short Course is scheduled for Thursday, March 21 as part of the finale for the Central Plains Dairy Expo. It will be held in the auditorium of the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center in Sioux Falls.

The focus of this years’ program is economics, marketing opportunities and genetics.

“We have national leaders in their fields presenting this year,” said Fred Hall, dairy specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach. “They will definitely make it worth your trip to Sioux Falls. Their knowledge will be of benefit to all dairy beef producers.”

Presenters and topics will include:

Dairy Beef Industry Outlook – Darrell Peel, Oklahoma State University
Peel’s presentation will cover the current cattle supply and demand fundamentals and expectations for prices, production, and cattle inventories for 2024 and beyond. He will also include interactions between the beef and dairy sectors in the broader beef market.

Beef on Dairy Economics: Results of a Video Auction Analysis – Dr. Ken Odde, Kansas State University
Odde’s presentation will cover the results of a video auction analysis of dairy x beef calves. The objective was to determine the value of Holstein feeder steer lots compared with steer lots of other breed descriptions, the value of beef x dairy cross weaned steer calves compared with either Holstein weaned calves or weaned calves of other breed descriptions, and the value of beef x dairy cross weaned steers and heifers compared with weaned steers and heifers of other beef breed descriptions sold through video auctions.

Genetic Considerations for a More Valuable Calf – Dr. Bob Weaber, Kansas State University
Optimization of the value of calves produced in beef x dairy crossing systems requires careful consideration. Dairy cattle breeds bring differing strengths and levels of performance for economically important carcass and production traits and these differences should influence the genetic merit requirement of the selected beef service sires. Weaber will discuss how selection of beef service sires that complement these attributes, especially ribeye area, red meat yield and carcass weight, is critical for dairy producers and other downstream partners to realize the added value and sustainability of the matings.

How Do Dairy Based Cattle Fit into Value-Based Markets? – Dr. Lauren Kimble, Select Sires
Intertwining research findings and industry data, this presentation investigates how the increased volume of beef x dairy cattle in the market has molded trends and mindsets from the dairy producer to the packer, and everything in between. These insights can help dairy producers to participate more effectively in a dynamic and value-driven beef market.

There will also be a morning and afternoon Q & A session moderated by Dr. Warren Rusche from South Dakota State University.

Registration fee is $70 per adult plus $15 if a printed copy of the proceedings is desired. College students may register for a discounted rate of $20. A lunch will be provided.

To register, visit https://go.iastate.edu/24DBSC or mail the registration fee with your contact information and any dietary restrictions to Fred Hall at 400 Central Ave., NW, Suite 700, Orange City, IA 51041. Preregistration deadline is March 8.

If attendees also plan to attend the Central Plains Dairy Expo, they should register for that in advance at https://www.centralplainsdairy.com/registration/.

Questions can be directed to Fred at 712-737-4230 or fredhall@iastate.edu.



Agritourism Checklists Help Those with On-Farm Visitors Manage Liability

Agritourism can be a fun and rewarding experience for Iowa landowners. With some careful planning and foresight, agritourism can provide supplemental revenue to a farm or become its main source of revenue.

Whatever your plans may be, make sure to do your homework. The excitement of a new idea or a new enterprise should not take the place of careful planning.

Kendra Meyer, a program specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach’s Farm, Food and Enterprise Development program, recently published two fact sheets that help guide owners of agritourism enterprises through critical decisions that must be made.

“Getting Started in Agritourism” is a three-page checklist that covers basic considerations such as legal issues, food regulations, visitor accommodations, farm emergency preparedness, biosecurity, pesticide safety, public play area safety, employee management and marketing practices.

“Iowa Agritourism Business Start-up and Licensing Guide” is a two-page checklist that covers the legal and regulatory requirements of starting and licensing a business in Iowa.

“These checklists help agritourism destination owners and workers take a look at simple but important tasks when creating or reviewing an enterprise,” said Meyer. “It is critical for the business and its success to make sure liability and regulatory requirements are met.”

Both documents are focused on risk management, according to Meyer, and are intended to simplify the process. Both also contain hyperlinks to state and federal entities involved with agritourism.

