Farms and Farm Machinery – September 2019

34 TradeFarmMachinery.com.au THE TRACTOR YOU WANT IS NOW EASIER TO FIND

F

orage Harvesters are one those farm machines you could

look at forever and still find things to appreciate. Their sheer

size alone steers your glance towards them and often you hear

diesel being turned into noise before you see them, but that’s

before you begin to recognise the amount of technology the ag

giants pump into them.

So, on a shoot for Mighty Machines TV in New Zealand, we

tested one of the best on the market, the John Deere 8500,

at a maize farm in New Zealand’s South Island (if you haven’t

seen Mighty Machines yet, then here is your official invitation to

take an afternoon off and binge-watch the whole series).

For the price of two Porsche sports cars, a farmer can get their

hands on 600 horsepower (447kW) from a machine that dwarfs

a Hummer.

ENGINE

Let’s start with the powerplant. The latest John Deere 8500

forager boasts a 13.5L John Deere Powertech engine. The

Tier 2 compliant 8500 engine pushes out a hefty 577hp (430kW),

but to keep the masses happy, the 8000 series range offers

six different powered models between 375hp (280kW) and

617hp (460kW).

Engine access and serviceability are a focus point of the 8000

series choppers. Easy-to-open access points are found at the

rear and side panels; while this isn’t a unique feature of Deere,

the access latches are at a useful height making the chore that

little bit more convenient.

John Deere also says that the machine will benefit from fuel

savings if equipped with the ProDrive system, which essentially

shifts between ranges as ground conditions change, keeping the

machines harvesting at the “optimum” speed.

CAB

The inside of the 8500 is similar to that of its combine range

cousin. So, if you’re acquainted with the JD combine range

then you’ll feel right at home here as the 8500 features familiar

functions like the A-pillar display and command arm console.

It’s a four-pillar cab so it’s comfortable and provides great

visibility to the front and the rear. The new curved and tilted

windscreen has an anti-glare feature designed to minimise

reflections, giving you clear visibility of the crop and header at

night and in rainy conditions. Inside you’ll find that multi-function

‘hydro handle’ joystick that does everything from driving,

loading, cutting, feedroll engagement, you name it.

We certainly believe it’s a machine you would feel comfortable

being in for long days, which really is the number one feature for

a forager behind cutting ability.

In terms of the nerdy gear inside, you have automatic air con,

you also have Bluetooth connectivity to connect your devices,

which obviously provides hands-free calling and music playback,

all selected from the right hand CommandArm console so you

are not ferreting around above your head to change your song.

Every manufacturer claims they have the most ‘ergonomic’

armrest – it must be the buzzword for Ag manufacturers at

the moment – but the John Deere 8500 really is convenient.

Everything is laid out in intelligent locations, at an arm’s length.

The access latches are at

a useful height, making the

chore that little bit more

convenient.

HARVESTERS

Whilst on a Mighty

Machines shoot recently,

Harrison Hunkin and

Jaiden Drought got into

the cab of a John Deere

8500

1

2

cutting