OLATHE, Kan. — Nearly 16 years ago, John Deere introduced the StarFire guidance system. Improvements were made in the following years with StarFire iTC and StarFire 3000 receivers.

Now, the company takes satellite-based guidance to even higher levels of accuracy, repeatability and signal pull-in speed with the introduction of the StarFire 6000 receiver and SF3 signal.

According to Mike Moeller, John Deere Intelligent Solutions Group, the new StarFire 6000 receiver has been designed to give customers greater precision capabilities, accuracy and uptime.

“The StarFire 6000 Receiver offers a full range of differential correction levels, from the base SF1 satellite-delivered signal to the premium RTK option,” Moeller explains. “And to optimize the performance of the StarFire 6000 receiver, we’re offering the all-new SF3 correction level, which delivers 40% greater pass-to-pass accuracy, new in-season repeatability and 66% faster pull-in time than the previous SF2 correction level.”

With the combination of the StarFire 6000 Receiver and SF3 signal, customers can get RTK-like accuracy without having to invest in an RTK system, or if they are operating in fields without an RTK network.

“StarFire 6000 with SF3 is a great solution when RTK is not available and customers want in-season repeatable accuracy to 1.2 inches,” he says. “SF3 customers can use the same guidance lines for multiple passes throughout the growing season which allows precise placement of seed and nutrients without shifting lines or remapping boundaries.”

The new StarFire 6000 receiver has been designed to give customers greater precision capabilities, accuracy and uptime.

In addition to improved accuracy and repeatability, the StarFire 6000 also delivers improved uptime that keeps precision ag systems running in challenging conditions. By using the latest navigation algorithms, the StarFire 6000 can track up to three StarFire satellite signals at once, intelligently choose the one that will deliver the best performance, and automatically switch to an alternate signal to help maintain accuracy and performance if the primary signal is blocked.

An improved Rapid Recovery feature allows for a quicker return to high-accuracy performance if the GNSS signals are lost due to shading from trees, buildings or terrain. StarFire 6000 RTK customers also receive up to 14 days of RTK Extend, which allows machinery to keep operating with guidance even with a lost or interrupted signal.

In addition, the StarFire 6000 Receiver has a built-in USB port to more quickly and easily install software updates in about 3 minutes compared to more than 20 minutes with the previous receivers. The receiver also has a built-in 8GB data-logger to capture and store data for improved trouble shooting and diagnostics.

Current StarFire iTC and Starfire 3000 customers can easily upgrade to the new StarFire 6000 Receiver and SF3 signal this year. This newest guidance technology can be factory installed on Model year 2017 sprayers, combines, tractors and other platforms.

New High Capacity Nutrient Applicator

To help ag service providers and large-scale producers apply fertilizer and lime to more acres per day during short, busy application seasons, John Deere introduces the F4365 High Capacity Nutrient Applicator.

This new machine offers increased capacity with a 330-cubic foot New Leader dry spinner spreader that can apply fertilizer at rates up to 1,100 pounds per acre and lime at rates up to 6,600 pounds per acre.

The machine can also variable-rate apply up to four different products during a single pass, with spreader widths of 60-90 feet. The F4365 High Capacity Nutrient Applicator is powered by a John Deere PowerTech PSS 9L engine and features an IVT transmission. These machines integrate the latest in technology, including a new Generation 4 CommandCenter Display with SpreadStar, AutoTrac, and Section Control at your fingertips.

These machines are also equipped with JDLink Connect with Service Advisor Remote and Wireless Data Transfer to connect your fleet. AgLogic is available to optimize the machine with the tendering fleet and maximize productivity. All this is designed to ensure accurate product placement and make it seamless and easy to collect and transfer important data.

“We’ve designed the F4365 to be the best-in-class high capacity nutrient applicator in terms of performance and productivity in the field,” says Dave Mulder, product manager with John Deere Crop Care. “We’ve improved the overall durability, ride quality, and operation of this machine, and extended service intervals to make service and maintenance easier — all to increase uptime in the field.”

