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Fertilizers for new challenges in agriculture

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Fertilization is one of the fundamental factors that significantly influence crop yield.

Providing the plant with the macro- and micronutrients it needs to survive determines the correct course of a number of physiological processes and conditions the proper growth and development of the plant.

Although macro-nutrient fertilization is essential, the plant cannot reach its yield potential without micronutrients. They are responsible for a number of yield-enhancing processes in plants, such as improving the uptake of water and nutrients from the soil, stimulating the synthesis of phytohormones, increasing the efficiency of photosynthesis or strengthening the natural resistance of plants.

One of the biggest challenges facing farmers around the world today is the increasing frequency and severity of weather anomalies. Recent years have shown that climate change, with prolonged and devastating droughts in some seasons and repeated rainstorms in others, is a major risk factor for any farmer.

In addition, rapidly changing weather conditions are shortening the window of opportunity for effective crop nutrition treatments. As a result, growers are looking for more effective and faster-acting solutions, and companies are producing more advanced products.

The fact is that salts and oxides are not as effective as providing chelated micronutrients. Among other things, the use of chelates facilitates the penetration of elements deep into plants, prevents their hydration and improves the miscibility of fertilizers with other substances. The choice of chelating agent is also extremely important.

AMINO ULTRA® is a range of single-nutrient micronutrient fertilizers that feed plants quickly and effectively. AMINO ULTRA® fertilizers use patented GCAA technology, which combines micronutrients with the amino acid glycine.

Glycine is the smallest and most mobile amino acid in plants, which means that the micronutrients bound to it are delivered to the plant faster and more efficiently than when using simple salts, oxides or fertilizers based on other complexing substances.

AMINO ULTRA® provides plants with a range of micronutrients essential for growth and development by activating yield-forming processes. In addition, the amino acids in AMINO ULTRA® enhance protein synthesis.

Thanks to GCAA technology, the plant is nourished within hours of application. Studies confirm a significant increase in the effectiveness of plant nutrition with micronutrients and an increase in yield after application of AMINO ULTRA®.

AMINO ULTRA® not only has a rapid nutritional effect, but is also efficient and cost effective due to a low dose per hectare and environmentally safe due to the use of glycine, which is naturally found in plants.

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AVI Africa, biggest poultry conference slated for June 2023

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Lubing presents new “INTERMEDIATE DRIVE 2.0” for its egg conveyor system

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Lubing starts its 2022 with a novelty: the new intermediate drive, which was completely redesigned and makes the use of egg conveyors even smoother and more flexible.

Lubing therefore continues with its philosophy based on the continuous development of the products range, to meet the changing needs of the modern farmer.

Always focused to the constant improvement of its solutions for poultry breeders, Lubing presents itself at the starting line of 2022 with a new product, the “Intermediate Drive 2.0”.

The intermediate drive is basically a drive motor that can be inserted into particularly long conveyor belts; depending on the length and type of route, the inclusion of one or more intermediate drives ensures a flowing and safe transport.

Lubing’s R&D engineers decided to completely redesign this element, optimising its compatibility with existing equipments and making the conveyor chain run even smoother.

A change that further improves Lubing egg conveyor systems, without changing the characteristics that have made them unique on the market for reliability and adaptability to virtually any space and situation.

So much so that they are chosen by hundreds of farmers around the world, who – for over seventy years – have seen in Lubing a strategic and reliable partner.

Professionals can in fact benefit from the experience of Lubing’s technicians in designing the most suitable conveyors for their poultry sheds, being able to create linear or curvilinear routes, with ascents, descents, lifts and even automated egg counting and line washing units, thus reducing time, effort and the risk of breaking shells to a minimum.

The new intermediate drive, available from February 2022, will initially work alongside the traditional hauler, before replacing it completely in the long term.

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AVI Africa, biggest poultry conference slated for June 2023

How potato growers and processors can gain from the latest sorting technologies

 

AVI Africa, biggest poultry conference slated for June 2023

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AVI Africa, the biggest poultry conference and exhibition on the continent, is returning in 2023 after a Covid-enforced three-year break.

