The restyling of the John Deere F8 and F9 Forage Harvesters

igh performance and driving comfort characterize the new John Deere F8 and F9 self-propelled forage harvesters which are making their debut at Agritechnica. The models introduce important upgrades starting with the cabin, which is larger and more comfortable. The interior space is equipped with practical and intelligent solutions for storing every object in an orderly fashion. The ActiveSeat swivels 16° left and right for improved access and movement around the cabin. As an option, John Deere offers the ActiveSeat II with adjustable electric controls, heating/cooling, massage and active suspension that isolates up to 90% of vertical movements. The cabin pillars are slim and the windows are panoramic, so as to leave ample visibility for the operator. The equipment is completed by the rear axle steering system with a turning radius of 6 meters.

The F8 and F9 are equipped with intuitive controls for operating the vehicle and harvesting settings. The ergonomic CommandPRO joystick, which can have up to eleven customizable buttons, is easily configured via the G5/G5Plus CommandCenter touchscreen display, which includes settings for cutter bar retraction, spout opening, AutoTrac, ProTouch, Machine Sync and all-wheel drive. The display, with special menus for forage harvesters, is 35% larger and 75% faster than previous models, with 1080P HD resolution. The monitor is 12.8 inches and allows you to monitor multiple functions simultaneously. The essential vehicle data is displayed in clear infographics on the display which has been placed on the corner pillar. John Deere forage harvesters offer various engine options with the JD14X engine – featured on all F8 models – which delivers power from 425 up to 645 horsepower. The engine speed management, optimized with HarvestMotion technology (maximizing productivity at low speeds and constant power), improves fuel efficiency – states the American company – by reducing rpm during transport and at the headland. The F9 series, on the other hand, is equipped with a JD18X engine for the F9 500 to F9 700 models with rated power from 700 Hp to 820 Hp. The system features a high-pressure common-rail system, series-mounted turbochargers and cooled exhaust gas recirculation (EGR), with no AdBlue required. All JD18x engines include HarvestMotion Plus technology. The F9 900 and F 1000 models are equipped with a third type of engine, the 24.2-liter Liebherr V12, which delivers up to 1020 Hp.

An impressive technological package completes the equipment of the forage harvesters. Among the most interesting solutions are: the Forward Speed Automation system, which adjusts the machine speed and engine rpm based on the load, the Active Fill Control which uses a system of stereo cameras to automatically control the rotation and position of the spout, detecting vehicles used to transport the harvested product and directing the unloading, the ProTouch Harvest technology which automates headland maneuvers, managing the lifting of the header, the control of the spout and the AutoTrac functions. The new forage harvesters have also been designed by John Deere engineers to optimize silage quality. The IDS 2.0 dosing system is integrated with the HarvestLab sensor and features a 50-liter insulated tank for concentrated additives and a 325-liter insulated tank for high-volume or water applications, as well as a cleaning system with a clean water tank. John Deere also offers two advanced kernel processor options: the Ultimate 250 with 250 mm rollers, temperature monitoring and a foldable design for improved maintenance, and the XStream 305 with 305 mm rollers, with a 56% larger surface area, electric adjustment and oil mist greasing.