Technology: Combine Advisor and ActiveYield — how a John Deere combine adjusts itself to the crop

Combine Advisor is an optional John Deere package for S-Series combines that keeps grain loss and grain quality at the level the operator chose, while ActiveYield calibrates the yield sensors automatically. Based on John Deere's own materials, here is what it is and what it takes.

Key figures

• Combine holds set quality
• Two ActiveVision cameras
• Automatic yield calibration
• Adjusts on slopes
• Calibration up to 90 min
• ActiveYield: five crops

What it is

Combine Advisor is an optional package for John Deere S-Series (S700) combines. According to the company, it automatically compensates for changing conditions such as wet straw and weeds, even ones you cannot see, and keeps the performance settings the operator has chosen regardless of moisture or crop conditions. ActiveYield is a separate system that replaces manual calibration of the yield sensors.

How it works

The package combines several functions described in John Deere's brochure and quick-start guide:

• Harvest Setup, VisionTrak and the Optimize Performance wizard (ICA) help the operator set up the machine first: the system can only maintain what the operator has already tuned.
• ActiveVision cameras, one on the clean grain elevator and one on the tailings elevator, show the grain sample in near real time; grain analysis shows quality and foreign material.
• Auto Maintain keeps the targeted grain loss and quality. When the operator is satisfied with the result, they turn it on and press Set Performance Target; it works with corn, soybeans, wheat, barley and canola. If both HarvestSmart (feed rate) and Auto Maintain are on, they share one target.
• Active Terrain Adjustment manages changing terrain; on slopes over 4% the guide advises turning it off so the target is acquired faster.
• ActiveYield: automated sensors calibrate the machine by measuring grain as the tank fills. Manual calibration, John Deere says, can take up to 90 minutes.

What it takes

According to John Deere's materials (the S700 brochure and the Auto Maintain guide); check the exact configuration of a specific machine with the seller:

• An S-Series (S700) combine with the optional Combine Advisor package, including ActiveVision cameras.
• The operator tunes the machine first: the guide advises harvesting with Auto Maintain off until a consistent area is found, and only then setting the target.
• For ActiveYield on a machine without it, a retrofit kit: BXE10797 for model year 2016 and later, BXE10503 for 2012–2015.
• The kits are not compatible with S660 combines or MY18 S760 combines with manual grain-tank extensions.
• ActiveYield works with five crops: corn, soybeans, wheat, canola and barley.

What it gives the farm

Per John Deere, the aim is a high-quality sample and low loss without constant manual re-adjustment, and more accurate yield maps because the sensors are calibrated automatically. When buying a used combine with these systems:

• Check that the machine really has the Combine Advisor package with ActiveVision cameras, not only the base ICA wizard.
• Ask whether ActiveYield was installed at the factory or added with a retrofit kit, and for which model year.
• Ask the seller to show Auto Maintain and HarvestSmart working on the display and the grain samples on the camera screens.

Source: John Deere, S-Series Combines brochure (Combine Advisor, ActiveYield) and Auto Maintain guide, November 13, 2026