How the Fendt 6335 tackles wet harvest conditions

Andrew Cuthbertson, the second generation at Monkton Hill Farm near Prestwick Airport, runs the farm in partnership with his parents. They manage 440 acres of spring barley, 400 acres of wheat, 100 acres of potatoes, and 60 acres of fodder beet.

Due to the difficult harvesting conditions in the west, Mr Cuthbertson took on the task of combining fifteen years ago. He explained: “Using contractors was not sustainable, the crop was coming in too wet and we were spending too much time and money drying. We had a couple of Massey combines but this Fendt is in a different league.”

Cutting at 16% moisture, this season, has been better than previous where he has had to settle for up to 19%. Now in its third season, the 6335 CPL was supplied by local dealer McNaes. Mr Cuthbertson appreciated their efforts: “John at McNaes is a true engineer and they have always offered excellent support and backup. I was looking to buy a combine in February, and they scoured the UK to find the right one for me, sourcing the Fendt from another dealer in Yorkshire.”

The farm also runs four Fendt 700 Vario tractors, giving the advantage of sharing information between machines. “Driving the combine is no more of a challenge than the tractors, and either me or our operator find it easy to simply turn the key and get cutting, which provides the farm with the flexibility we need to take advantage of the shrinking weather windows,” he said.

Harvesting can start as early as the August 1 and run until late September, though this season’s wet conditions caused delays. “This season was so wet that it took us two weeks to bring in just 60 acres of winter barley, but the wheat was cut in just ten days at the end of August. We just never know what the weather will bring,” Mr Cuthbertson explained.

The 6335 model features an 8600-litre tank ​Despite these challenges, the sandy loam soils of the farm drain well, and a bit of rain can even help. “If we don’t get rain in June and July, the heads don’t form so well in the drought conditions, so having a slightly wetter year actually suits us. It helps us to incorporate a late application of fertiliser that would sit on top if the conditions were too dry,” he said.

In heavy spring crops, the Fendt 6335 ran at 3-3.5km/h. Mr Cuthbertson noted improvements over past years: “Cutting at 16% moisture, this season, has been better than previous where he has had to settle for up to 19%.”

The combine’s tight concave settings and higher sieves allow for a cleaner sample. “We keep the concaves very tight to make up for the lack of ripeness. I also set my sieves higher than others might. In fact, most settings are slightly higher to allow more air in, which makes for a cleaner sample,” he added.

The Fendt is powered by AGCO's 8.4 litre, 6-cylinder, 360 horsepower engine One of the standout features of the Fendt 6335 is its Multi Crop Separator (MCS) system, which separates grain before it reaches the straw walkers. The unique wire spacing in the concave, with double the clearance at the back compared to the front, also improves threshing and separation. Mr Cuthbertson praised its flexibility: “I always say the best day’s combining is the one that you don’t have to leave the cab. I can make so many adjustments from the cab that it makes such a big machine feel so flexible.”

The combine is powered by a 360-horsepower, 8.4-litre AGCO engine, which Mr Cuthbertson finds reliable and economical: “It is the most economical combine we have had and, after three seasons, we have had no problems or breakdowns.”

The 6335 model is equipped with an 8600-litre tank and ParaLevel, which compensates for slopes up to 20%, stabilising the machine on hilly terrain. “Every field is different, and we have some stony ground so we often choose to cut a little higher to compensate and protect the knives. We have built up a knowledge of which fields we can travel faster in, and which need more care,” he said.

The combine’s PowerFlow table ensures a smooth flow of crop between the cutter bar and the auger. “We push the crop quite late and so we are harvesting quite a mature and heavy crop. The PowerFlow table works at clearing the knives very quickly, which keeps the flow nice and clean,” Mr Cuthbertson explained.

With the season nearly over, Mr Cuthbertson is confident in maintaining the Fendt: “McNaes service the machine well and we always give it a thorough clean, grease and a dose of hydrochloride which keeps the rats off over winter. We also have a Massey combine that has done 12 seasons and, if anything, this Fendt is more reliable and durable so could easily be going for longer.”