John Deere introduces “hands-free baling”. This integrated automation system is designed to make baling cornstalks and straw easier and more consistent. It enables getting the job done quickly and correctly.
“The hands-free baling technology combines John Deere’s guidance feature, AutoTrac, with our Weave Automation round baler feature. It makes a repetitive baling job easier and more efficient,” said Kaylene Ballesteros, marketing manager for hay and forage equipment at John Deere. “By automating the baling process, we’re helping operators simplify the job and reduce the opportunity for error.”
Hands-free baling is one seamless solution that gives farmers and ranchers confidence that the job will be completed efficiently and consistently with minimal manual input, regardless of who is in the cab. This frees operators to focus on other priorities across their operations.
Easier for every operator
Scoped specifically for cornstalks and straw baling, hands-free baling combines multiple John Deere technologies into one coordinated system, including AutoTrac guidance, AutoTrac Turn Automation, gate automation, speed automation and weave automation on a John Deere 1 Series round baler.
Together, these technologies allow the tractor and baler to work seamlessly together to:
- Automatically follow windrows using guidance from the previous combine passes
- Weave the baler for consistent, square-shouldered bale formation
- Get consistent bales with less effort with speed and gate automation managing tractor speed and controlling the gate by stopping, wrapping and ejecting the bale at the right time
- Execute efficient, repeatable turns on headlands.
This level of integration significantly reduces the need for manual input, transforming the baling process into a more streamlined and consistent operation.
Internal testing against manual baling shows the coordinated solution can deliver:
- Up to 8.4% more productivity, measured in bales per hour
- Up to 4.4% improved fuel efficiency
- Up to 76% reduction in operator activity, including steering and control inputs
“These gains make long days in the field more manageable,” Ballesteros says. “When you can produce more bales per hour while using less fuel and requiring fewer inputs from the operator, you get the freedom to focus on what is most important to you.”
Extending value of precision solutions
Baling hands-free extends the value of existing precision ag solutions by connecting baling with the rest of the operation. By utilizing guidance lines created during earlier corn or wheat passes, the system creates a more connected workflow across the field, from crop production to harvest, while helping improve return on investment in precision technology. This integrated approach also supports better documentation and data visibility through the John Deere Operations Center.
The solution is available on select John Deere 1 Series Round Balers with 6R, 7R and 8R Tractors equipped with the required precision ag technologies including Weave Automation.