Meyer formed the checklists in response to comments shared from participating farmers, as well as the agritourism bus tours held the last two summers. The tour, as well as the checklists, are all part of a grant she received from the United States Department of Agriculture’s Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program.

Both publications are available for free on the ISU Extension Store. For more information, Meyer can be reached at ksmeyer@iastate.edu or 515-294-9483.



NPPC Commends NSIS Line Speed Expansion
 
The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) commended the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) for again extending the New Swine Inspection System line speed trials through Jan. 15, 2025. Processing facilities will enroll in a modified time limited trial, which will include a study to evaluate the impact of increased line speeds on worker safety.

“We appreciate USDA and FSIS for listening to the pork industry and taking another step toward making permanent these increased line speeds, which totals more than three percent of national harvest capacity,” said NPPC President and Missouri pork producer Scott Hays. “These actions give pork producers more certainty in an uncertain time.”

NPPC has advocated for increased line speeds since 2019, and in 2021, FSIS permitted increased line speeds at six pork packing plants while simultaneously gathering data to evaluate potential worker impacts.

In December 2023, NPPC applauded FSIS’s 90-day extension of the trials. After the results were collected, FSIS yesterday announced a swine study was needed and again extended the trials.

According to industry economists, without the increase in line speeds – and the resulting decrease in packing capacity – some pork producers could have incurred an additional loss of nearly $10 a head in the first and second quarters of 2024.

NPPC has regularly met with FSIS to underscore the importance of these trials and supports expanding and making permanent the line speed provisions to boost packing capacity and help alleviate supply issues.



Weekly Ethanol Production for 2/23/2024

According to EIA data analyzed by the Renewable Fuels Association for the week ending February 23, ethanol production edged 0.6% lower to 1.08 million b/d, equivalent to 45.28 million gallons daily. Yet, output was 7.5% more than the same week last year and 8.8% above the five-year average for the week. The four-week average ethanol production rate increased 2.0% to 1.07 million b/d, which is equivalent to an annualized rate of 16.39 billion gallons (bg).

Ethanol stocks climbed 2.0% to a 49-week high of 26.0 million barrels. Stocks were 5.0% more than the same week last year and 7.2% above the five-year average. Inventories built across all regions except the Rocky Mountains (PADD 4). with almost all of the build in the Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

The volume of gasoline supplied to the U.S. market, a measure of implied demand, expanded 3.3% to 8.47 million b/d (129.80 bg annualized). However, demand was 7.1% less than a year ago and 4.3% below the five-year average.

Refiner/blender net inputs of ethanol followed, rising 4.3% to a 9-week high of 872,000 b/d, equivalent to 13.37 bg annualized. Net inputs were 0.1% less than a year ago but 0.1% above the five-year average.

Ethanol exports were estimated at 77,000 b/d (3.2 million gallons/day), or 54.7% below the prior week. There were zero imports of ethanol recorded for the 23rd consecutive week.



Most Fertilizer Prices Slightly Higher for Second Straight Week

For the second straight week, more retail fertilizer prices were higher than lower compared to last month. And, once again, no fertilizer saw a significant price move in either direction.

Prices for six of the eight major fertilizers were higher in the week of Feb. 19-23 compared to a month earlier. Prices for the remaining two fertilizers were lower. For the fifth consecutive week, no fertilizer price moved significantly, which DTN designates as anything 5% or more.

Of the six fertilizers with a higher price, DAP had an average price of $749 per ton, MAP $812/ton, urea $534/ton, 10-34-0 $615/ton, UAN28 $339/ton and UAN32 $393/ton.

Prices for the remaining two fertilizers, meanwhile, were just slightly lower compared to last month. Potash had an average price of $506 per ton, while anhydrous was at $764/ton.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.58/lb.N, anhydrous $0.47/lb.N, UAN28 $0.61/lb.N and UAN32 $0.61/lb.N.

