OLATHE, Kan. (January 30, 2023) John Deere is now offering HarvestLab 3000 Grain Sensing on 2018 or newer John Deere S700 Series Combines. Grain Sensing continuously measures and monitors protein, starch and oil values in wheat, barley or canola in real time as the combine is harvesting. This site-specific data can then be viewed in the combine, or in the John Deere Operations Center.

“When a farmer has site-specific data on a field’s harvest quality they know if the wheat coming out of the field is of baking or fodder quality,” said Christopher Murray, marketing manager for John Deere. “This knowledge gives them the ability to store their grain in separate batches according to quality and then market that grain more selectively.”

Site-specific data helps farmers precisely document the harvest as the grain quality is recorded at each individual point in the field. “This level of detail lets them compare varieties or confirm if machines were properly set,” Murray said. “They are also able to see areas of the field that most successfully converted nutrients into yield, protein or oil, so next season’s fertilizer plan can be adjusted.”

Grain Sensing is the fourth application of John Deere HarvestLab 3000. For years, farmers have successfully used HarvestLab for constituent sensing on John Deere self-propelled forage harvesters, for manure sensing on liquid manure applicators, and as a stationary desktop unit to analyze forage and samples.

“This fully integrated John Deere solution helps small grain farmers be successful at every production step, from tillage, planting, protecting and nurturing, to harvest,” Murray said.

As the combine moves through the field, a motor-driven auger pushes grain in front of the HarvestLab 3000 near-infrared sensor. Together, with the StarFire receiver, site-specific data is generated on the Generation 4 Display and sent to Operations Center via JDLink. Farmers can use Operations Center to review harvest results and field profitability with different tools that include Analyze and Field Analyzer. Farmers can also pair information in Operations Center with partner software to gain additional insights or to create application maps for fertilizer or other inputs.

HarvestLab 3000 Grain Sensing can be ordered for 2018 and newer John Deere S700 Series Combines. For more information, visit John Deere.com or contact your local John Deere dealer.