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Dewulf’s full-line offering in the spotlight at Potato Europe 2024


One of the most renowned European potato fairs will set up camp in Villers-Saint-Christophe (Aisne, France) in 2024.

Halfway between Lille and Paris, the 18th edition of Potato Europe will take place on 11 and 12 September, with Dewulf as a prominent participant.

At stand no. B 090-98 and during various demonstrations, Dewulf will showcase an extensive range of machines from its full-line offering to the stakeholders attending from the potato industry.

Second-generation Enduro takes it up a notch

Since the launch of the new generation Enduro, the 22-hectare demonstration site in France will be the first venue where the upgraded 4-row sieving harvester will showcase its capabilities to the general public.

The self-propelled harvester will make its debut configured for a row distance of 4 x 90 cm.

The 4-row harvester is equipped with a newly designed ring elevator, which boasts an increased processing capacity. The combination of larger bag volume, higher running speed and more optimal product distribution have boosted the capacity by around 50%.

The external changes to the Generation 2 machine are characterised by a new look and feel, with fewer covers, a redesigned main frame, and a larger, anthracite-coloured fuel tank.

The machine that will be demonstrating at Potato Europe is equipped with an Easy-Clean cleaning module, which features a continuously adjustable inclination angle of between 0 and 12°. This is an undeniable advantage, especially on sloping fields.

Moreover, with its 2-part bunker that provides a convenient 12.3 m³ capacity, the 4-row machine claims the title as largest in its market segment.

In terms of (lowest) ground pressure (max. 1.8 kg/cm²), Dewulf’s self-propelled harvester also tops the list.

The Enduro, though a tyre-mounted harvester, delivers unmatched traction even in the most demanding conditions. Finally, in its second generation, the machine remains extremely low threshold for drivers thanks to its ergonomics and tremendous ease of use in the cabin.

RA stands for proven quality

Dewulf completes the harvesting demonstrations with the popular 2-row self-propelled RA3060 harvester and a trailed RA2060, both at 2 x 90 cmrow distance.

These 2-row harvesters are equipped with one haulm roller, three sieving webs and an Easy-Clean cleaning unit. Since 1989, Dewulf has been manufacturing 2-row self-propelled harvesters on three wheels, always with a focus on superior end-product quality and maximum productivity under all conditions.

The established standard among harvesters distinguishes itself from the rest with impressive manoeuvrability and the power to continue harvesting where others are forced to stop.

With a 5th generation of this machine, the R3060 has certainly earned its stripes through the countless hours it has clocked up.

The trailed RA2060 variant is equipped with an unloading-on-the-move bunker with a 10.7 m³ capacity. The R2060 also has the largest tyre size in its class, keeping ground pressure to an absolute minimum.

This high-performing offset harvester also prioritises ease of use, product care throughout the process, and maintaining high potato quality.

After harvesting comes storage

After harvesting, the product is transported over a Dewulf storage line at the demonstration site. It features anMH 242 receiving hopper with a Scotts Evolutioncleaning unit as its main components. After the bunker floor, the machine is fitted with a presentation conveyor with variable belt speed, ensuring optimal dosing.

The Scotts Evolution system has the greatest possible working range, as it demonstrates product-friendly handling in both dry and the most challenging, wet conditions. For the Potato Europe configuration, the choice of four ribs on the eight spiral rollers is intended to achieve a standard, moderate cleaning effect.

The receiving hopper is additionally equipped with eight PU rollers with Clean-Boost. These allow you to sort from 5 to 70 mm in addition to the usual cleaning.

To this end, a small, extendable or pull-out conveyor below the sorting unit is available as an option, for situations in which the PU rollers are used for additional cleaning. In that case, the excess waste falls onto the full width trash conveyor (FWT).

An ME 100 elevator conveyor (10 m long, 80 cm wide) removes excess soil after cleaning, while the potatoes are transferred to the trailers via an MC 1780 duo belt conveyor (17 m long, 80 cm wide) with Weight-Control and an ML 1980 store loader (19 m long, 80 cm wide).

With the Premium filling function, this machine can fill a store fully automatically and in perfect layers, with respect for the product. Beyond that, use of the short, flat X-stream belt conveyor increases the processing capacity further, even over a 90° angle.

To the stand

At the Dewulf stand, special focus will be placed on the planters, especially the newly introduced Certa 40 Integral. This all-in-one planting solution combines soil cultivation, planting, and ridging in a single pass. Another highlight is the new Erosion-Stop.