All fertilizers except one are now lower by double digits compared to one year ago. MAP is 3% lower, DAP is 11% less expensive, 10-34-0 is 17% lower, urea is 20% less expensive, potash is 25% lower, UAN28 is 28% less expensive, UAN32 is 29% lower and anhydrous is 32% lower compared to the year prior.



New Resource Helps Cattle Producers Maximize Profitability

A new resource developed by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and CattleFax helps cattle producers maximize profitability from their culling decisions. “Right Way. Right Time. – A Guide to Cull Cattle Management” is now available at www.ncba.org.

With effective planning, cull cattle can be a significant source of revenue and should not be overlooked. In essence, cull cattle are market cattle. This new document addresses key problem areas, provides strategies for making timely culling decisions to prioritize animal welfare, and is designed to help producers capture more value through effective management regarding cull cattle.

“Cull animals can contribute significantly to the profitability of the ranch,” said Dr. Trey Patterson, president/CEO of Padlock Ranch Company. “We spend extensive time and money adding replacement cattle to our herd, so it is imperative that we capture good value for cull cattle to offset these expenses.”

For cattle producers across the country, whether beef or dairy, cull cattle are part of doing business. Animals age, they no longer breed back, and their health deteriorates. Incorporating culling decisions into an operation’s best management practices benefits both animal welfare as well as the producer’s bottom line.

“Managing cull cattle to be in good condition, sound and fit to transport will increase their value significantly,” said Patterson. “The animals leaving our ranching operations are not only a valuable financial resource, but they also constitute a class of cattle that need and deserve as much care as any other animal on the operation.”

According to the 2022 National Beef Quality Audit, the market cow and bull sector provides an alternative product and a secondary value to animals once their original purpose is no longer suitable. When it comes to product fabrication, market cows and bulls are typically associated with ground beef production. However, over time, the industry has realized that some market cows and bulls have the potential to yield valuable primals to be fabricated and sold as retail cuts and to the restaurant trade.

For more information or to access the resource online, visit www.ncba.org/producers.  



USDA Seeks Nominees for the United Soybean Board

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is seeking nominees for the United Soybean Board to succeed 16 members who represent Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota and Virginia, and one alternate member in Georgia, all with terms that expire December 2024. Individuals appointed to the board will serve three-year terms beginning in late 2024 and ending in 2027. The deadline for nominations is May 3, 2024.

Soybean producers within the United States who own or share the ownership and risk of loss of soybean production are eligible for nomination. A soybean producer must be nominated by a qualified state soybean board and complete an application. The Secretary of Agriculture will select individuals from the nominations submitted.

A list of qualified state soybean boards, the nomination form and information about the Board are available on the AMS United Soybean Board webpage and on the Board’s website, unitedsoybean.org. For more information, contact Barbara Josselyn at 202-713-6918 or Barbara.Josselyn@usda.gov.



Cattle Industry Consortium Funds Research Aimed at Reducing Enteric Methane Emissions

Enteric methane, which animals release into the atmosphere by burping or exhaling, is a significant source of direct greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Today, the Greener Cattle Initiative (GCI), a multi-partner international consortium created by the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR) and Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy, opened its second request for proposals for research to develop scalable technologies that reduce enteric methane emissions and benefit farmers and ranchers, consumers and the environment.

Methane and carbon dioxide are GHGs that contribute to climate change. Yet, methane is more potent than carbon dioxide at trapping heat in the atmosphere. Reducing the amount of methane cows emit presents an opportunity to slow the effects of climate change while also helping the dairy and beef sectors meet their sustainability goals. However, more research is needed to determine how to safely, sustainably and productively do so.

GCI will consider applications addressing one or more of the following: Delivery mechanisms of non-vaccine enteric methane mitigation technologies; impact of applying interventions early in life to reduce enteric methane emissions later in life or in offspring; combined impacts of administering multiple enteric methane mitigation technologies to examine additive, synergistic or antagonistic effects; and long-term and longitudinal studies to evaluate lasting effects of enteric methane mitigation technologies on mitigation, animal health and productivity.

