Case IH AF10 combines increased harvest capacity

The Hallam family operates a large mixed cropping business in Victoria, Australia, farming around 12,000 hectares near Hopetoun and a further 1,200 hectares near Horsham. The operation produces wheat, barley, canola and lentils and must complete harvest within tight seasonal windows to protect yield and quality.

As cropping areas expanded and seasonal conditions became more variable, harvesting capacity became a critical factor. The business needed to increase throughput, reduce reliance on contractors and complete harvest more quickly without increasing crop losses.

Limitations of the existing harvesting setup
Prior to the 2024 season, the operation relied on three combines supported by contractor machines during peak periods. While this configuration allowed the harvest to be completed, it resulted in high total rotor hours across multiple machines and added cost and coordination complexity.

The key objectives for the upgrade were to increase tonnes harvested per hour, reduce overall machine hours, and improve efficiency across large paddocks, particularly in crops such as lentils where harvesting speed is critical.

Selecting higher-capacity combines and wider fronts
Ahead of the 2024 harvest, the Hallams invested in four AF10 combines from Case IH, the highest-capacity and highest-horsepower combines offered by the brand in Australia. The decision followed on-farm evaluation and a demonstration of the new AF Series, which showed significantly greater throughput capability than previous models.

A major factor was the ability to operate 60-ft headers, compared with the 50-ft fronts previously used. The wider cutting width, combined with higher engine power and crop flow capacity, was intended to reduce the number of passes required and increase daily output.

Performance during a full harvest season
The four combines were delivered shortly before harvest and immediately deployed across wheat, barley, canola and lentils. In lentils, the machines operated at stripping speeds of around 9 km/h, allowing approximately 4,700 hectares to be harvested in around ten days.

Crop loss monitoring during operation showed losses consistently below 1%, even at higher forward speeds. The machines also left uniform residue distribution, supporting post-harvest field conditions.

Measured productivity gains were significant. Compared with the previous season, total rotor hours were reduced from more than 1,500 hours across five machines to around 1,200 hours using four combines. Average cereal crop throughput increased from approximately 170–180 tonnes per hour to around 240–250 tonnes per hour.




Reducing contractor dependence and improving efficiency
The increased capacity enabled the business to complete harvest with its own fleet, removing the need for contractor machines. This reduced direct harvesting costs and simplified logistics, while faster completion reduced the financial risk associated with delayed harvesting.

Despite an extremely dry season, yields were comparable to the previous year. The ability to harvest crops more quickly and efficiently was seen as a contributing factor in protecting output under challenging conditions.

Precision technology supporting consistent operation
The AF10 combines are equipped with integrated precision and monitoring systems, providing operators with real-time machine and agronomic data. Dual in-cab displays support consistent settings across operators and machines, while remote monitoring enables oversight of performance during harvesting.

According to CNH, increased engine power in the AF Series is designed to maximise crop flow and operating speed without adding mechanical stress, supporting both productivity and reliability.

Capacity as a strategic investment
For large-scale operations with narrow harvest windows, the case demonstrates how higher-capacity combines and wider headers can deliver measurable gains in throughput and efficiency. By reducing machine hours, improving tonnes per hour and eliminating contractor reliance, the investment supports both operational control and long-term cost management.

The 2024 harvest confirmed that increased harvesting capacity can play a decisive role in completing crops on time and protecting returns in variable seasonal conditions.