AUSTRALIA's widest header front has hit the harvest trail in western NSW on a Class 9 John Deere S690 harvester - and it's cutting an impressive image.
The 18.4-metre (60-foot) wide platform started work at Euabalong West last week and it's been a hit, making harvest more efficient and reducing fuel and labour costs, according to its operator Dan Bingham.
His harvesting business owns the header front, designed and manufactured by Queensland company Midwest Fabrication, Dalby, and will slowly head south with its draper front, finishing at Lismore in Victoria in January.
Bingham Harvesting contractor manager Leigh Alderton said the machine would harvest more than 6000 hectares this season.
"A lot of farmers have 60-foot planting under controlled traffic, so having a front like this means you can have your planter, sprayer and header all on the same tracks for controlled traffic," Mr Alderton said.
"It uses less fuel and fewer operators.
"Essentially it's a 33 per cent increased efficiency than the 45-front which was the biggest front made previously."
Header operator Alistair Leitch will be driving the machine all summer.
"He's our spray driver back home so he's used to dealing with a large width," said Mr Alderton.