A maximum request of up to $5 million is available for all proposed projects. Matching funds are optional for this program. Pre-applications are due at 5 p.m. ET, April 3, 2024. All domestic and international higher education institutions, non-profit and for-profit organizations and government-affiliated research agencies are encouraged to apply. Visit the GCI Request for Applications webpage for additional information.

Additionally, FFAR is hosting an informational webinar about this funding opportunity on March 6, 2024, at 3 p.m. ET. Preregistration is required. A recording of the webinar will be available on FFAR’s website. FFAR invites interested individuals to submit questions in advance of the webinar to GreenerCattleInitiative@FoundationFar.org.

“This research is aimed at developing more enteric methane mitigation options for farmers and ranchers, so they can make informed, individualized decisions based on the conditions unique to their farms,” said Dr. Juan Tricarico, senior vice president for environmental research at the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy. “Scientifically proven solutions addressing farmers’ needs across the multitude of farming systems that exist today is critical for increasing adoption rates of these new technologies and methods and reducing greenhouse gases.”

In 2023, GCI awarded its initial grants in the total amount of $5,554,669 to Penn State’s Distinguished Professor of Dairy Nutrition Dr. Alexander N. Hristov; the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s Animal Sciences Professor Dr. Roderick Mackie; and the University of Wisconsin–Madison’s Assistant Professor of Quantitative Genomics, Dr. Francisco Peñagaricano.



Corteva Agriscience Launches Enversa Herbicide

Corteva continues its drive to deliver farmer-focused solutions with the launch of Enversa™ herbicide. The new versatile solution received U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) registration in December 2023. Pending state registrations, Enversa herbicide is expected to be available for use on soybeans, cotton, corn, sorghum, peanuts and sugar beets in the 2025 growing season.

“Enversa is a residual herbicide that will handle some of the toughest, hard-to-control broadleaf and grass weeds that farmers face today,” says Shawna Hubbard, Strategic Marketing Manager, Corteva Agriscience. “This will be the first soybean and cotton herbicide in Corteva’s portfolio to feature a proprietary encapsulated acetochlor component to help protect plants from emerging weeds.”

The encapsulated acetochlor complements tank-mix partners by allowing Enversa herbicide to move from the leaf surface and drive to the soil, resulting in a residual barrier around the soybean or cotton plant.

In addition to its versatility across crops, Enversa herbicide provides farmers with a wide application window — preplant up to R2 for soybeans and preplant up to first bloom for cotton — to help navigate challenging weather conditions. Enversa herbicide offers easy handling and tank-mix compatibility, particularly with Enlist One® herbicide for Enlist E3® soybeans and Enlist® cotton.

“Enversa is designed to serve farmers by providing high crop tolerance along with the residual weed control they’ve come to expect with Group 15 herbicides as part of their weed control program,” Hubbard says.

Enversa herbicide delivers extended weed control for up to four weeks on more than 25 of the toughest broadleaf and grass weeds, including Palmer amaranth and waterhemp. In addition to compatibility with Enlist One herbicide for Enlist E3 soybeans, Enversa herbicide will fit perfectly into a program approach along with other Corteva Agriscience™ soybean herbicides, such as Sonic® and Trivence®.



Pioneer Introduces New High-yield, High-performing Z-Series Soybeans

Building on 50 years of leadership and innovation in soybean research and variety development, Pioneer announces the commercial availability of Pioneer® brand Z-Series soybeans in the United States and Canada. This new class of soybeans offers farmers a significant yield advantage and better disease resistance.

“Z-Series soybeans represent the next step forward for soybean farmers, with a generational leap in yield potential and agronomic performance over any soybean line-up Pioneer has ever introduced,” said Liz Knutson, Pioneer U.S. Soybean Marketing Lead. “It is the sixth soybean series Pioneer has introduced in its 50-years of soybean breeding, with each series signaling trait technology innovations and transitions that set new standards for Pioneer soybean performance.”