The Certa 40 Integral is available in both 4 x 75 cm and 4 x 90 cm variants and is operated through ISOBUS, encompassing both the controller and the software. The in-house designed system can be accompanied by a 12-inch Topcon touchscreen and joystick.

In the realm of planting technology, the Structural 30 will also be on display. In this case, Dewulf will showcase the mounted version of the belt planter, which can plant three rows in a bed as standard.

This potato-friendly planting machine is one of a kind in the market and differentiates itself with automatic depth adjustment, achieved through an ultrasonic sensor. This ensures that the machine is not only very precise in planting the potatoes but also gives the seed potatoes the exact spacing needed for optimal growth.

Additionally, the ‘Wave Belt’ concept creates a wave-like belt bed that makes planting on sloping terrain easier and more effortless for the operator.

The version on display is also equipped with Hill-Master, the ideal solution for maintaining the optimal fill level of the belt bed when planting on slopes. Moreover, the renowned, unique Structural belt bed planting system combines extreme planting precision with a high driving speed (up to 12 km/h).

Within the domain of storage, the MB 34 plays a central role. Dewulf’s latest box filler is fully electrically powered and nods the filling conveyor into the box, keeping it nicely on the ground during filling.

The energy-efficient MB 34 features two box stops that make it suitable for box lengths ranging from 120 to 260 cm.

The product guidance flap contributes to symmetrical box filling, which in turn ensures optimal ventilation during the storage season.

The box filler directly drives an ME 3-70 elevator conveyor, the infeed height of which is adjustable using a jack at the bottom. End of the fair? By folding in the box stops and pressing a single button, the MB 34 shifts to its compact mode and is ready for transport!

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UK Minister for Africa pledges funding to accelerate growth in Africa agriculture sector

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Africa Minister Lord Collins has announced UK backing for a new investment facility that will accelerate the growth of Africa’s food and agriculture sector.

During his keynote speech at the Africa Food Systems Forum (AFSF) 2024, Lord Collins committed to providing £25 million for AgDevCo, a UK-based social impact investor dedicated to investing in African agribusinesses.

In the face of conflict and climate change, communities across Africa are grappling with high levels of hunger and malnutrition.

In Sub-Saharan Africa, 1 in 4 are undernourished. Investing in Africa’s food markets is a crucial means of working with farmers, helping those at the forefront of the climate crisis and moving towards a world free from poverty.

The UK’s contribution is expected to yield an increase in income of £128 million for the farmers who benefit by 2036.

The Minister for Africa, Lord Collins of Highbury said: “Improving food markets will have a game changing impact on individuals and families across Africa. Giving hard working farmers stable incomes, creating jobs for the youth and helping end malnutrition.

Without access to funding, no matter the drive and ingenuity, too many businesses can’t get off the ground.That’s why I’m pleased to announce that the UK intends to back a new $50 million facility called AgDevCo Ventures.

The UK will put in over half the funds, with AgDevCo collecting funds from other investors. AgDevCo’s funding and expertise will enable early-stage African agribusinesses to grow and increase Africa’s resilience to climate change.”

This funding will support the creation of AgDevCo Ventures, which will channel early-stage investment into small and medium-sized enterprises working within Africa’s agriculture sector. The UK government is contributing over half of the funds with matching contributions being raised from other investors, resulting in $50 million overall for the planned launch of AgDevCo Ventures in early 2025.

The new funding facility will work with small agricultural enterprises across Africa, with a particular focus on African owned and managed businesses.

Daniel Hulls, CEO of AgDevCo said:”We are very grateful for the continued collaboration with the UK government.This funding will allow us to leverage third-party capital and go back to investing in small, early-stage businesses.

We are excited about developing a new AgDevCo Ventures portfolio, and expect it to be high impact, deliver jobs and increased rural incomes by building the next generation of African agri-SMEs.”

There is evidence that small to medium-sized enterprises lack the financing options necessary to scale up. As a result, the UK is working alongside partners to pioneer new ways to finance agribusiness and mobilise other investors.

The demand for food and animal feed in Africa is projected to triple between 2010 and 2050, with the demand for food globally set to increase by 50%.

UK investment will look to improve both African and global food and nutrition security by enabling enterprises in the agriculture sector to be better able to cater to the rising demand.

