Day out with John Deere's latest

Students at the WA College of Agriculture (WACA) in Narrogin got the chance to see one of the newest harvesters recently.

Local machinery dealer Greenline Ag held a ride and drive day on the school grounds for students and farmers.

On show was a new S680 combine harvester and an 8R Interim Tier 4 tractor, both released this year along with a full range of products, from hay bailers to tractor lawn mowers.

WACA Narrogin farm manager Andrew McDonald said the ride and drive day was a chance for Year 11 and 12 students to see state-of-the-art technology.

"The main aim of these sorts of days for students is educational outcomes - it's not just all fun," Mr McDonald said.

Students had the chance to go for a ride on a Gator and all-terrain motorbikes before hitting the classroom to talk about advances in technology, including the S-Series combine harvester.

Greenline Ag business manager Ken Paolini said the new harvester had been released just a month earlier in the US. It will be demonstrated this harvest and be for sale with delivery in time for next harvest.

The S-Series has new transmission options including a push-button electric shift transmission and proDrive automatic transmission.

The cab has more space and comfort with easy-to-use harvesting controls and 'infotainment' options.

And for threshing, John Deere claims to have the most advanced concept - a variable steam rotor, giving better straw quality, low power consumption, low fuel consumption and high separator capacity.

Header front widths are up to 10.5m, there's a 14,000-litre grain capacity tank, a 30 per cent larger chaffer, 19 per cent bigger sieve and reduced tailings.

Carts can be filled in seconds via high speed unloading at 134 litres a second and a folding auger for improved manoeuvrability.

The engine is a John Deere Power Tech PSX unit with six cylinders, turbo-charging, emission level Tier III B and fully automatic exhaust gas recirculation technology.

Features of the new 8R Interim Tier 4 tractor include improved steering control with the Active Command Steering, higher horsepower and real-time updates to your computer and mobile using the JD Link Service Adviser.

There is also a new CommandCentre display unit with an optional touch screen and a variable transmission mode.

Mr Paolini said Greenline Ag's three ride and drive days in Lake Grace, Narrogin and Boyup Brook gave customers a chance to test drive the latest technology.

Next year, the dealer will look at holding one central event.