As the year concludes, machinery dealers in Western Australia are reflecting on their preferred equipment for the approaching harvest season. Among these, the Case IH Axial-Flow 10 combine stands out, particularly in the eyes of Matthew Joyner, a precision specialist at the Boekeman Machinery Dalwallinu branch. Joyner emphasizes the combine’s enhanced capacity and efficiency, stating, “The pairing of the AF10 with the FD261 from MacDon has really been a standout feature for me this season.”
Joyner notes that the AF10 is approximately one third larger than its predecessors. This includes key components such as the rotors, which are one third longer, and the sieves, which have also increased in size. The improvements extend to the unloading rate, which is easier to visualize when considering these proportions. An orientation shift in the motor configuration from east/west to north/south has resulted in significantly less power loss, further enhancing the machine’s performance.
The capabilities of the AF10 have been showcased across various locations, including Dalwallinu, Wongan Hills, Buntine, and Ballidu. Joyner highlights a critical metric for local grain producers: efficiency. He explains, “Farmers will say they don’t like grain loss and they do like efficiency, but what everyone cares about is being done by Christmas.”
The AF10’s performance has doubled the hectares harvested per hour compared to previous machines. Joyner reports that with the 61-foot front, they are achieving up to 150 hectares in a single day, compared to about 85 hectares with the 40-foot fronts. This efficiency not only promises to streamline the harvesting process but also ensures that families can enjoy the holiday season together.
In a notable anecdote, a local grain grower expressed profound appreciation for the FD261 front, attributing improvements in his mental health to the machine’s capabilities. Joyner relayed, “He told me that the new MacDon drapers had helped him with his mental health… Getting it done quickly is very beneficial.” While such feedback is not typically a selling point for machinery, it highlights the deeper impact that efficient harvesting can have on farmers’ lives, especially during demanding seasons.
As the industry gears up for the 2025 harvesting season, the responses from dealers like Joyner underscore a growing trend toward prioritizing efficiency and productivity in agricultural machinery. With record-breaking crops expected, the emphasis on timely harvesting remains paramount, as farmers aim to balance productivity with family life during the festive season.
