Choosing the right harvest platform is one of the most important decisions you will make that can affect how long and how much it costs you to harvest.
The right width will help you move more crop, faster, and reduce hours in the field.
At Midwest, we build harvest platforms for Australian conditions that are compatible with all major combine brands like John Deere, Case IH, Gleaner, New Holland and Ideal. We’ve supplied platforms for growers running everything from 30 ft through to 60 ft, so when we talk about width, we’re talking about what works in the field, what suits different harvest systems and what helps our customers get through the season efficiently.
Our platforms are custom-built so farmers like you have the flexibility to choose a platform that suits your crop, your combine and the way you harvest.
What to consider when choosing a platform width
To know what will work best for you, we have to consider your full setup.
- The crops you’re harvesting
- Your combine make and model
- The country your front will work across
- How the machine will be transported between properties
Width matters, but width on its own is not the full story.
Where a 30ft works best
If you’re looking for easy control, manoeuvrability and don’t have a lot of land to cover, a 30 ft platform can be a very practical choice. Not every grower needs to buy the biggest machine in the field. No matter the width, all our platforms are crafted to maximise crop and deliver minimum seed loss. Mark Farraro currently runs one of our custom-built 30ft platforms to harvest Rhodes Grass in Northern Queensland. The reel pulls the fine seed straight across, and the dead-flat knife on our fronts does this perfectly.
Where the mid-range 40ft to 50 ft platforms shine
For a lot of farmers, the 40ft class sits in the most common range. It gives you more working width than the 30ft while staying in width range that many operators see as the strongest balance between output and day-to-day practicality.
This size tends to suit small and medium broadacre operations where paddock sizes vary, as well as farms with irregular shapes, trees, waterways and obstacles that call for more manoeuvring. It is still light enough to keep soil compaction and stress on the harvester down, needs less engine power than the wide fronts, and pairs well with Class 7, 8 and many Class 9 harvesters. That lighter build also means a smaller upfront investment, and it makes for more manageable work in undulating country where holding an even cutting height can be the hard part.
What farmers tell us they value most in this range is the balance. A 40ft to 50ft keeps work rates high without overwhelming your grain carting and logistics, and it usually lands in a good spot between hectares per hour and fuel burnt. It moves easily between crops with different row spacings and conditions, holds consistent feeding through variable-yielding paddocks, and is a smart choice where harvest windows are longer.
Brad Mifsud runs 42ft Durus fronts on a JD9670 at Clermont in QLD, harvesting sorghum, mung beans, wheat, chickpeas and corn. Across that mix of crops, it is the simplicity that stands out for him.
“We moved to Midwest Drapers because we liked their simplicity and the way they’re built. We can get down low and do a nice cutting job. And again, they’re simple and easy to maintain.”
Brad Mifsud, Clermont QLD
The big guys, where the 50ft to 60 ft models fit best
When you start considering 60ft platforms, the conversation becomes more about scale, efficiency and making the most of a high-capacity harvesting system. We’ve been a global pioneer of extra-wide harvesting platforms for over two decades, and the wide end of our range is where that experience really shows.
The appeal is simple: more hectares per hour and fewer passes across the paddock. On large broadacre operations harvesting thousands of hectares a year, that adds up fast. A wide front lets you take full advantage of modern high-capacity Class 10 and Class 11 combines like the John Deere X9, covering more ground with the same operator and leaning on fewer machines to get the same area cut. Fewer machine hours per hectare can mean less wear per hectare, and because more crop is gathered with every pass, fuel use per hectare often improves too.
Timing is the other big one. When a rain event or storm is closing in, or a high-yielding crop opens a short harvest window, the extra width helps you get the job done before the weather turns. A 50ft to 60ft front is at its best in large, open paddocks where you are turning less often, and it slots naturally into controlled traffic farming systems already built around wider machinery. In above-average years it gives you the capacity to keep up with the yield, and in standing cereals the larger, more even crop mat across the platform helps feeding stay consistent. Matched correctly to your machine capacity and logistics, all of that can pull your harvesting cost per hectare down.
