John Deere Announces Model Year 2027 Combine & Front-End Equipment Updates

John Deere announced today a wide range of updates and enhancements to its model year 2027 X9 and S7 combines and front-end equipment. Utilizing the latest in predictive and automated technologies, these new features promise to help customers harvest under more diverse and dynamic crop conditions, utilize the automation across more crop types, and minimize the level of intervention required by the operator.

"These updates will enable our customers to achieve three critical goals: getting their crops out during tight harvest windows; helping less experienced operators perform better in the field; and achieving an efficient, high-quality harvest," said Nathan Kramer, John Deere harvesting marketing manager.

The new model year 2027 combine features include:

Harvest Settings Automation Updates

Harvest Settings Automation helps operators get into the field faster by automatically setting concave clearance, fan speed, rotor speed, sieve clearance, and chaffer clearance, all based on the combine model, crop type, and geolocation. After the operator inputs limits for grain loss, foreign material, and broken grain, the system automatically adjusts the five combine settings to stay within the selected limits.

Harvest Settings Automation is currently available for corn, soybeans, wheat, barley, canola, and rice. For model year 2027, Harvest Settings Automation will add lentils, peas, rye, triticale, oats, and sunflowers to the list of crops from which producers can choose.

"Expanding Harvest Settings Automation to six additional crop types highlights John Deere's commitment to turning customer feedback into real-world improvements," Kramer said. "That collaboration helps ensure our technology delivers consistent performance across a wide range of operations."

Predictive Ground Speed Automation Updates

First offered for model year 2025, Predictive Ground Speed Automation controls the combine's ground speed based on crop height and biomass measurements taken pre-harvest from satellite scans and from on-the-go measurements made by cab-mounted cameras. Predictive Ground Speed Automation uses terrain maps to automatically adjust combine speed for sensitive areas like waterways, ditches, and terraces. Cab-mounted cameras add real-time detection of conditions such as down crops or dense weed patches, allowing precise ground speed regulation through these areas for optimal performance.

For model year 2027, Predictive Ground Speed Automation features Green Crop Detection, a new feature that uses enhanced processing power and a highly trained algorithm to accurately detect green crops within an otherwise mature stand. Green Crop Detection allows Predictive Ground Speed Automation to adjust the combine's ground speed in response to a wider range of crop conditions, improving overall harvest efficiency.

Machines equipped with Predictive Ground Speed Automation will also be capable of using an operator-defined crop throughput target as an additional automation setting. When enabled, Predictive Ground Speed Automation with throughput will intelligently link ground speed with grain quality to help optimize harvesting performance and allow more dynamic speed adjustments to keep grain loss within acceptable limits.

"Until model year 2027, Predictive Ground Speed Automation and Harvest Setting Automation operated independently, each focusing on specific aspects of the combine's performance," Kramer says. "With these updates, the systems are now more closely integrated, allowing them to better achieve producers' desired outcomes by responding to one another."

John Deere is also launching Precision Upgrade Combine Automation Packages, allowing customers who purchased the Select Technology Package with a MY25 or newer S7 or X9 from the factory to upgrade to Premium or Ultimate Technology Packages. Customers who purchased the Premium Technology Package from the factory now have the option to upgrade to the Ultimate Technology Package. Premium and Ultimate upgrade kits unlock advanced automation, productivity gains, and future-ready capabilities for MY25 and newer machines without having to purchase a new combine.

Other MY27 Features Include:

Tru-Thresh concaves with remote concave and separator grate adjustment. New half-length concaves allow modular installation and improved durability, and are compatible with new, model year 2027 X9 combines. The new cradle also enables factory installation of the remote, from-the-cab, controlled concave and separator grate covers.

HarvestLab Install Ready. All model year 2027 X9 combines will feature factory pre-cut openings in the clean grain elevator suitable for HarvestLab mounting, making installation easier.

JDLink Boost. Both X9 and S7 combines can come equipped with a JDLink Boost receiver from the factory, providing satellite connectivity in areas with limited or no mobile connectivity. JDLink Boost also allows machines to transmit data in real time to and from the John Deere Operations Center, helping support the advanced automation and technologies, and providing information for farmers to better manage their fleets. 

Power folding ladder. All model year 2027 John Deere X9 and S7 combines will feature a new power folding ladder option similar to those available on select John Deere sprayers.

New 35' (10.7m) unloading auger. The new unloading auger on the X9 offers an additional 4ft (1.22m) of clearance between the header and unloading auger, enabling the use of wider headers.

New 550-bushel grain tank capacity. The optional 550-bushel grain tank on the X9 allows for longer time between unloads and more capacity when opening fields, and includes heavy-duty final drives.

"This past harvest year, thanks to features like Harvest Setting Automation and Predictive Ground Speed Automation, we saw productivity improvements of 20% or better, with a 10% increase in fluid efficiency," Kramer says. "These new features will help achieve the kinds of efficiency and productivity gains that producers need to maintain their edge in challenging crop and market conditions."

In addition to model year 2027 combine updates, John Deere is also launching updates to their front-end equipment lineup, including a new 27-row folding corn head (CF27) on 20" spacing. Corn head automation will be an optional feature on all model year 2027 heads, which will automatically control deck plate spacing and backshaft speed, resulting in improvements in productivity, efficiency, and grain loss for operators.

For more information, contact your local John Deere dealer or visit deere.com.