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Late blight resistant potato varieties unveiled

Standen Engineering launches brand new POWAVATOR model for 2024


Standen Engineering a brand new version of our popular, high performing and durable POWAVATOR model.

The new model, the POWAVATOR HS400 rotary tiller will be available in 2024. It is available in two bed straddle and triple bed options, giving growers the ability to create a 2 or 3 bed machine which is designed and engineered to suit their precise requirements and soil type. The 400/140 two bed folding model is still available but without the HS400 upgrade.

The HS400, which has seen 3 seasons of field testing and sees the following improvements;

  • Redesigned narrower side drives, minimising soil disturbance, and making them simpler to maintain
  • A deeper hull design with a larger distance between the top of the rotor and the hull, giving reduced tine wear of approximately 50% and fuel consumption of around 25%, and also a lower power requirement
  • New main gearbox design rated to 400hp and above
  • Faster rotor speed of 330rpm from 266rpm giving a finer finish, allowing a faster forward speed.
  • 10 or 12mm ‘L’ or speed blades
  • Optional wider point for Convex body, or Square body option, giving a wider furrow bottom to accept large quantities of stone.
  • Available with Shearbolt or Auto-Reset legs; and
  • Rear Hood option for planting systems that don’t require a destoner.

The new HS400 model’s improved capability also extends to the POWAVATOR HS400 Bed Tiller, which combines the effectiveness of the rotary tiller with the bed forming capability of the Standen BX Bedformer series.

Within each range there is the choice of a number of different working widths from 1.8m up to 6.0m, to suit 72″ / 1.8m wheelings and 80″ / 2.0m wheelings as well as different bed forming body/rear wheel configurations.

Manual or Hydraulic parallel linkages attach the body to the mainframe or a KW linkage arrangement is available which allows angle adjustment of the body instead.

So whether the grower is looking for a standalone rotary tiller or looking to combine the HS400 with bed making capability for either direct planting or destoning behind the bed tiller, the new POWAVATOR HS400 series can do it all.

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Late blight resistant potato varieties unveiled


The International Potato Center (CIP), in collaboration with Poderosa S.A., proudly unveils three new potato varieties: CIP PODEROSA CROCANTE, CIP PODEROSA WATIA, and CIP PODEROSA POLLERA.

These new potato varieties incorporate resistance to Late Blight Phytophthora infestans and high-quality attributes for baking, such as high dry matter content and low reducing sugar content. These varieties allow smallholder farmers to achieve enhanced yields while reducing their reliance on agrochemicals.

These new varieties are not only beneficial for farmers but also for consumers. From a health perspective, farmers and their families will experience reduced exposure to fungicides to control Late Blight, while consumers will enjoy potato tubers produced with fewer fungicides and lower levels of acrylamides and glycoalkaloids.

Additionally, these varieties can be integrated into family-sustainable farming systems, helping to preserve the environment and increase the income of small and medium-scale farmers.

Their economic profitability is enhanced by lower production costs due to reduced fungicide use compared to control varieties.

These varieties offer healthier and more sustainable options compared to popular Peruvian potato varieties, promoting improving living standards for potato producers in Peru and other developing countries.

Poderosa S.A. mining company operates in La Libertad, a potato-producing region of Peru, and works with local NGO’s to support the sustainable development of the farming communities through its corporate social responsibility and its sustainability projects.

Conscious of the need for improved varieties, Poderosa joined forces with CIP to develop these LATE BLIGHT resistance varieties that respond to customer demand.

The innovative varieties are the product of the “Selection of potato clones suitable for industrial processing and baking, resistant to late blight, and producing high-quality phytosanitary tuber seed project,” sponsored by the Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnologia e Innovacion del Peru (CONCYTEC) and funded by Minera Poderosa Company through Law 30309, which promotes scientific research, technological development, and technical innovation, providing tax benefits to companies for their partnerships with research organizations.

Poderosa actively promotes economic and social progress in the La Libertad region and is currently funding a three-year plan to disseminate these varieties, sharing related information through publications and social media.

The varieties are available for licensing to certified seed producers registered with the Peruvian Seed Authority (SENASA).

CIP applied for plant variety protection in accordance with UPOV and Peruvian legislation and can issue commercial production licenses. In accordance with its mandate, CIP requires licensees to accept providing good quality seed to smallholder farmers at preferential rates, securing in this way safe and broad dissemination and adoption of the varieties.

