A trip to the US to contribute farmer feedback on the John Deere 9RX 830 tractor design was an offer Simon Doolin from North Star NSW couldn’t refuse
When Simon Doolin was asked to be part of a group of only 12 people from across the globe to contribute farmer feedback to the design of the John Deere 9RX 830 tractor, it was an unparalleled opportunity.
Simon, a broadacre grain and cotton grower who heads up Doolin Agriculture at North Star in northern NSW, joined six Americans and five Canadians as part of the group that travelled to John Deere facilities in the United States at various stages of the project.
“We first went to the US in 2019 when the higher powered 9RX tractors were on the drawing board,” Simon explained.
“They had a fair idea of what they wanted to do, but they wanted grower input before they started to build it. In seeking that input, no stone was left unturned.
“We sat down with the heads of all the departments – transmission, motor, even the seat department – and they worked hard to understand what we all wanted.
“They asked what we thought of their existing transmissions; what we liked or didn’t like about their motors; what sort of speeds we wanted to achieve; how much power we needed; how much hydraulic flow and how many hydraulic remotes we wanted; and so on.
“We were all very honest in answering their questions, and John Deere was good at sitting and listening to the needs of farmers, which was nice,” Simon added
From there, the John Deere team showed the group of farmers a 3D virtual reality of the 9RX design.
“It was quite impressive, and it was amazing how they could make it look and feel quite real.
The Covid-19 pandemic put a temporary hold on trips to the Deere & Company world headquarters in Moline Illinois USA, to witness the progress of the project. Still, it was full steam ahead once international travel returned.
The work culminated in three high-powered, four-track models driven by the JD18 engine from John Deere Power Systems, with the line-up consisting of the 9RX 710 with rated power of 522kW (710 hp), the 9RX 770 with rated power of 566kW (770 hp) and the mighty 9RX 830 that will deliver a market-leading rated power of 610kW (830hp) to local farmers.
“In July 2023, we went back to California to the testing farm, and we got to see the tractor,” Simon continued. “My first impression was that it’s enormous.
“Beautiful probably isn’t a word many people would use to describe a tractor, but I did think it was beautiful when I finally got to see it up close.
Paddock testing the machine with a ripper implement attached, Simon said its performance was just as impressive as the appearance.
“We had the opportunity to put it through its paces and really see what it could do.
“They had both the 9RX and the older 9R model – the generation before – the one we currently run at home; you could get out of one and get into the other, so it was a really good comparison.
“That comparison highlighted how truly “mind-blowing” the 9RX tractor was.
“I thought the ride was already pretty good in John Deere tractors, but the ride in the 9RX was leaps ahead again.
“The quietness in the cab was good too, and it was putting power to the ground really well.
“The updated shape of the bonnet has improved visibility through the front, and the re-positioned fuel tank means the visibility going backwards is fantastic.
“Moving the fuel tank also means you can now see down to your drawbar pin, whereas you couldn’t before, and you can see your remotes a lot easier, Simon added.
Launched at the Commodity Classic in Houston Texas US, earlier this year, model-year 25 high-power 9RX models are available for order in Australia now, for delivery in early 2025.
Simon said it was a machine you couldn’t go past, and the 9RX would one day be added to his fleet of John Deeres, that already includes several 7, 8 and 9 Series tractors, and two S Series combine harvesters – a S680 and a S780.
Despite being involved in a process that would be a machinery buff’s dream come true, Simon said the appeal for him was simpler than that.
“I just like operating good gear. You really can’t beat nice equipment that’s has the advantage of efficiency,” Simon continued.
“Efficiency is one of the only ways we can make gains in agriculture these days, and machines with industry-leading technology are a massive part of achieving that,” Simon concluded.
For the latest 9RX product launch information from John Deere, find your local dealer on this link.
John Deere 9RX 710 770 and 830 tractor specs