This crucial event on the poultry calendar takes place from 6 – 8 June 2023 at Emperors Palace, Gauteng, and we invite you to register to ensure that you don’t miss out on all the latest developments in our industry.

Products, services, solutions

Bringing together all major players in the poultry industry, from large and small owner producers and suppliers through to key decision makers from big corporations, AVI Africa 2023 will showcase the latest in products, techniques and services aimed at enhancing business and maximising the profits of commercial poultry enterprises.

The AVI Africa exhibition area is always the main attraction at the congress, providing an unmatched opportunity for the visitor to gain information about the widest range of practical developments and commercial solutions for the unique requirements of the poultry industry.

Exhibitors pull out all the stops to display the latest equipment and technology and are on hand to answer any questions. A variety of topical talks that offer practical value to producers will be presented every day.

Who should attend?

Producers of chicks, eggs or broilers, from the commercial and the emerging market sector alike find great benefit from the conference. We recommend that you invite your company buyers, farm managers and supervisors to join too.

Schedule of events

The official opening by the SAPA Honorary President will take place on Tuesday 6 June, followed by the respective Annual General Meetings. Three parallel sessions are planned for Day 2 and the conference concludes at noon on Thursday, 8 June.

The cost to attend is R700 per day, which will include access to all talks and exhibits, lunch, tea and snacks. Delegate online registration opens on 1 November 2022, and there is a discounted early-bird rate for all registrations that take place before 30 April 2023.

The fee excludes accommodation and transport; links to all the Emperors Palace hotels are available on request. Note that block booking special rates will apply.

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A new date for Expo 2023 Kahramanmaraş

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A new date for Expo 2023 Kahramanmaraş

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The International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH) welcomes rescheduling the opening for Expo Kahramanmaraş 2023 to Saturday, 12 August, considering the gargantuan effects of the 7.8 and 7.7 earthquakes that devastated the lives of millions.

‘Nature-Friendly City and Sensitivity’ is the International Horticultural Expo’s theme, which gained a more profound relevance for the people of Kahramanmaraş after surviving the earthquake’s aftershocks. Mr Hanefi Mahçiçek, President of Expo 2023 Kahramanmaras and Mayor of Onikisubat Municipality spoke about how the Expo’s site quickly became a makeshift sanctuary for the survivors.

The mayor described the turbulent situation at the recent AIPH Expo Conference as part of the Spring Meeting hosted in Lisbon, Portugal. Mr Mahçiçek recounted how the Exhibition buildings on the 79-hectare Expo site were unaffected by the earthquake – “not a scratch”. But in this province, where 1,171,298 citizens live, the Turkish Government confirms that 10,800 buildings were razed, more than 100,000 people were injured, and the death toll reached 12,000 in just the city of Kahramanmaraş alone.

From 6 February, Mayor Mahçiçek said the Expo took on a new purpose for the people of Kahramanmaraş. The Expo’s Hobby Houses and 3,000-spaced car parking area swiftly became host to the displaced people offering them a tent and container camp to protect them from the freezing temperatures plummeting many degrees below zero.

Representing the Expo, Mr Harun Güzel added to the Expo 2023 Kahramanmaraş presentation at AIPH’s Spring Meeting Expo Conference, where he described the aftermath. He said there is nowhere in the city centre for people to socialise and return to normal. People are still afraid. The Expo site is the only open, green space where people feel safe with their families and, through the power of nature, these spaces can heal.

Expo 2023 Kahramanmaraş was approved in 2018 at the AIPH Congress in Padova, Italy. It was Mayor Mahçiçek’s vision to raise the city’s profile on a global stage. The Expo’s prescient sub-themes will explore nature-based education for children; biophilic urban renewal design; urban horticulture and local food; greener, healthier, and happier, and the wisdom of simplicity. The mayor had planned the Expo’s opening date to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the foundation of the Turkish Republic on Sunday, 23 April.

Logistically, with all these challenges, this is now not possible, and at the Spring Meeting, AIPH agreed to reschedule Expo 2023 Kahramanmaraş, which will now take place from 12 August to 30 November.

