Cathrina Claas-Mühlhäuser, Chairwoman of the Supervisory Board of the CLAAS Group, had this to say about the new appointment. "Jan-Hendrik Mohr is highly respected at CLAAS and in our industry. He knows CLAAS like no one else and has proven his worth. He shaped the company during his many years in various management positions. Together with his colleagues in the Group Executive Board and all employees, he will build on the successful work of his predecessor and lead CLAAS boldly into the future. I am very grateful that Jan-Hendrik Mohr is now taking on the responsibility as CEO of the CLAAS Group."

Jan-Hendrik Mohr, a graduate engineer, has been with the CLAAS Group since 1984 continuously taking on increasing responsibilities. He has been a member of the Group Executive Board since 2008. He is currently responsible for the Business Unit Grain, which he will continue to lead in a personal capacity. Jan-Hendrik Mohr had this to say about his new role: "I look forward to continuing our success story together with my colleagues in the Group Executive Board and all employees. CLAAS stands for a high level of technological expertise, products that excite and a corporate culture that unites us. We think long-term and have a clear vision: to make our customers the best in their field."

Thomas Böck says goodbye after more than 16 years at CLAAS

"Since last summer, the desire has matured in me to take on new challenges after more than 16 years at CLAAS, including almost four years as CEO,” explained Thomas Böck. “Now is a good time for a change: CLAAS has emerged stronger from the various crises and is in a very strong position today. During my time as CEO, sales have risen to over five billion euros. Despite the crises, we will achieve an excellent result this financial year. We have set the right course to lead CLAAS into a successful future."

"We owe Thomas Böck a great debt of gratitude,” said Cathrina Claas-Mühlhäuser. He is a gifted technician and strategic entrepreneur. He has achieved outstanding things, especially in the fields of product development and digitalization. The digital transformation of the CLAAS Group will always be associated with his name. As CEO of the CLAAS Group, he was known and respected far beyond the Group, particularly for his strategic foresight and profound technological knowledge. In addition, he enjoyed great popularity among the employees of the CLAAS Group due to his appreciative and people-oriented approach. We wish Thomas Böck all the best and will remain in close contact with him in the future."

Location: South-Central Manitoba, Canada

Machines compared:

• CLAAS AXION 930 TT (350 HP)
• John Deere 8RT 310 (310 HP)
• John Deere 8RX 370 (370 HP)

Our approach.

All tractors in similar horsepower classes cultivated and planted in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD), consisting of three treatments and six replications for a total of 18 treatment strips. One 40’ Horsch Joker was used for cultivating with all three tractors. The same single disc drill on 10” spacing was used for seeding. Antara Research led the project from the point of cultivating in November 2021 to harvest in September 2022.

November 8, 2021 -- Cultivation

On November 8, 2021, the trial plot was cultivated using a 40’ Horsch Joker. The Horsch Joker was used for three treatments and six replicates for a total of 18 treatment strips. The three tractors set tram lines for each treatment while pulling the implement. Every pass was then recorded for compaction with a penetrometer by Antara Research. The field was already cultivated once prior to this date because previous crop was corn and residue had to be incorporated.

Fall 2021 / Spring 2022 – Compaction and plant emergence

Compaction readings from the fall and spring showed no major compaction occuring in the top 4” of ground level. Compaction started to occur below the 4”, but nothing that would inhibit plant growth. There was no major difference inside or outside the tracks when looking at plant emergence.

June 11, 2022 – Planting

On June 11, 2022, canola was seeded using a single disc drill on 10” spacing. The three tractors seeded the same treatment strips they had previously cultivated and the penetrometer was used again to record any compaction. Seeding rate was 3.5 lb/ac at a depth of 1”. A fertilizer blend consisting of 160-40-0-20 and 1 Zinc was applied prior to seeding.

Summer 2022 – Rainfall and weed pressure

Approximately .2” of rain fell the day before seeding and then another 1” 72 hours after seeding. Overall accumulation of rain between the day before planting and harvest was 11.75”. Weed pressure was relatively moderate along the headlands for most Test Replicates, excluding Test Replicate #3 (see chart notes).

September 30, 2022 – Yield results and profit increase.

