First Look at Case IH 260 Series Combine

Case IH introduced the axial-flow 260 series combines in May for delivery in early 2025. Successful Farming was invited to ride along as Matt Bennett, a farmer and a co-founder of agmarket.net, an agricultural marketing and consulting firm, recently tested out a machine during corn harvest near Windsor, Illinois. 

Technology

Perhaps the most noticeable change in the cab is the dual Pro 1200 display monitors. These screens serve up both grain-quality data and mechanical information, and allow for remote diagnostics by service technicians when needed. 

When the unloading auger is in use, the top screen automatically switches to a camera view so the operator can easily see into the truck or grain cart. When the combine is moving in reverse, a backup camera automatically turns on. 

Bennett says the screens are ample size and easy to read. “When you’re unloading on the go, it pops up on the screen so you don’t always have to look to your left, especially if you’re in downed corn,” he says. 

Harvest Command monitors 16 sensors throughout the combine and automatically adjust seven settings (ground speed, rotor speed, cleaning fan speed, presieve, upper sieve, and cage vane angle) to minimize loss and protect grain quality. 

Included in the base package of the Axial-Flow 260 series is a host of precision technology tools, including Harvest Command and the dual Pro 1200 displays, along with AccuGuide, and AccuSync. These subscription-free tools remain with the combine for the life of the hardware. The new FieldOps mobile and web application redefines the way farmers connect, view, and manage their operations while expanded API integrations allow farmers to connect with third-party providers and manage mixed fleets. For example, Bennett planted this field with a different manufacturer’s equipment, but the FieldOps app was still able to bring in that data to reference during harvest.

Comfort

An upgraded seat can increase operator comfort during long harvest days. Bennett says it’s the most comfortable seat he’s ever had in a piece of farm machinery. The seat is temperature-controlled and has a massaging function. 

Performance Features

The 260 series combines come with the Power Plus CVT drive to clear blockages by reversing the rotor and feeder without leaving the cab. One available option is ActiveTrac, which is a four-roller hydraulic suspended track system that reduces compaction and increases flotation by 14% compared with fixed track offerings, the company says. While the machine Bennett was testing did not feature tracks, he says it handles well.

“I don’t feel like I’m going to be worn out at the end of the day because it’s great to run,” he says. “The steering is comfortable and the engine performance for a Class 7 combine feels comparable to the Class 8 machine I normally run.”