AIPH Secretary General Tim Briercliffe commented on the change, “We have been humbled by the resilience and determination of Mayor Mahçiçek and the citizens of Kahramanmaraş. He believes this Expo can play an important role in re-energising and rehabilitating the region, and he has our full support.”

International Horticultural Expos foster cooperation and knowledge sharing between countries addressing crucial issues related to healthy lifestyles, green economies, sustainable living, education, and innovation. This Expo can boast 30 International and 30 National participants in this spirit, all pulling together and on-site right now, ready to make Expo 2023 Kahramanmaraş a success.

Expo Kahramanmaraş 2023 presentation at the Expo Conference during the AIPH Spring Meeting 2023 can be viewed in the video below.

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How potato growers and processors can gain from the latest sorting technologies

GeoPotato: How data gives Bangladesh’s potato farmers a new tool in the fight against late blight

How potato growers and processors can gain from the latest sorting technologies

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Though potato products are sold in many forms, all begin their journey to market the same way: fresh from the field, unwashed.

And immediately, the challenges start, because harvested potatoes are commonly mixed up with all sorts of unwanted debris.

Rocks, stones, clods of earth, sticks, stalks, vines, wood, plastic bottles, field mice, fragments of glass – you name it, in a pile of freshly harvested potatoes you might find it. Long before these foreign materials can threaten food safety, they bulk out the crop, increasing the need for precious storage space. They also worsen the risks in the storage of potato rot, breakdown, and product loss.

Growers can reduce these risks by running the crop through a pre-sorter before storage, then pre-sorting the potatoes again before they are washed and sent into processing. The machine best suited to this task is the TOMRA 3A, a sensor-based sorter designed for freshly harvested root crops. This machine is typically used at the entrance to a potato storage shed to provide a final clean-up after the freshly harvested crop has passed through a mechanical grader and soil removal equipment.

The TOMRA 3A uses high-resolution cameras and near infra-red (NIR) to identify zero-value green potatoes, distinguishes between organic matter (the crop) and inorganic matter (foreign material), and is able to identify good crop which might otherwise be mistaken for a soil clod because it is heavily coated in soil.

Because of the time pressures of short harvesting seasons, this machine is designed to operate at high capacity, often working at storage sheds at a rate of 100 tons per hour. And because growers may store potatoes at more than one location, this machine is designed to be moved easily from shed to shed.

The TOMRA 3A is so effective that it removes 95% of rocks, floating stones, dirt clods, and corn cob, plus 85% of other typical foreign materials. Sometimes a small amount of foreign materials may remain mixed up with the potatoes when they go into storage, but the task of removing these – which may be smaller and harder to detect – is handled by a more sophisticated sorter later in the production process. The TOMRA 3A significantly reduces the sorting work required at these later stages, reducing stoppages due to machine damage and optimizing downstream equipment.

A sorter designed for potato processors

After the potatoes have been harvested, pre-sorted, stored, typically pre-sorted again, then washed, sorters on the processing line have to detect and eject the harder-to-see foreign materials and product defects. This is important not only to ensure food safety and product quality but also to prevent disruptions on the line. If foreign materials get too far down the line making French Fries or kettle chips, for example, they can break slicing knives and bring the entire operation to a halt.

To counteract these threats, the TOMRA 5A optical sorter was specifically designed for potato processors. Intended to handle washed and peeled potatoes, typically used for French fries, chips, specialty potato products, this in-air sorting machine is equipped with top and bottom banks of optical inspection to view each individual object in flight. Using a combination of pulsed LED, camera, and near-infrared (NIR), it performs targeted spectroscopy with 1mm precision. Machine parameters can be set to precisely alter the accept/reject levels for subtle defects, discolorations, and blemishes in the potatoes and product size and shape.

The TOMRA 5A is noted for its superior removal of foreign materials, with a 98% the removal rate and highly efficient detection of rotten potato, potato defect, and remaining peel. Not only does this help the processor with food safety but also it gives them the tool to maximise the use of all usable potatoes and miminise waste. And at the same time as accomplishing all this, the TOMRA 5A is capable of running the highest capacities in the industry (sorting French fry potatoes, for example, at 54 tons per hour).