CIP also requires licensees to contribute financially to the Benefit Sharing Fund of the International Plant Treaty. The fund supports conservation and sustainable use projects in the global south.

The dissemination strategy aligns with Peruvian national priorities on production and availability and affordability of high-quality seed to farmers.

Further, the rights associated to the plant variety protection of the three PODEROSA varieties will not infringe or interfere with the rights of Peruvian indigenous communities and small holder potato farmers, who can save and exchange seeds of the varieties among themselves  in accordance with the UPOV Convention, which Peru is part of.

These communities have been and are actively involved in and benefit from the development and dissemination of the new potato varieties. CIP seeks to promote the empowerment and sustainable livelihoods of these farmer and indigenous communities.

Acknowledgment is extended to local governments such as the District Municipality of Chugay and the Provincial Municipality of Sánchez Carrión in the La Libertad region, as well as farmers from Huánuco, Junín, Arequipa, and Cajamarca, with whom field research was conducted.

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SA Agriculture reverses course and dips by 2.1% in Q2 of 2024

SA Agriculture reverses course and dips by 2.1% in Q2 of 2024

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Following a surprisingly robust quarterly growth of 13.5% in Q1, agriculture reversed course as widely expected and fell by 2.1% q/q in Q2 of 2024 with a -0.1 percentage point contribution to overall GDP.

South Africa’s GDP was still pedestrian after clocking 0.4% in Q2 from a revised flat growth in Q1.

The downbeat activity in the agriculture sector was not a surprise as the severe midsummer drought forced a reduction in harvest estimates for summer crops with South Africa’s biggest staple, maize, cut by 20.5% y/y to 13.06 million tons and soybeans falling sharply by 35.8% y/y to 1.78 million tons, according to the National Crop Estimates Committee’s 7th estimate report.

The total summer grains and oilseed harvest estimate showed a whopping 22% y/y decline to 15.69 million tons.

The cumulative total maize delivered to the country’s silos for the 2024/25 season in Q2 showed an almost 6% drop in deliveries relative to the previous year.

For winter crops, the total area planted was down by 1.6% y/y at 807,250 hectares with the wheat area which accounts for almost 63% of the total declining by 5.9% y/y at 506,300 hectares. All these are an indication of reduced activity in the field crop industry.

The seasonal downturn in demand impacted negatively on the animal products industry, hence the poor showing in its contribution to agriculture GDP outcomes for Q2.

The Q2 preliminary data on livestock slaughtering (excluding the June 2024 figures for cattle and sheep) showed an almost 22% q/q drop in the slaughter rate at 2.7 million head, which is 20% below the same period last year.

Nonetheless, the medium-term seasonal outlook points to a potential rebound in agriculture fortunes for the year ahead.

While the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is currently still in a neutral state, forecasts still indicate that it is dissipating and likely to strongly transition to the La Nina weather pattern at the onset of the summer season.

The South African Weather Services’ forecasts further indicate above-normal rainfall for the central parts and the south-eastern coastal areas of the country during the spring and early summer seasons.

Further positive developments are that the fuel price outlook shows a decline after three consecutive months of cuts, the electricity supply remains stable, and potentially an interest rate cut in the next SARB’s MPC meeting.

All this augurs well for renewed confidence in the sector.

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Government Secures 310 Combine Harvesters for Winter Wheat Harvest in Zimbabwe

As the harvesting season for early-planted winter wheat approaches, the Zimbabwean government has taken decisive action to ensure an efficient and timely harvest by securing 310 combine harvesters.

This strategic move aims to support farmers across the nation, ensuring that the valuable cereal crop is reaped without delays.

In an interview with The Herald, Engineer Edwin Zimunga, Chief Director of Agricultural Engineering, Mechanisation, Farm Infrastructure Development, and Soil Conservation, outlined the readiness of the government’s agricultural machinery deployment.

“We have 310 combine harvesters ready to be deployed across different clusters, tailored to meet the specific harvesting schedules of our farmers,” Zimunga stated.

The initiative involves collaboration with six government-linked entities, including the Agricultural Financing Company (AFC) Leasing, the Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (ARDA), and various branches of the Zimbabwean military and police, alongside private sector companies.

This public-private partnership is designed to enhance the efficiency of the harvesting process by combining resources and expertise.

Zimunga also detailed the pricing structure for the harvester services: “The dry rate is set at US$80 per hectare for government organizations and US$100 for private entities, with wet rates at US$110 and US$130 respectively.” This pricing aims to provide farmers with affordable and standardized harvesting services.