The field was harvested on September 30th, 2022 with all replications being measured separately for each tractor. The AXION 930 TERRA TRAC out-yielded the other tractors in all five replicates. An average of two more bushels per acre was harvested where the AXION 930 TERRA TRAC planted.

The tractor’s 35/65 static weight split and the implement’s drawbar load have no effect on the behavior of the TERRA TRAC units. Hydraulic cylinders in the tracks continuously work together to either smile or frown in order to keep in constant contact with the ground and provide less soil pressure.

Why? Even during tight headland turns, the front wheels pull the rear tracks smoothly so soil remains level with minimal berming or disturbance for evenly distributed ground pressure – ultimately increasing yield. Plus, standard on every AXION TERRA TRAC tractor, automatic brake assisted steering is integrated into the existing machine brakes for a seamless turning experience.

The Findings:

• The AXION 930 TERRA TRAC out-yielded the competition in five test replicates.
• An average of two more bushels per acre was harvested where the AXION 930 TERRA TRAC had planted canola.

Watch the Video!

Recently, Cologne University of Applied Sciences in cooperation with CLAAS Global Sales studied the influence and effects of the JAGUAR operator assistance systems on both the operator and the machine. Three assistance systems were evaluated to determine what (if any) advantages they provided:

• Automatic Steering Systems: CAM PILOT for pickup work and GPS guidance for standing crops.
• Automatic Trailer Filling: AUTO FILL technology controlling crop discharge.
• Automatic Machine Management: CEMOS AUTO PERFORMANCE utilized to control engine output and travel speed.

The Physical Effects on the Operator:

Four different parameters were evaluated to determine the physical effects on the operator:

• Control lever deflection and control of the upper discharge chute (establish via CAN bus data)
• Heart rate (established via fitness tracker)
• Steering wheel movements (established by CAN bus data)
• Throughput and fuel consumption (established via CLAAS TELEMATICS / internal job management

Psychological Effects on the Operator:

The operators involved in the study completed an internationally recognized User Experience Questionnaire (UEQ). The academic questionnaire was completed after every trial (with and without operator assistance systems) to assess the user experience based on 26 attributes. The questionnaire focused on the appeal, efficiency, comprehension, dependability, originality and stimulation of the operator experience.

Results:

Across all trials, operators using the operator assistance systems experienced . . .  

• 50.6% fewer clicks for control of the upper discharge chute
• 15.3% fewer movements of the control lever
• 25.4% fewer turns of the steering wheel

During small grain harvesting, operators using the operator assistance systems experienced . . .

• 51.4% fewer clicks for control of the upper discharge chute
• 29.3% fewer movements of the control lever
• 64.5% fewer turns of the steering wheel

Physical Impact:

The effect of the operator assistance systems on the heart rates of the participants showed a lower or equal heart rate in 10 of the 12 participants. In one of the small grain harvesting trials, those with operator assistance systems experienced an average mean of 71-80 bpm, while the average mean was 91-100 bpm without the assistance systems.

Psychological Impact:

Perhaps even more telling were the results of the UEQ surveys conducted after each trial. In all six categories, the surveys revealed a preference for the operator assistance systems. The largest impact was discovered in the areas involving attractiveness and novelty. Manual operation was rated negatively in both of these categories.

Bottom Line Impact:

In addition to happier, less stressed drivers, the study showed a significant and positive effect on operating performance. While using the operator assistance systems, the JAGUAR forage harvester experienced greater productivity and efficiency:

• 13% less fuel consumption measured in l/t
• 10% higher throughput in t/h

Laura’s YouTube channel @LauraFarms is a vlog-style documentary of everyday life on the farm. She covers equipment demos, collaborations with other farmers, every day challenges of farming, and off the farm outdoor fun. Laura’s aim is to educate fellow farmers and the 98% of the US population that doesn’t really know what happens on a modern farm.

We recently ran into Laura and Grant at the Farm Progress Show in Boone, IA. In the conversation that ensued, we invited them to tour our production facilities in Germany the next time they were “in the neighborhood”. So, when the couple decided to make a trip to Heidelberg this March, Laura reached out see if our offer still stood. Absolutely!

From Laura’s lips to your ears, here is the story she had to tell about their very “CLAAS” adventure in Germany.

Watch LAURA FARMS