Also at the packhouse, some bigger businesses like to go beyond reducing the number of manual sorters they employ, and completely eliminate the need for human intervention. This can be achieved by complementing TOMRA Food’s sorting machines with a Multi-Lane Sorter (MLS). Renowned for gentle product-handling while maintaining throughput, TOMRA’s industry-leading MLS system accurately sorts and grades potatoes (and other vegetables and fruit) according to weight, size, shape, color, surface blemishes and internal quality.

An even more sophisticated option

Another machine suitable for potato processors is the TOMRA 5B. As products move along this machine’s belt, foreign material and produce imperfections are detected by on-belt 360-degree-surround cameras, a laser, and off-belt cameras. Combining these technologies takes optical sorting to an even higher level. It is suitable for specialty potato products, French Fries (which must also be accurately sorted to size), and chips/crisps.
Because this machine’s NIR can detect density differences, it is able to see and remove chips/crisps which have stuck together in clusters or been spoiled by wet centers after frying. The off-belt laser detects up to 99% of foreign material and can see whether chips contain excessive oil or water content.

The TOMRA 5B was further enhanced in early 2021 by a software update that added new features. One of these, Health Check, reduces the risk of line disruptions caused by dirt sticking on the machine’s window between the camera/ laser and the product stream. Health Check automatically checks the machine’s cleanliness before sorting and informs the operator which surfaces need cleaning. And because it works remotely, the operator or line manager doesn’t even have to go to the line to make the Health Check.

Another feature, Smart Ejection, uses new de-clustering algorithms that improve efficiency in French Fries production. Smart Ejection improves good-in-bad performance by anything from 25% to 100%; improves accept-stream quality by making even more accurate decisions on defect types and clusters; and reduces false detection, especially of shorts in clusters, to minimize product waste and increase yield – another good example ROI.

Clever controls and a data platform

TOMRA Insight’s Health Check and Smart Ejection features are good examples of how today’s sorting machines are so effective not only because of their all-seeing ‘eyes’ – their cameras, lasers, and NIR spectroscopy – but also because of developments in software and controls. These have brought easy-to-program features that only a few years ago would have been the stuff of dreams.

Many control features are now available to enhance sorting efficiencies in potato processing. Sort-to-Length, for example, ensures that French Fries meet a pre-determined grade. Reverse Sorting recuperates good product from recovery streams. SmartSort helps operators easily define color specifications and detection settings. Dynamic Cloud gives a real-time view of all the materials the machine assesses as defects so that detection settings can be fine-tuned. And Sort-to-Spec makes it easy to sort batches into different qualities, for example, AAA-grade and B-grade fries.

Another recent development in sorting technologies, and one of profound significance, is data acquisition. By gathering data from sorting machines in near real-time and storing this securely in the cloud, the TOMRA Insight subscription-based service turns sorting machines into connected devices with information that can unlock machine performance improvements.

Acting on this data – which can be accessed from anywhere and across plants via web-based desktop and mobile devices – pays off in many ways. Downtime is reduced by monitoring machine health near real-time, supporting the management of predictive and condition-based maintenance, and preventing unscheduled machine shutdowns.

Throughput is maximized by evaluating throughput variations in order to optimize sorting equipment. Operating costs are reduced by identifying gaps in production and analyzing potential root causes. Also, sorting to target quality is enhanced by having accurate material-composition data that enables decisions to be based on more detailed information.

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GeoPotato: How data gives Bangladesh’s potato farmers a new tool in the fight against late blight

Using satellite technology to transform agriculture in developing countries

GeoPotato: How data gives Bangladesh’s potato farmers a new tool in the fight against late blight

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Powered by satellite data and powerful analysis models, GeoPotato is designed to enable preventive spraying, easier crop protection decisions, and improved farmer income

GeoPotato, a geodata-driven early warning system for late blight in potatoes, has entered a full commercial roll-out in Bangladesh, and could reach as many as 1 million smallholder farmers in the coming years.

