CLAAS Earlage Adapter Enhances Efficiency in Forage Harvesting

Jan 20, 2025
By Ryan Ridley
Assistant Editor, North American Content, Farms.com

New Feed Drum and Face Plate Design Improve Crop Handling

CLAAS is celebrating 50 years of its Jaguar forage harvesters with some new innovations.

One of those innovations is its new Earlage Adapter, a game-changer for forage harvesters, designed to improve efficiency and streamline operations.

Alan Osterhaus, territory specialist with CLAAS, met with Farms.com to discuss the new adapter's features, starting with the feed drum.

Unlike other models in the market, the Earlage Adapter’s feed drum spans the full width of the feed channel and is larger in diameter. Its shorter distance from the front to the back edge positions the header closer to the feed rolls, enabling faster and cleaner crop feeding into the machine.

Another critical innovation is the adapter's face plate, which can rotate side to side and contour to uneven ground. This unique feature enhances performance and adaptability in various field conditions.

The adapter also boasts a multi-link coupler that directly connects the forage harvester controls to the combine head. By eliminating the need for extra wires or hoses, the setup becomes simpler and more efficient.

Operators benefit from advanced functionalities like lateral contouring, steering via autopilot wands, and in-cab deck plate adjustments. These features ensure precision and ease during operation.

At the rear, a set of pins allows quick and secure attachment of the header, simplifying transport and setup. The latching system, accessible from the left-hand side of the machine, eliminates the need to crawl around in the dirt, enhancing user convenience.

The feed drum further adds to the adapter’s capability by rotating up and down, allowing smooth handling of crops. Its design ensures that ears of corn are gently guided into the feeder cabinet, increasing capacity and minimizing crop damage.

Watch the video below for a demo of these new features!

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Video: Dicamba Returns for Georgia Farmers: What the New EPA Ruling Means for Cotton Growers

After being unavailable in 2024 due to registration issues, dicamba products are returning for Georgia farmers this growing season — but under strict new conditions.

In this report from Tifton, Extension Weed Specialist Stanley Culpepper explains the updated EPA ruling, including new application limits, mandatory training requirements, and the need for a restricted use pesticide license. Among the key changes: a cap of two ½-pound applications per year and the required use of an approved volatility reduction agent with every application.

For Georgia cotton producers, the ruling is significant. According to Taylor Sills with the Georgia Cotton Commission, the vast majority of cotton planted in the state carries the dicamba-tolerant trait — meaning farmers had been paying for technology they couldn’t use.

While environmental groups have expressed concerns over spray drift, Georgia growers have reduced off-target pesticide movement by more than 91% over the past decade. Still, this two-year registration period will come with increased scrutiny, making stewardship and compliance more important than ever.