“By running 60ft fronts on our combines we cover more country in a day with less headers, slower speeds, less fatigue and lower fuel use resulting in lower cost of ownership.” Neville Wilson, Manaroo, Walgett
Jock Livingstone runs a 60ft Legacy front on a New Holland CR11 across 4,000 hectares of wheat, barley and chickpeas in northern NSW. For him, the move to wider was about labour as much as output.
“We went this way trying to reduce workers and the ground following is bloody unreal.” Jock Livingstone, Northern NSW
Choosing the right width for your operation
The decision is rarely just about cutting more crop. The right width comes down to your harvester class and horsepower, the average size and shape of your paddocks, how far you travel between them by road, the crops and yields you are working with, and the logistics behind the header, your chaser bins, trucks and storage. Terrain and contour, the labour you have on hand and the length of your harvest window all factor in too. A 60ft platform can be hugely productive in the large, flat wheat paddocks of Western Australia or northern NSW, but in smaller, irregular country where transport and manoeuvrability become the limiting factors, a 45ft or 50ft will often out-work it.
Width is only half the picture, though. How a platform is set up can matter just as much as how wide it is. Every Midwest build can be configured with options like the cross auger, cutterbar wheels, auger extensions and right-hand windrow, each one suited to a different job. The cross auger, for example, keeps canola flowing evenly across the platform and feeding cleanly into the combine, with no dead spots. Cutterbar wheels give instant ground following right behind the knife, which makes a real difference in contoured country and low cutting conditions. So before you decide you simply need a wider machine, it is worth looking at how your current or future platform is configured. In plenty of cases, the right width matched with the right accessories beats chasing width alone.
Whatever you land on, you’re going to need a platform that stays reliable and manageable right through the season, whether that comes down to easy maintenance or strong support. This is why we have focused so heavily on smooth, consistent ground contour following with limited electronics. As farmers ourselves, we know what it is like trying to reach an overseas support team when you’ve had a breakdown and you need your machine going right now. That is why we give you direct access to the team that designed and built your platform. Our support team is a call away, and they actually understand your front, inside and out.
So, what size platform do you need?
- If you want a platform that feels nimble, suits specialised work or matches a smaller setup, 30 ft may be the right fit.
- If you are trying to balance output with day-to-day practicality, the 40 ft class is often the best place to start.
- If your goal is to cover more ground, match a high-capacity combine and push harvest efficiency further, 60 ft may be the right move.
If you’re considering pricing for any option, have a play with our quote calculator.
You can configure your platform any way you’d like and get instant pricing sent to your mailbox.
Ultimately, the best choice comes down to how your whole harvesting system works together. The right answer is the one that suits your crop, your combine and the way you harvest. If you’re unsure, give us a call at 07 4662 4137
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
What sizes are available in a Midwest harvest platform?
We offer harvest platforms in the DURUS Model ranging from 30 ft to 60 ft with the LEGACY covering 50 ft, 55 ft and 60 ft.
Are your platforms compatible with different combines?
Yes. We design our platforms to fit all major brands of combines including, John Deere, Gleaner, Ideal, Class and New Holland.
What is the difference between DURUS and the Legacy platform?
DURUS is our most widely used model and is engineered for strength, simplicity and serviceability. LEGACY is designed for the larger capacity of the John Deere X Series combines, it was designed with a larger diameter pick-up reel so that it can keep up with the appetite of these large machines.
Do you offer support after purchase?
Yes. We support customers through our dealer network, direct phone support and the Midwest app which has downloadable service videos that you can download.
How do we get parts for a Midwest platform?
You can order parts through our national dealer network or our online parts store. Every order comes with our incident kit so that you have all major parts on hand in case you need them.
Do accessories make a difference to platform performance?
Yes. Options like the cross auger and cutterbar wheels can improve crop flow, feed consistency, ground tracking and cutting accuracy, depending on the crop and conditions.
How much do your platforms cost?
You can use our instant quote calculator to compare pricing for all of our platforms and trailers across widths and accessories, too.