Merrill, Oregon Webster, ND
Dan Erickstad is running an AutoFarm ATC/OnTrac™ on his John Deere 9760 Combine. Here's what he had to say in early August about the system while harvesting barley.
"It's working great. It holds that baby on double zeros really nice. And if you're familiar with these systems that means it's holding right on the line.
"I've got my overlap set at one and it's getting within six inches using WAAS correction, which is pretty good with a 35 foot header on the front of the combine," says Erickstad.
"Being able to watch what you're doing is the main thing I think. With the OnTrac driving, I get a chance to keep an eye on my cutting height. If I'm coming to some lodged grain I don't have to worry about it, I can concentrate on raising and lowering my header and reel to make sure I get all the crop. I can keep an eye on my machine, watch my gauges a lot more, and still take a full header's worth. I make better use of the size of my combine by taking a full load."
"Another thing I like about it: after I steer around the field to make a headland, the ATC will tell me how many acres I bordered so I know exactly how big the field is. And, I mean, it's accurate."
"I think it makes you way more efficient. I used to just have a light bar and had a hard time getting myself to buy that. Well, when you see how much you save on fuel, and fuel is big now, it's kind of a no brainer. Those combines burn a gallon or gallon and a half an acre, you want to do the most you can."
"I've been in a field with somebody else and we were helping do some custom work and I told them you just stay away from me because I want to use my OnTrac, you go cut in another part of the field. You get kind of spoiled," says Erickstad.
"I can't imagine combining without it anymore, to be honest with you."