Devised by Wageningen Plant Research, Terrasphere, mPower, Bayer and governmental institutions, GeoPotato’s cutting edge technology employs a sophisticated risk assessment algorithm evaluating many factors impacting crop development on the field– including satellite data, weather forecasts, disease cycles and crop biomass growth – to assess key risk factors for late blight development (susceptible host, conducive environment and pathogen presence) on a highly localized basis.

When it predicts a disease outbreak, it sends farmers an early alert via SMS or voicemail, three days before the outbreak is forecasted to occur. It also advises which fungicidal product would be most effective to help growers take action in a fast and efficient manner.

After running trials for the last five seasons, GeoPotato was launched publicly on 1 November 2021. To maximize its impact, project partners have reached out to more than 50,000 farmers in key potato-producing areas. Ultimately, they intend to expand it to all of Bangladesh, as well as parts of India, reaching more than 1 million farmers and making a significant step towards Bayer’s commitment of empowering 100 million smallholder farmers by 2030.

Scaling up GeoPotato, scaling up yields

After rice potatoes are the second most important food crop in Bangladesh, but they face a severe threat from late blight, a fast-spreading disease that can devastate as much as 57% of Bangladesh’s potato production each year. Late blight can have widespread and highly damaging effects on farmer incomes and potato prices.

Potato farmers, among many smallholders, face the daily challenge of controlling late blight, while needing to avoid the excessive use of fungicides to protect the environment as well as their cash flow. That is where GeoPotato comes in. By warning of late blight risk before outbreaks actually happen, it enables farmers to a preventive spray application, increasing precision and potentially reducing spraying volumes at the same time as combating late blight.

Ultimately, this means a better outcome for the farmer, in terms of both cost savings, yield increases, and greater confidence that their crop protection solutions will have the desired results.

Participants in the trials reported improvements of up to 26% in yield, and expressed enthusiasm to see GeoPotato continue and grow in the future. A win-win for farmers, consumers and the environment.

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Using satellite technology to transform agriculture in developing countries

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In 2022, heavy rains and severe floods ravaged Nigeria, damaging thousands of hectares of land. The country’s annual maize and rice production fell by an estimated 12% and 21%, respectively.

With such destructive weather events on the rise globally, Nigeria – home to more than 200 million people – is turning to technology to better prepare its farmers and agricultural sector. It has found satellite-based crop monitoring solutions particularly useful.

Africa’s most populous nation is part of the CropWatch innovation cooperation programme launched in 2021 by UNCTAD, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and the Alliance of International Science Organizations – a non-profit and non-governmental entity.

“Stable crop monitoring using remote sensing data provides powerful information for planning and significantly improves the quality, efficiency and technical depth of decision-making in our agricultural sector,” said Rakiya Babamaaji, an assistant director at Nigeria’s national space research and development agency (NASRDA).

Nigerian experts trained through the programme are customizing the CropWatch platform to the local context. The system uses satellite data to monitor crop growth and other climate-related conditions, such as biomass, temperature and precipitation, to improve farm management.

“The technology and skills acquired through CropWatch will complement the Nigerian government’s efforts to revive the agricultural sector,” said Ms Babamaaji, who works in NASRDA’s natural resources management division.

Powerful tool by and for developing countries
Earth observation and crop monitoring technologies hold huge potential for agriculture, but using them – especially on a massive scale – can be challenging and costly for developing nations.

The CropWatch programme harnesses the power of South-South cooperation to overcome many of the hurdlles. It allows participating countries to access much-needed technology, along with training on adapting the system to specific local requirements.

“Through training and hands-on practice, pilot countries can do the monitoring by using the CropWatch platform, without additional investment on storage and computation in the long run,” said Bingfang Wu, a professor at the Chinese Academy of Science.

The programme currently bolsters agricultural monitoring in 14 developing countries across Asia and Africa, accelerating progress towards zero hunger – a key ambition outlined in the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

The work was the result of discussions at the United Nations Commission on Science and Technology for Development (CSTD), to which UNCTAD provides substantive support.

