They Want £400,000 for This Combine — After Selling Just 4 in Britain

0:00 The £400,000 combine explained 2:54 What the John Deere X9 buys you 4:49 Britain’s shrinking combine market 7:20 What these combines really sell for 10:21 The competition from New Holland, Case IH, Fendt and Claas 13:29 Who can justify a giant combine 19:29 The real costs and drawbacks 24:52 The verdict: capacity, costs and shared machinery What does a nearly million-pound combine actually cost to run — and who can make the sums work? I investigate the John Deere X9 1100, from its used asking price of around £400,000 to its latest British list price of £942,784. I look at the X9’s twin-rotor design, automation, capacity and huge header, then compare it with the New Holland CR11, Case IH AF10, Fendt IDEAL and Claas machines. I also examine Britain’s shrinking combine market, recent harvest problems and the prices being advertised for used machines. Finally, I work through the honest case for and against buying one, including depreciation, finance, tax, labour, weather windows and dealer support. I explain why these combines suit large farms and contractors, and why sharing a machine or using a contractor can make more sense for many British farms.