New Features Improve Speed, Control, Weed Detection, and Efficiency
John Deere is introducing a powerful lineup of new automation features and front-end upgrades for its 2026 combines, focused on improving harvesting efficiency and ease of use.
Bergen Nelson, market manager for harvesting equipment, told Farms.com that 2025 brought major updates to the X9 and S Series combines with the launch of predictive ground speed automation and harvest settings automation.
For 2026, those technologies are expanding.
One of the biggest upgrades is weed detection. Cameras on the front of the combine will now detect weedy areas in the field and adjust the machine's speed accordingly.
This new system also creates a weed pressure map in the John Deere Operations Center, helping growers track weed issues for future planning.
Another update is out-of-crop adjustment, part of harvest settings automation.
When the combine exits a crop area, it will automatically adjust settings like fan speed and sieve positions to avoid grain loss.
The Combine Auto Unload feature is a new enhancement to the existing Machine Sync technology.
A camera mounted on the unloading auger will now automatically control grain cart positioning once synced, making unloading easier for operators.
For those in the West, John Deere’s new three-piece reel for HDF and HDR headers is a game changer.
The design keeps a consistent cutter bar-to-reel relationship as wings flex and includes 32% more tines spaced only four inches apart.
This setup helps capture low-podding crops like peas and lentils more effectively. The Cam reel can be added to HDF, HDR, or RDF heads with a retrofit kit.
All these 2026 updates aim to improve harvest precision, reduce operator workload, and increase crop retention.
Nelson walks you through these updates and more in the video below.