“South-South cooperation in science, technology and innovation is extremely important, as developing countries often share similar development aspirations and challenges,” Shamika N. Sirimanne, UNCTAD’s director of technology and logistics, said at the CSTD’s 26th annual session in late March.

“Technologies emerging from developing countries, such as the CropWatch system, can be more appropriate to the local conditions and low resource settings of other developing countries,” Ms Sirimanne added.

Enhancing agricultural resilience for self-sufficiency
Another country that’s part of the programme is Mauritius, a small island developing nation that imports 75% of its food.

To ensure food security, the country seeks to urgently boost local agriculture production and must overcome challenges from a changing climate that has brought more droughts, flash floods and cyclones in recent years.

Mauritius uses CropWatch to help enhance early warning mechanisms, quickly assess crop damage after a disaster and get assistance to affected farmers. The system also helps the country trade more strategically thanks to the data it gathers on the supply of and demand for different crops.

“This will mitigate price fluctuations due to erratic supply on the market and reduce food waste in case of surplus production,” said Micheline Seenevassen Pillay, chief executive officer of Mauritius’ food and agricultural research and extension institute.

“Moreover, with storage and distribution improvements, Mauritius will be able to reduce its food import bills.”

Looking forward
Two regional worships are planned for 2023 – in Mauritius in July and China in November. They will gather from participating countries policymakers, scientists and technical experts aspiring to tap satellite technology for agricultural transformation.

More information is available online for countries that are interested in joining the programme.

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Manuchar acquires 50% stake in Anorel (Pty) in South Africa

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Manuchar, a leading distributor of chemicals in emerging markets with headquarters in Antwerp, Belgium, announces it has reached an agreement for a joint venture with Anorel (Pty) Ltd. in Southern Africa.

This joint venture fits Manuchar’s ambition to strengthen its leading chemical distribution platform and broaden its product portfolio.

Anorel (Pty) Ltd., located in Cape Town, South Africa, distributes a wide variety of fertilizers. Over the past 23 years, Anorel (Pty) Ltd. has established valuable and long-term relationships with its customers in South Africa. By joining forces with Anorel (Pty) Ltd., Manuchar will have an excellent platform to further develop its activities in the distribution of fertilizers to the high-precision agricultural industry in Southern Africa.

Manuchar employs 2,600 employees worldwide. From its headquarters in Antwerp, Belgium, it operates a local chemicals distribution network across North & Latin America, Africa, Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Manuchar has been present in South Africa since 2003. Manuchar South Africa’s 97 employees are based in Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town.

The closing of the agreement between Manuchar South Africa and the shareholder of Anorel (Pty) Ltd. is foreseen in the 2nd quarter of 2023, subject to antitrust approval.

Steven Atkinson, Country Manager Manuchar South Africa: “Manuchar South Africa already has a strong presence in Home Care, Fabric Care, Personal Care, Human Nutrition, Animal Nutrition, Water Treatment and Textile.

Over the past years we have also developed our Crop Nutrition business. By joining forces with Anorel (Pty) Ltd. we will accelerate our growth in Crop Nutrition, bringing even more products and benefits to our customers and suppliers. We have a great fit with Anorel (Pty) Ltd.’s management. They share the same values as us, and demonstrate the same entrepreneurial spirit.”

Mark Jacobs, Region Manager Africa Manuchar: “We are excited to partner with Anorel (Pty) Ltd., a company with a strong track record of knowledge and entrepreneurship in the distribution of Crop Nutrition products in South Africa. This joint venture will support the further growth of our Crop Nutrition business as one of the pillars of our group strategy and highlights the tremendous growth potential in the African market.”

Steven Cafmeyer, CEO Anorel NV in Belgium and owner of Anorel (Pty) Ltd.: “Anorel is specialized in water-soluble fertilizers and biostimulants. We passionately research and develop new technologies resulting in a wide range of innovative products meeting the needs of the water-soluble fertilizer industry.

Manuchar brings its global logistical and commodity procurement strengths to complement Anorel (Pty) Ltd. in a specialized joint venture serving the needs of a diverse South African Market. We are looking forward to partnering with Manuchar enhancing our mutual offerings of services and solutions to the horticultural market in Southern Africa.”