Despite the extensive preparations, Zimunga urged the remaining 4% of farmers not yet linked to a harvester to contact the national command center for assistance in coordinating the necessary equipment.

The government’s efforts are underpinned by the anticipation of a bumper harvest, with projections estimating 600,000 tonnes of wheat from 121,000 hectares planted. To facilitate this, the government has organized farmers into winter wheat clusters, optimizing the deployment of harvesters to match regional needs.

“The clustering model ensures that our machinery is used where it’s most needed, allowing us to process up to 3,900 hectares per day,” Zimunga explained. The fleet includes both high-capacity machines, capable of harvesting up to 40 hectares daily, and smaller models for more modest plots.

Additionally, the government has deployed 108 dryers across the country with a total drying capacity of 96 tonnes per day, ensuring that the harvest is protected from potential early rains.

This comprehensive approach to winter wheat harvesting not only underscores the government’s commitment to agricultural productivity but also sets a precedent for future seasons, aiming to reduce post-harvest losses and increase agricultural output.

Source: Herald.

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Biotalys named sustainable crop protection company of the year


An Agricultural Technology (AgTech) company developing protein-based biocontrol solutions for crop protection, has announced that it was named “Sustainable Crop Protection Company of the Year” by AgTech Breakthrough.

AgTech Breakthrough is a leading market intelligence organization that recognizes the top companies, technologies and products in the global agricultural and food technology markets.

Biotalys was recognized by AgTech Breakthrough for its development of biocontrols to fight off crop pests and diseases by biodegradable proteins that offer the needed efficacy for growers.

In field trials, the company’s first biofungicide EVOCA™ effectively inhibited the growth of Botrytis fruit rot and powdery mildew as part of a spray rotation program – performing as a true replacer for existing chemical-based crop protection products to combat fungal diseases in grapevines.

The product candidate also shows promising results in other high-value fruits and vegetables, such as strawberries and cucumbers.

Biotalys is developing a series of protein-based biocontrols based on its AGROBODY™ technology platform. At the end of 2023, the company shifted to its next-generation AGROBODY technology, aimed at further increasing potency and efficacy of its bioactive agents.

By applying a discovery method based on defined molecular targets, Biotalys’ scientists are focusing on developing products with multiple modes of action.

“It is our ambition to develop crop protection products with similar or better performance than synthetic solutions but with a much softer environmental footprint. We are therefore thrilled to be honored by AgTech Breakthrough for our commitment to making crop protection more sustainable with our protein-based solutions,” said Kevin Helash, CEO, Biotalys.

“As our products are developed to only tackle the target pest or disease, they are safe for beneficial insects such as bees or other species.

In addition, they are biodegradable by nature and leave no chemical residue on the crop – a clear benefit for growers who want to make their production more sustainable leading to higher value food crops.

Our team continues to earn recognition as we move full speed toward bringing our novel solutions to market.”

The full list of winners of the 2024 AgTech Breakthrough Awards can be found here.

* EVOCA™: Pending Registration. This product is not currently registered for sale or use in the United States, the European Union, or elsewhere and is not being offered for sale.

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Floating solar plant in Mpumalanga farm heralds an innovative energy era in SA’s agricultural sector

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Although loadshedding and significant power outages have not been a feature of South African life for a while, rapidly increasing electricity tariffs that far outstrip inflation and worries about future energy security are still causing sleepless nights for farmers.

However, for a family-owned farm, about three kilometres from Malelane, the future is clearer, thanks to their decision to keep production on track and reduce escalating energy costs, a move that has resulted in a sizable solar-powered solution.

What makes the solar plant at Radley Landgoed unique is that 80% of the solar panels – a massive 3 350 square metres – are located on the surface of one of the estate’s largest irrigation dams.

This makes the project Mpumalanga province’s most significant agricultural power project and the only ‘water-borne’ plant in the region and possibly in South Africa.

Recently switched on, power reaches vital parts of the farming operation through a seven-kilometre network of custom-built pylons.

“The project, financed in partnership with Standard Bank’s Business and Commercial Banking (BCB) division, which was completed in a year, can produce up to 1.8GWh of power and can take the estate, including the farm homesteads, support buildings and staff quarters, entirely off-grid when necessary,” says Yaseen Guman, Standard Bank’s Head of Business Banking Client Coverage, Mpumalanga.