Nearly 3 bu/A advantage over Pioneer® brand A-Series soybeans
While Pioneer® brand A-Series soybeans are notable throughout the industry for their yields, Pioneer expects Z-Series varieties to set a new benchmark for soybean yield potential. In extensive 2023 IMPACT™ trials, Z-Series soybeans showed an average yield advantage of 2.7 bu/A over A-Series soybeans, equating to an additional $35/acre USD return on investment.1

“The level of disease resistance and number of traits doesn’t matter if the genetics don’t yield,” said Don Kyle, Pioneer Soybean Breeding Evaluation Lead. “But with Z-Series soybeans, it was obvious from the beginning that we had something revolutionary.

“In the breeding world, we’re used to seeing small, incremental changes so a yield advantage like this is significant,” Kyle continued. “And the numbers aren’t just based on limited observations; we have years of data that have repeatedly shown Z-Series soybeans to be the highest-yielding varieties in each of the maturity groups – something we’re sure farmers will notice in the field and on the yield monitor.”

Localized performance and disease protection traits
In addition to a significant average yield advantage, this new class of soybeans offers outstanding disease and pest resistance. It features improved scores in sudden death syndrome (SDS), brown stem rot, white mold and iron deficiency chlorosis.

“The level and range of disease resistance serves as a testament to our R&D initiatives at a local level,” Kyle said. “Our breeders have access to one of the largest and most diverse soybean germplasm libraries in the world. From there, our extensive localized breeding and testing program allows us to deliver varieties that perform across a wide range of geographies and environments so they can withstand heavy disease pressure while delivering industry-leading yields.”

Z-Series soybeans also will deliver significantly improved protection against soybean cyst nematode (SCN) and Phytophthora. Thirteen new varieties will offer stacked Peking and Phytophthora resistance, the most ever introduced in a single year.

“With the new Z-Series soybeans with Peking and Phytophthora resistance, Pioneer will start to move Peking resistance into new maturity groups, giving farmers more tools to help fight SCN resistance,” Knutson said. “This is a critical issue for soybean farmers, and we’ll continue to devote time and research efforts to SDS, SCN and Phytophthora resistance.”

A complete range of herbicide traits
Pioneer is launching more than 50 new Z-Series soybean varieties in the U.S. and 20 varieties in Canada.
    Almost all varieties contain the Enlist E3® soybean trait for tolerance to 2,4-D choline, glyphosate and glufosinate (Liberty® herbicide), giving farmers in-season weed-control flexibility while reducing the potential for herbicide-resistant weeds to develop.
    For the Southern U.S. region, four new varieties contain BOLT® technology and the STS® gene.

“We expect Z-Series varieties with BOLT technology will be especially valuable for reduced-till and no-till farmers in the Southern U.S.,” Knutson said. “The BOLT varieties are the only soybeans that can be planted immediately after burndown applications of LeadOff® or Basis® Blend herbicides, giving those farmers a greater degree of planting-time flexibility.”

Full availability for 2025 planting season
Pioneer will offer limited availability of Z-Series soybeans for the 2024 planting season, with greater quantities available for 2025. Z-Series varieties will range from relative maturity 00.3 to relative maturity 6.4 – providing farmers across North America access to varieties that fit their needs.

“If there ever was a class of soybeans that was going to offer something truly, tangibly different, Z-Series soybeans are it,” Knutson said. “The performance is not something we’ve seen in just select seasons or through limited observation. We have several years’ worth of data proving the performance advantages of Z-Series soybeans – and that’s why we’re so confident and excited for farmers to see the yield and the agronomic performance for themselves. We believe they’ll decide very quickly that it’s smart to plant Z-Series soybeans.”



John Deere Announces See & Spray™ Premium Availability on 2025 Hagie STS Sprayers

John Deere announces the expanded availability of one of its premier technology solutions - See & Spray™ Premium – on model-year 2025 Hagie STS sprayers. Already available as a precision upgrade on select John Deere sprayers, See & Spray Premium is an AI-powered weed-sensing system that activates individual spray nozzles when target weeds are “seen” by boom-mounted cameras.

“The availability of See & Spray Premium on Hagie STS sprayers means that more farmers and more custom applicators will have access to one of the most powerful tools available for maximizing cost-efficiency and in-field productivity,” said Tim Deinert, John Deere go-to-market manager for application equipment.

