Case IH Unveils New 260 Series Combine

It is the year of the combine for CNH Industries. Both its Case IH and New Holland agriculture brands are producing Class 10+ combines -- the Case IH AF11 and New Holland CR11.

On Thursday, Case IH is making a second combine announcement in 2024 with the introduction of the Axial-Flow 260 combine series. Case IH says the 260 series brings together simplified operations and a core, subscription-free technology package installed at the factory.

"When you walk into that cab, everything with how the producer interfaces with the combine has changed," Leo Bose, harvesting segment lead at Case IH told DTN/Progressive Farmer. "That's what we hear from producers. It feels and acts like it should, but the user experience from a display perspective is like using a cellphone. Within three to four minutes, five minutes they have it figured out."

The 260 series combines, offered in Class 7, 8, and 9, integrates a subscription-free core technology package but retains all the Axial-Flow 250 series harvesting capacities and mechanical functions. The 260 series is the 14th generation of axial flow combines introduced by Case IH, first in 1977.

Prominent to the 260 series combines, Case said, are the Pro 1200 dual high-resolution displays, one mounted onto the right-hand console and the other at the right-hand pillar. Two displays give operators enhanced harvesting vision while also limiting the need to bounce back and forth between pages. The dual screens give operators access to machine metrics, field performance and grain quality in real time, Bose said.

"The customer is going through the field, looking at the head, they look over and see the machine settings, the automation working with Harvest Command, and they see the image of the grain, looking for cracks, brokens -- watching Harvest Command change the settings to confirm or validate their (own) settings," Bose said.

Subscription-free connectivity also will soon give customers the ability to remotely view machine and agronomic data by way of the new Case IH FieldOps platform, when it is launched later in 2024.

"Historically, (these technologies) would have been upgraded or something you had to go back and purchase. Activations and unlocks are all going to be included to run these core precision technologies," said Kendal Quandahl, who manages the precision technology segment for Case IH in North America.

For technologies beyond the core package, customers will be able to purchase an upgrade package from the factory. "For example, if you are interested in cart automation, you could add some of those additional features or activations needed to run that right from the factory."

Subscription-free technologies integrated with a base Axial-Flow 260 series include:

-- Harvest Command combine automation. Harvest Command automatically optimizes settings to maximize throughput and grain quality and features the high-resolution Pro 1200 dual displays.

-- RowGuide Pro and AccuGuide autoguidance systems. The latter is a GPS positioning system that can distinguish between cut and uncut rows and aid in nighttime harvesting work.

-- AccuSync allows in-field data sharing between multiple machines.

Unique to the 260 series combine, Quandahl said, is real-time grain quality imaging. "Using that Pro 1200 in combination with Harvest Command, you're going to be able to see what that grain looks like coming through the machine."

From a tech perspective, Quandahl is looking forward to customers having access to an all-new row guide system. "(Operators) will be able to use row guide sensors and use GPS technology to make sure they are on the row, all the time," she said.

The Axial-Flow 260 series also offers the new ActiveTrac four-roller hydraulic suspended track system. The ActiveTrac system reduces compaction and increases flotation by 14% compared to fixed track offerings, Case IH said.

There are three combines in the 260 series: 7260, 8260 and 9260. Rated horsepower ranges from 402 horsepower (11.1-liter engine) to 550 horsepower (15.9 liters). Grain tank capacities are 315 bushels up to 410 bushels on the 9260.

Axial-Flow 260 series combines will be available for ordering next month, June 2024, for delivery in the fourth quarter of 2024, in time for next year's harvest.

Dan Miller can be reached at dan.miller@dtn.com

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