“Conservative estimates show that the project costs will be amortised in about 10 years, and the installation will have a lifespan of about 30 years. Savings began accruing the day the plant went operational, and will increase over time as energy costs increase annually.

Perhaps more important to our clients is the fact that production losses and the costs of fuelling generators, which increased operating costs by a substantial amount each year, are now a thing of the past.”

Mr Renald Radley, who, with his brothers Wilscott and Henno, is managing the farm, which has been in the family for about 80 years, says that loadshedding was the primary reason they decided to go solar with the estate’s 1 900 hectares of land.

Farming operations, including 157 hectares of citrus orchards, 536 hectares of high sucrose-producing sugar cane, 34 hectares of mango orchards, and a Nguni cattle stud of 105 breeding cows, have been secured.

“Loadshedding was a significant obstacle that created uncertainty and disrupted our daily farming activities. Traditional power sources and outages impacted our ability to irrigate crops, power essential equipment and maintain productivity.”

“Going solar with the support of Standard Bank has meant that this uncertainty and the losses that occurred when infrastructure had to be repaired and power was lost for days at a time and resetting, and potential damage to automated systems have also faded into the background.”

The location of solar panels on the irrigation dam offers several advantages – no potentially productive land has had to be set aside for the solar array, and clean energy is generated while irrigation capacity is maintained at optimum levels.

Other benefits include easy maintenance and the fact that the dam water provides cooling for the panels, and that workers conducting panel cleaning and repair operations have easy access through a series of walkways between rows of panels.

“Arranging the finance for a ‘water-borne’ solar plant was a first for Standard Bank’s BCB division and reflected our commitment to providing finance for sustainable solutions that encourage the acquisition of renewable-energy projects.

The Radley Landgoed project joined our recent involvement in a farm-based private hydro-electric plant in the Eastern Cape in the ‘firsts’ column of BCB’s growing book on the development of renewable-energy projects,” says Guman.

Besides the direct advantages that the solar power installation brings to the farm, additional marketing benefits can accrue. Much of the produce grown on the farm is packed at the nearby Malelane Citrus Cooperative, where it is packed for export.

“Because much of Radley Landgoed’s output could benefit from the carbon credits offered by the EU for produce grown with green energy, better prices and increased sales volumes could be achieved. This is good news for a community that relies on agriculture for much of its income and employment,” says Guman.

In conclusion he says, “The Radley Landgoed project, like many others undertaken in the agricultural sector, reflects our approach of investing in partnerships that are key to growth, are financially inclusive, support supply chain efficiency and minimise food wastage by addressing deficiencies in the energy grid.”

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Top 7 largest combine harvesters in the world


Combine harvesters or simply combines are essential machinery for modern agriculture, designed to efficiently harvest large quantities of crops.

These machines integrate several operations into one process: reaping, threshing, and winnowing.

Here are some of the largest combine harvesters in the world you should know:

New Holland CR11 

New Holland CR11 is the largest combine ever made and it has been redeveloped to provide higher productivity, with minimal grain loss, improved residue management, and more automation. These features aim to reduce the total cost of grain harvesting.

Thanks to its 775hp C16 engine, 2x24inch rotors, a graintank of 20.000 liters and a 210l/second unload rate, the CR11 significantly increases productivity to levels that have not been achieved before.

CR11  also mounts the new Intelliview 12 display and IntelliSteer™ guidance system, together with other essential precision farming functions, like Telematics and Remote screen viewing.

Furthermore, NutriSense™ comes with a NIR sensor that monitors crop quality via the use of near infra-red light to analyse nutrients like protein, starch and oil contents, plus moisture levels, and can create maps of these for further agronomic analysis.

Gleaner S98

The Gleaner S98 is a powerful machine featuring a 13.5-liter engine and a 12,000-liter grain tank. It’s designed to offer a balance of power and efficiency, catering to the needs of extensive harvesting operations.

The Gleaner S9 Series features live yield mapping, providing improved access to farm data to make more informed business decisions, resulting in enhanced productivity and profitability. Gleaner offers two choices of yield monitoring hardware from the factory; AGCO’s FieldStar™ Live or AgLeader®.

Gleaner’s unique Natural Flow™ process has been enhanced with a number of changes to optimize performance and improve feeding capacity in difficult crop conditions such as heavy canola swaths and green stem soybeans, where uneven feeding can occur.