Oscar Cafmeyer, M.D. Anorel (Pty) Ltd.: “Since I moved from Belgium to South Africa four years ago, together with the support from the Belgian HQ Anorel NV, we have experienced strong growth in the South African market. We are very proud to partner with Manuchar, a leading chemical distributor. Building on each other’s strengths will enable us to accelerate our growth and allow us to become a reference in the South African fertilizer market.”

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Italian agricultural machinery market in limbo, says FederUnacoma

Italian agricultural machinery market in limbo, says FederUnacoma

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Registration figures for the first quarter of the year indicate a decline for tractors, and a recovery for other types of machinery after the loss recorded in the first quarter of 2022.
Overall, the market remains at a standstill, affected by the delay in the procedures for granting public funds.
There is concern about the buying and selling of used machinery, which is growing dramatically and does not improve the technological level of Italian farms.

In the first quarter of this year, the Italian tractor market was down compared to the same period of the previous year, while sales of combine harvesters, tractors with loading platforms and telehandlers showed a recovery compared to the declines recorded in the first three months of 2022, but with sales volumes remaining small.

Registration data – processed by FederUnacoma on the basis of Ministry of Infrastructures and Transport registrations – show a total of 5,083 registered tractors in the January-March period, down 5.3% after the 10% loss already recorded in the first quarter of the previous year.

Combine harvesters reached 60 units (+46.3%), telehandlers 376 (+21.7%) and tractors with loading platforms a total of 158 (+18.8%), while trailers remained stationary, with 1,919 units (-1.3%).

In FederUnacoma’s assessment, the market – which in addition to registered vehicles includes a vast range of machinery and equipment that are monitored by the Statistical Office – is currently at risk of stalling.

In a context that is already made uncertain by the trend in agricultural incomes and the probable drought that may affect production – explains the manufacturers’ federation – a decisive variable is the availability of public incentives for the purchase of mechanical equipment.

The National Recovery and Resilience Plan, which allocates 400 million euros for the purchase of “full electric” and methane tractors, as well as vehicles with precision devices, is currently at a standstill while waiting for the procedures for the allocation of funds to be established.

The new endowment of 225 million euros specifically for tractors is still to be defined, announced by the government, taken from the Innovation Fund and entrusted to Ismea for operational management. FederUnacoma is also concerned about the constant growth in the sale and purchase of used vehicles.

In 2022 alone – according to data on transfers of ownership processed by the Federation – 51 thousand second-hand tractors were sold, an increase of 30% over the previous year.

These are vehicles with an average age of twenty years, which do not improve the quality of the fleet of machinery working on our land, and on the contrary slow down a process of modernisation that is more necessary and urgent than ever.

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GRIMME UK shows how GL 420 Exacta potato planter works

GRIMME UK shows how GL 420 Exacta potato planter works

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Following the success of last year’s demonstration programme, GRIMME UK is once again giving people a chance to see the GL 420 Exacta potato planter in operation.

Unlike other machinery manufacturers’ demonstrations, GRIMME UK has adopted a personal approach with growers able to see the planter put through its paces on a one-to-one basis at their farm.

The GL 420 Exacta planter is a four-row machine offering one-pass soil cultivation and planting. GRIMME’s unique planter design achieves a minimal distance between tuber discharge and the following ridge form plates. This small distance ensures that the tubers always lie in the middle of the ridge, even on very steep sloping ground.

The mechanical coupling between the furrow opener and ridge-forming plate creates an exact planting depth. The Exacta has been designed for fields of all sizes, with its compact design, without running wheels, avoids soil compaction behind the cultivator and makes it easy to use in small or irregularly-shaped fields.

Patrick Graf Grote, managing director at GRIMME UK:

“Last year’s product demonstrations were really well received. By taking our machines to the grower, they could see them running in real conditions alongside their current machinery.”

“They had the opportunity to see how well the machines coped with their particular soil, fields and conditions, and they had time to talk to our product specialists at length. I think 2023’s demonstration programme will be just as popular, if not more so, than last year.”

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