Narrain Grain Podcast

Combine automation promises to adjust your settings, manage grain losses and keep harvest moving. So why do I sometimes switch it off? In episode two of the Narrain Grain Podcast, I share my experience with Case IH Harvest Command and John Deere’s automation systems—where they’ve worked well, where they’ve struggled, and why knowing your combine still matters. We get into rotor and sieve losses, feed rate control, camera-based automation, and what happens when the computer makes an adjustment that works in one patch but costs you grain in the next. I also discuss big combines in light, frosted crops, why front width can become the limiting factor, and the trade-offs between tracks and wheels. These are my experiences in our paddocks, across wheat, barley, canola and corn. The settings and systems change, but the central question stays the same: can you recognise when the automation needs a hand? If you’re listening from the header or tractor, share this episode with a mate and let me know how automation has worked on your farm. Find our farm videos on YouTube at Narrain Grain.

Welcome to the Narrain Grain Podcast Ep. 1!What’s really holding your harvester back—and how much grain are you leaving behind?In this first Narrain Grain podcast, I’m talking combine setup, harvest losses and getting the most out of your machine in Australian conditions. Drawing on our experience running John Deere X9s and Case IH combines, I go through measuring losses with drop trays, balancing rotor and sieve losses, adjusting concave clearance, rotor speed and fan settings, and matching your front to your combine.I also share my thoughts on aftermarket concaves, how windrowing changes your cleaning system’s performance, and why crop conditions can matter more than the tonnes-per-hour figure you reckon you should be getting.Recorded from the truck, this is a practical discussion based on what we’ve found in the paddock. Put it on while you’re working and send through your questions or harvest headaches for a future episode.You can find us on YouTube predominantly along with Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.