The feederhouse floor has been lowered by half an inch and the feederhouse runners and torque tube were raised an inch, resulting in better control of the crop and even feeding.

The machine has also been optimised to handle various types of fields making it  a darling to many farmers.

John Deere X9 1100

This machine provides ultra efficient crop feeding with up to 25% less grain loss, while the hinged frame allows for unmatched ground following. The X9 also has high-capacity feeding, which amounts to a 1,720 mm wide feeder house for high throughput, resulting in 23% wider and 45% more volume than a narrow body.

A new 1,720 mm wide Dual Separator is featured on the X9 with a dedicated feeding, threshing and separating area, complementing even-feeding and excellent rock rejection. The 4m² effective threshing area also results in higher threshing performance.

The X9 has a residue system of up to 15.24m spread, low energy knife design, auto swap for optimum wind compensation and remote knife bank adjustment. Overall it has a 20kW power savings on the residue management system. Farmer tests done on high-yielding maize in South Africa indicated only a 0.3% grain loss.

X9  1100 at a glance

  • 690 Max engine horsepower
  • 5.3 bu/s (186.7 liters/s) peak unload rate
  • 460-bushel (16,210-liter) power folding grain tank
  • Integrated G5Plus CommandCenter™ Display and StarFire™ Receiver with available SF-RTK

Deutz-Fahr C9200

he Deutz-Fahr C9200 is a high-performance combine harvester designed to meet the demands of large-scale farming operations. Known for its power, efficiency, and advanced technology, the C9200 is built to handle extensive harvesting tasks with precision and reliability. Here’s a detailed description of the Deutz-Fahr C9200:

Key Features and Specifications:

1. Engine and Power:

  • Engine: The C9200 is equipped with a robust 13.5-liter, 6-cylinder Deutz engine.
  • Power Output: It delivers up to 650 horsepower (varies depending on the specific model and configuration), providing ample power to handle large fields and tough harvesting conditions.

2. Harvesting Capacity:

  • Grain Tank: The combine features a large 14,500-liter (approximately 3,800-gallon) grain tank, allowing for extended harvesting operations without frequent unloading.
  • Header Options: The C9200 can be equipped with various header sizes and types, including wide headers for high-capacity harvesting of different crops like wheat, corn, and soybeans.

Claas Lexion 8900

The combine harvester has a transport width of 3.5 meters and is equipped with 5 walkers. It features a grain tank with a capacity of 15,000 liters and a cutting platform with a width of 13.8 meters. The rotor diameter measures 445 mm.

The Lexion 8900 released in 2019 has a 581-kilowatt (779 hp) MAN D42 engine that matches the Fendt Ideal 10,000-kilogram (22,000 lb) class 10 combine released in 2020.

 

Fendt IDEAL 10

The Fendt IDEAL was developed in the global AGCO Centres of Excellent in harvesting technology. Countless farmers and contractors from around the world were asked what combine requirements would make their IDEAL harvest. It’s the culmination of this customer input, the combined experience of Fendt developers and the chance to test the Fendt IDEAL all year round in different regions under the harshest operating conditions, that make the Fendt IDEAL the most modern and innovative combine on the market.

Model Overview

IDEAL 7 355 kW 476 hp
IDEAL 8 404 kW 541 hp
IDEAL 9 485 kW 650 hp
IDEAL 10 581 kW 779 hp

 

Case IH AF11

With a 775-hp engine, the AF11 is the most powerful combine offered by Case IH. A 567-bushel grain tank and 396-gallon fuel tank let you cover more acres in less time.

Designed, engineered and built by farmers, this combine is packed with the latest in automation, connectivity and harvesting technology, backed by decades of Axial-Flow reliability.

The newest evolution of Case IH’s Axial-Flow combines, the AF11 brings high-efficiency farming to the next level. This Class 10+ combine features dual-rotor technology, innovative AFS Harvest Command™ automation and Case IH’s highest-ever total combine capacity, allowing you to harvest more acres with less grain loss than ever before.

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Forage harvesting is one of the most labour-intensive phases on many farms, especially the high-yielding early cuts.

Before and during mowing, fields must be searched or scanned for wildlife – with operations such as mowing, tedding, swathing and clearance often going on at the same time. In future, autonomous tractors or AgBots will be able to lighten the workload for many farmers and contractors.