These new machines have a 46 mph road transport speed and up to a 30 mph application speed, reducing the time it takes to get between fields and over fields.

AutoTrac Additions & Improvements

Two new AutoTrac products are available to help row crop producers and ag service providers more accurately navigate row-crop fields when making post-emergence sprayer applications. 

AutoTrac Vision utilizes a single-lens camera to detect crop rows and help steer the sprayer down the center of the row for early post-emergence applications. AutoTrac RowSense uses a row sensor similar to that used on combines to detect crop rows and steer the sprayer to the center of the row for later season post applications.

Doug Felter, product marketing manager for John Deere, says the introduction of these two new AutoTrac guidance products is designed to help large-scale row-crop producers and ag service providers work more quickly, cover more acres and reduce run-over damage to crops when spraying in the fields.

“Because of field terrain, planter drift, or irregular planting without guidance, spraying in row crops can present challenges for sprayer operators making post emerge applications,” Felter explains. “These two new guidance applications help sprayers track more accurately between the rows, resulting in reduced crop damage, less operator fatigue and more effective field applications.”

New AutoTrac Vision uses a monocular camera mounted on the front of the sprayer to detect crop rows and to steer the vehicle between the rows for early season post-emerge applications. It is currently approved for use in corn, soybeans and cotton planted in 30-inch rows starting when the crop is at least 6 inches tall. It can be used until there is at least 3 inches of soil showing between rows or up to 90% canopy closure.

AutoTrac RowSense uses a sensor paddle mounted on the sprayer wheel to detect crop rows and to help steer the machine down the center of the row. Designed to be used later in the growing season, RowSense is currently approved for use in corn at least 4 feet tall planted in 30-inch rows.

Both systems are available as field-installed kits on currently operating machines or from the factory on new John Deere R4023, R4030, R4038 and R4045 Sprayers. A GS3 AutoTrac RowSense activation is required.

New MaxEmerge 5e Row Units

John Deere is introducing the MaxEmerge 5e row units to help corn and soybean growers improve planting accuracy, reliability and uptime. Available in time for use next spring, the variable-rate MaxEmerge 5e row units can be used on a wide variety of John Deere planters, including popular mini-hopper and DB planters.

Brian Boelens, product specialist John Deere Seeding, says the new MaxEmerge 5e row units provide significant improvement in seeding population accuracy across the full width of the planter, especially when operating on curves.

“With planters equipped with the electric meter drive for each row unit and related technology, customers can achieve up to a 20% improvement in population accuracy and eliminate a potential one to two percent yield loss due to seeding inaccuracies,” Boelens says.

While the MaxEmerge 5e row units still utilize a seed tube, an electric drive meter on each row unit replaces traditional shafts and drivelines, allowing each row unit to work independently. Eliminating these components also provides easier access to each row unit and decreases time and labor needed for planter maintenance.

The MaxEmerge 5e row units can be used on 1725 16-row, 1775NT, 1795, DB44, DB60, DB66, DB80, DB88, and DB90 planters, including mini-hopper, 1.6-bushel and 3-bushel hopper models. It is compatible with SeedStar 3HP and SeedStar Mobile seed monitoring systems that have a wireless data server.

Standard features of the MaxEmerge 5e row units include variable rate, individual row electric meter drives; SeedStar 3HP monitoring system; one year free activation of SeedStar Mobile; Curve Compensation; vacuum automation; meter runoff and built in RowCommand. To operate the electric drive meters, tractors need to have PTO for electric power generation.

Optional features available for use with planters equipped with MaxEmerge 5e units include easy-adjust row cleaners, individual row hydraulic downforce, pneumatic closing wheels and, depending on model of planter, fertilizer attachments. Active pneumatic downforce is standard equipment on all MaxEmerge 5e row units and ExactEmerge models.