With See & Spray Premium, farmers and custom applicators have the ability to pay for the technology when they need it, making their investment directly connected to their operational needs. This approach offers a customizable solution for operations of any type. Additionally, through improved data and farmer feedback, John Deere can enhance the technology through software updates and ultimately provide operational efficiencies as well as incremental value over the lifetime of the equipment.

Reduce post-herbicide use by more than 50%
See & Spray Premium uses a system of boom-mounted cameras to scan over 2,100 square feet of crop per second as the sprayer is in motion. On-board processors then determine whether an individual plant is crop or weed. Those processors send commands to individual ExactApply™ nozzles, which deliver a precise dose of herbicide only where the weed is recognized.

“Used in conjunction with a good residual herbicide, the ability to selectively spray only targeted weeds – without spraying an entire field – can potentially reduce postemergence herbicide use by more than 50%,” Deinert said. “At the same time, we’re reducing the number of water stops and lowering crop stress, all while increasing efficiency, profitability, and delivering cleaner fields with better yields. But as revolutionary as See & Spray Premium has been, its greatest value may be in the level of documentation it enables.”

In combination with John Deere Operations Center™, the system collects data from each application, showing precisely where spray solution was applied as well as the volume of chemical saved.

“After spraying, application data is sent to John Deere Operations Center,” Deinert said. “From there, farmers and their trusted advisors, including agronomists and crop consultants, can view layered maps showing where individual inputs were applied, and the chemical savings compared with a broadcast application. See & Spray Premium not only saves on input costs, but paired with the John Deere Operations Center, it also shows you the receipts.”

Improving the operator experience
In addition to See & Spray Premium, model-year 2025 Hagie STS sprayers will be available with the John Deere G5PLUS display and Integrated StarFire™ 7500 receiver, enabling the use of the most advanced John Deere guidance, documentation and automation products while offering a larger, faster, higher-definition operator interface.

“Taken together, the G5PLUS display and Integrated StarFire 7500 receiver can help save farmers and applicators real time,” Deinert said. “The faster processor in the display can import and export large guidance files in half the time of previous displays, and provides faster boot times, while the Integrated StarFire 7500 receiver with optional SF-RTK offers greater accuracy and repeatability, so boundaries and lines don’t shift from season to season.”

A game-changing innovation
With input costs rising, See & Spray Premium can be a game-changer for farmers and applicators who need to make the most of their time and chemical investment.

“Since the first self-propelled sprayers came to market nearly 80 years ago, this is where spray technology has been headed,” Deinert said. “See & Spray Premium is an exciting product, and we’re proud to continue our history of offering class-leading solutions to the industry.”



John Deere Introduces New S7 Series Combines

John Deere (NYSE: DE) introduces the new S7 Series of combines, a family of harvesters designed for efficiency, harvest quality and operator friendliness. Harvest time is no time to let up in the chase for efficiency. The new S7 Series of combines helps farmers and custom operators perform at the maximum to make the most of the season’s efforts.

“While we’ve made very visible updates to the cab and exterior styling, the real performance, efficiency and harvest-quality improvements come from the new engines, updated residue-handling, grain-handling and loss-sensing systems, new automation options and more,” said Bergen Nelson, John Deere go-to-market manager for harvesters. “With the S7 Series, farmers can reasonably expect productivity gains of up to 20%, with 10% less fuel used.”

The new S7 Series combine family includes four models:
    S7 600: 333hp/249kw rated power; 367hp/274kw max power
    S7 700: 402hp/300kw rated power; 460hp/343kw max power
    S7 800: 473hp/353kw rated power; 540hp/402kw max power
    S7 900: 543hp/405kw rated power; 617hp/460kw max power

New engines, new grain-handling and new residue management features
New S7 Series combines will be equipped with either the JD14 13.6L engine, or the JD9 9L engine, both in Final Tier 4 configuration, from John Deere Power Systems. Designed to produce higher power at lower RPMs, these powerhouses offer improved all-conditions performance and advanced diagnostics capabilities to help keep the S7 Series combines running strong, all day long.