Tall-growing crops present a particular challenge, as does the continuous monitoring and assessment of work quality. Together with partners such as AgXeed and thermal DRONES, CLAAS is researching and testing different areas of application as the basis for further progress in development and standardisation.

A question of interface: highly automated and autonomous mowing with wildlife rescue by drone

Drones with thermal-imaging cameras are now a widespread, safe and effective means of detecting breeding nests and wildlife, especially roe deer fawns, just before mowing grassland or whole-crop silage.

The search is generally conducted using a live image and paused when a heat source is picked up to enable helpers to remove the animal to a safe place or mark its location or that of a nest.

CLAAS, thermal DRONES and AgXeed have already pooled their expertise and developed a joint drone interface for autonomous mowing.

Heat source data obtained during the drone flight are initially stored, then processed with AI software and transferred with the associated GPS position data to the process planning tool.

This incorporates the data into route planning, enabling the autonomous mower to maintain a defined (and adjustable) safety buffer around the site of the fawn or nest.

This detour is particularly useful in fields where protected birds are breeding, as these nests cannot be removed. Farmers and contractors can track the machine’s progress live on their smartphone, tablet or PC via the AgXeed platform.

In this way, the use of autonomous mower combinations can meet demands for wildlife-friendly and sustainable grassland management as well as high area output. Furthermore, farmers can document measures taken before mowing to comply with obligations to provide supporting documentation.

In future, it will be possible to use the technology not only in autonomous field robots, but also in autonomous, driverless tractors and highly automated driven tractors and harvesting machines equipped with a steering system which follow pre-planned routes.

The application is set to become a valuable customer solution within the next few years. Safeguards ensure that POI data on the location of wildlife and breeding nests are recorded only within known, previously established field boundaries.

Field boundaries can easily be transferred from the respective farm’s farm management system.

However, if this data is not available, the drone pilot can mark the field boundaries themselves on the screen.

 

Next step: monitoring and controlling large working widths

During the 2024 press week, CLAAS and AgXeed demonstrated an AgBot 2.055 W4 with a VOLTO 1300 T high-performance tedder as another possible application. “Thanks to task and track planning, it is relatively simple to prepare for use with the tedder and because the crop has been mown, visibility is very good”, explains Philipp Kamps, Product Manager AgXeed.

“A system solution which deploys sensors to detect obstacles to make working widths in excess of 3m safe is currently in development. This will be compatible with mounted and trailed implements.”

Magnus Rupp, Project Manager CLAAS Saulgau, adds: “Customer demands for uncompromising work quality means that parameters such as ground speed, rotor speed and spread monitoring must also be automated. To achieve this, we are continuing to invest in development work and conducting field trials under very tough harvesting conditions.”

Other automated field and functional processes in the harvest chain to reduce the driver’s workload are also underway, with some ‘smart mowing’ solutions are already on the market.

 

Smart Mowing: automation for multiple applications

Mowing with a triple mower combination is one example application. The intelligent control concept enables the front mower controls to be integrated into the ISOBUS of the rear butterfly combination, or the whole mower combination to be operated via the tractor’s headland management system – whichever the operator prefers.

Furthermore, the DISCO BUSINESS models offer unique comfort features such as automatic BELT BOOST acceleration to clear the belt units at the headland, automatic belt speed reduction for one-sided lifting and automatic lifting of the mower units when shifting to reverse.

The optional CLAAS automatic slope control regulates the belt speed and ground pressure when working on slopes to ensure optimum swath formation and sward protection while minimising drift.

In addition to track planning and automatic steering using the GPS PILOT CEMIS 1200 from CLAAS, another example for mowing is the Section Control function available for all LINER BUSINESS four-rotor swathers. This ‘digital revolution’ is an unprecedented leap forward in terms of operator comfort.

For a daily output of 100 ha with an average field length of 250 m, the operator would have previously had to master up to 600 headland positions involving lifting, lowering or individual rotor lifting that required a great deal of concentration. This work is now done electronically, which significantly reduces the operator’s workload.

Standardisation is teamwork

CLAAS is working with associations as well as partners on the further development of interfaces to increase the automation of tractor, Agbot, implement and drone combinations. Their findings form the basis for the next step towards fully automated driverless machine combinations.

The 3A – ADVANCED AUTOMATION & AUTONOMY consortium has already taken the lead on this subject with the AEF (Agricultural Industry Electronics Foundation) and plans to push ahead and bring other agricultural machinery manufacturers on board.

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