Grainswest Tech 2021

Tech 2021 Grains West 18 R obot vehicles and handheld crop sensors are not tomorrow’s dreams, they are agriculture’s here and now. And while such digital, high-tech innovations are available to farmers and crop researchers, agriculture is a physical pursuit that also benefits from advances in hardware engineering. The following new and improved gear represents a wide array of technological innovation on both digital and mechanical fronts. We examine six pieces of inspired equipment BY GEOFF GEDDES FEATURE AUTOMATIC TIME SAVER The AGCO AutoDock header docking system is the first of its kind. Inspired by customer feedback, it automatically connects and disconnects combine headers. AGCO farmers wanted the capability to quickly hook and unhook their headers while not becoming GEAR EXPLORATION covered in dust and chaff in the process. This is especially helpful when headers need to be changed often between fields and crops. “This product really simplifies the entire process,” said Kevin Forth, AGCO senior tactical marketing manager for harvesting. “You approach the header with the combine, lift the header, push a button on the screen and it connects the hydraulics and drive shafts automatically in about five seconds.” When a new user hooks the header up manually, they may not do so correctly. The AutoDock system eliminates such errors as it remembers the settings previously used for that header, which ensures 100 per cent accuracy every time. “By reducing a two- to three-minute chore to five seconds, the system is part of a growing trend towards automated processes and vehicles. This will only accelerate in the future,” said Forth. “These are the smart solutions you need going forward. While saving a few minutes may not sound like a lot, if you change your header three to four times a day, that really adds up over the course of a season. It could save you several hours over that period and give you an extra day at the end of harvest. With the weather challenges in this business, that could make all the difference.” The docking system is available for the Command corn header and DynaFlex draper headers. By early 2022, the company plans to offer a third-party kit that adapts the system to additional headers.