“Farmers are under growing pressure to operate in both an economically and environmentally sustainable manner,” Nelson said. “The improvements we’ve made to these engines, from the new sensor design to the improved fuel dosing and EGR systems, will help bring emissions down to Final Tier 4 standards and reduce fuel consumption, all while helping increase uptime during critical harvest windows.”

The S7 Series combines also offer a new high-efficiency residue management system. Featuring straight knives, a mechanical tailboard drive, and the available Premium PowerCast™ tailboard, the S7 Series combines can more consistently size and spread fine- or extra-fine cut residue up to 45 feet, while drawing up to 15 fewer hp for residue management functions.

“Spring tillage begins with fall harvest,” Nelson said. “It’s critical for residue to be sized and spread properly to promote fast breakdown. The residue management system on the S7 Series combine can be configured with a range of tailboards and knives, so farmers can get the chop they need, regardless of crop.”

Once the grain carts start rolling, operators can be sure those hard-earned bushels are going into the cart and not on the ground, thanks to the new adjustable unloading spout. After the grain tank is emptied, the new cross-auger shutoff feature completely empties the unloading system, reducing weight in the unloading auger and reducing wear on the associated belts.

The new S7 Series combines also feature an improved grain loss monitoring system in base equipment.

“The new loss-sensing system detects grain loss at the rear of the cleaning shoes and the separator and is up to three times more accurate than the previous system,” Nelson said. “The loss rate is shown clearly on the in-cab display, so operators can quickly make any adjustments necessary.”

The S7 Series combine: corner-office comfort
Because a comfortable operator is a more productive operator, John Deere designed the S7 Series combines to be among the most comfortable ever produced. The new operator’s station offers more storage space, more cupholders, more heat for the feet, a more comfortable seat and more glass for better visibility – all designed for the operator to remain alert and focused through even the longest days of harvest.

“We’ve even redesigned the cab ladder,” Nelson said. “We increased its angle to make entry and exit easier and more comfortable, while also keeping the combine within transport width limits.”

Along with the operator comfort upgrades, John Deere will equip base S7 Series combines with the G5PLUS CommandCenterTM, an Integrated StarFireTM 7500 receiver, a JDLink™ modem, and a new corner post display.

“The new cab features and updates serve two purposes,” Nelson said. “The technology solutions pave the way for the new automation features and functionality, and the comfort and convenience updates help reduce distractions that can take the operator’s attention away from the task at hand. This is a win for farmers, custom harvesters, and their operators.”

Automated settings help keep operators focused
As every farmer knows, finding experienced combine operators can be a challenge. To help new operators become more productive in less time, the new S7 Series combines offer automation packages that allow operators to concentrate on the task at hand, with less worry over settings and ground speed. The Model-Year 2025 S7 Series and X9 Series combines are available with three technology packages operators can choose from – select, premium and ultimate. Available options in the ultimate package include:
    Ground Speed Automation, a dynamic ground speed control feature that helps maintain a consistent feed rate by automatically adjusting the combine’s ground speed based on operator inputs and operator-defined limits on variables such as grain loss, engine power and rotor pressure.
    Harvest Settings Automation helps operators get into the field faster by automatically setting concave clearance, fan speed, rotor speed, sieve clearance and chaffer clearance, all based on the combine model, crop type and geolocation. After the operator selects limits for grain loss, foreign material and broken grain, the system automatically adjusts the five initial settings to stay within the selected limits.
    Predictive Ground Speed Automation controls the combine’s ground speed based on crop height and biomass measurements taken pre-harvest from satellite scans and from on-the-go measurements made by cab-mounted cameras.

“These automation packages will help relieve pressure on newer operators while providing new conveniences and efficiencies for those with more experience,” Nelson said. “They’ll contribute to a faster, higher-quality harvest; allow farmers to put their more experienced labor into higher-value roles; and help reduce overall labor costs and equipment depreciation through faster harvest.

“Taken together, these updates make the S7 Series combines some of the most efficient, capable and operator-friendly machines we’ve ever produced, and will be game-changers for custom harvesters and farmers of all scales.”