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- A New Zealand farm increased harvesting speed and efficiency after deploying the Case IH AF10 Combine Harvester during a wet 2026 harvest season.
- The high-capacity combine helped operators harvest wheat, ryecorn, and ryegrass despite heavy rainfall and difficult field conditions in Canterbury.
- Equipped with a 775-horsepower engine and a 20,000-litre grain tank, the machine reduced unloading time and improved throughput during short harvesting windows.
- Farmers say larger automated combines are becoming increasingly important as unpredictable weather, tighter harvest periods, and labour pressures continue to affect farm productivity globally.
A 490-hectare arable farm in Canterbury, New Zealand, has increased its harvesting speed and efficiency after deploying a new high-capacity combine, even as heavy rainfall disrupted the 2026 harvest season.
The machine, a Case IH AF10 combine harvester, was introduced to replace an older model in a bid to improve throughput and reduce delays caused by unpredictable weather, particularly during critical harvest windows.
The move comes as farmers in the region faced challenging conditions, with about 260mm of rain recorded between January and February, limiting field access and slowing harvesting operations.
Despite this, the farm was able to harvest crops including wheat, ryecorn and ryegrass more efficiently, as the combine’s higher capacity and automation systems allowed it to process damp and green material with fewer interruptions.
Powered by a 775-horsepower engine and equipped with a 20,000-litre grain tank, the machine is designed to extend working time in the field and reduce unloading frequency, enabling faster progress during short weather windows.
(Read Also: Fraunhofer Develops On-Site Nitrous Oxide System To Help Farmers Cut Emissions And Optimise Fertiliser Use)
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Farmer Eric Watson said the investment was driven by the need to stay on schedule.
“We needed every advantage… to maximise returns,” he said, noting the machine performed well even in “atrocious weather conditions.”
He added that faster harvesting helps avoid knock-on effects such as delayed planting, which can reduce yields in the following season.
The combine’s automated Harvest Command system adjusts key settings such as speed and grain separation in real time, improving consistency and reducing losses during operation.
Industry experts say such high-capacity, tech-enabled machinery is becoming increasingly important as farms contend with tighter harvest windows, labour constraints and more variable weather patterns.
For mixed cropping farms, the ability to handle different crop types and moisture levels efficiently could prove critical in maintaining productivity under changing climate conditions.
