More than just machinery
05 / 2012
Conversion to CTF with HORSCH 13 The experiences of a British farmer
Cleaning sprayers – the proper way 32 Practical test: HORSCH LEEB cleaning system CCS
Strip cultivation and rape seeding 46 From the HORSCH demo garden Now is the best time to consider ordering your new HORSCH machine for the 2013 season. Please contact your local HORSCH dealer to discuss our out of season discount and fi nance packages. www.horsch.com terra
Editorial Contents Dear reader 2012 was a successful year in agriculture as well as for the agricultural industry. For HORSCH News it was again the most successful year in the company’s 28 year history. Mainly the farming Open house 4 sector was quite satisfactorily, for in general the yields were „only“ average, but they re- HORSCH Soil Tour 2012 5 mained on a high level. In the agricultural industry sector this resulted in an increased turno- New HORSCH Leeb hall 5 ver, staff recruitment and economic success as a whole. Claas and Fachagentur 6 Thuringian Prime Minister in Ronneburg 6 But the question is: Can this development be compared to 2008, the year before the crisis? The Große Preis des On the grain market the situation seems to be quite different than in 2008. The USDA pre- Mittelstands and Future Award 7 dicts a decreasing supply of cereals. Therefore, the department hopes for a record harvest in First steps: New HORSCH farm in CZ 8 the next two years to allow the food reserves to stay at least at today’s level. This is why the DLG-Image-Barometer 11 analysts go on anticipating high prices although admitting at the same time that food con- HORSCH InnoFalcon 11 sumption has decreased and still goes on decreasing. But why? Especially in developing coun- Playing farmer 2.0 12 tries, but also in some threshold countries people cannot afford the food they need for their Farm report daily needs. Here farmers bear responsibility for these people even if they perhaps seem to be Conversion to CTF with HORSCH (GB) 13 too far away. Concretely such a responsibility means to produce food for anyone at an afford- Coming up to the expectations (DE) 16 able price. This calls for permanent weighing up between farming, the production for bio- energy, but also the considerable reduction of agricultural areas. In some developing coun- Around the world tries, however, there seems to be a positive trend. Signs, e.g. a greater demand for agricultural South Africa – unknown agricultural giant 18 machinery in Africa, show that people there learn to organise themselves and that they are Hungary: Foreigners unwanted 21 starting to produce their food themselves again. So far their opinion had been that this is not Imparting values: necessary as it was cheaper to buy wheat than to grow it in their own country. People do not LCC University Lithuania (Cornelia Horsch) 22 resign to their fate, but take it in their own hands again and try to give it a positive direction. Company insights A life according to a plan: All things considered we in our sector can still look cau- Purchasing department 24 tiously positively into the future. We will always need Everything under control (Michael Horsch) 26 food, even if the consequences of the continuing Having gained experience (Philipp Horsch) 28 economic crises in many European countries can Perfect framework conditions (Horst Keller) 30 and will affect everyone in the future – because Machinery test of higher taxes we will all be soaked in the end. Cleaning sprayers – the proper way 32 Of course, everyone will have to carry his share of the financial hole. Thus, we are prompted to Practical experience stick together and to work on it together. Processing semi-liquid manure and biogas residue: HORSCH Evo CS 36 I wish you a merry Christmas and a happy, HORSCH Foundation successful New Year 2013! Sowing music for a fulfilling life: KMK music academy 38
Herzlichst Inside HORSCH Obituary Gottfried Horsch 40 Cornelia Horsch Apprentices released into everyday working life 40 Apprenticeship Information Day 40 HORSCH Go-Kart 41 Check-In-Days 2012 42 Service & Sales Czech Republic – market with a long tradition 43 FITZ training centre From the HORSCH demo garden 46
IMPRINT terraHORSCH Edited by: Johannes Hädicke terraHORSCH is published twice a year in the following More than just machinery Articles written by: M. Bittermann, D. Brandt, M. languages: German, English, French, Polish and Russian. It is the international customer magazine of Braun, F. Ermer, T. Göttinger, A. Grauvogl, R. Harris, The magazine and all its articles and illustrations are HORSCH Maschinen GmbH J. Huber, C. Horsch, J. Hädicke, H. Keller, J. Noordhof, protected by copyright. Any utilisation outside the limits Sitzenhof 1, DE-92421 Schwandorf L. Prchal, J. Stangl, H. Wolf fixed by the copyright act is illegal without the approval Telefon: +49 9431 7143-0 of the publisher. Fax: +49 9431 41364 Photos: HORSCH archives, Photographie Petra Kellner, [email protected] J. Hädicke, J. Noordhof Layout concept: MarkenGrün www.horsch.com Translations: English: H. Wolf; French: S. Proust, Layout: Otterbach Medien KG GmbH & Co S. Vanderhaeghe; Polish: B. Dudkowski; Russian: Responsible for the content: M. Sinichenko Print: Vogel Druck, Würzburg Cornelia Horsch
3 terra News
Open House themed “Technology meets music“
n July the HORSCH Maschinen GmbH tion desks about career and apprentice- building, however, can accommodate organised an Open House themed ships at the HORSCH company, an ex- one hundred employees. The total in- “Technology meets music“. It was not tensive program for kids with bouncy vestment sum amounts to about 6 mil- only intended for adults but for chil- castle, kicking a football at goal, face lion Euro. Idren as well as the fascination of agri- painting and much more. Numerous Beside technology and engineering cultural machinery and engineering al- employees took the opportunity to music played an important part at the ready starts in childhood and never show the company to their relatives. Open House. There were several live ends. Moreover the HORSCH headquar- On the occasion of the factory tours performances of the Czech folk group ters in Schwandorf has developed con- the new HORSCH logistic centre with its Chodovanka who entertained the siderably in the past years so that modern high rack storage area was guests with pleasant Bavarian-Czech HORSCH wanted to show the new items shown to the public. It was put into op- folk music. The highlight of the evening and innovations to the public. The num- eration at the end of 2011 and the costs was a concert of the Konrad-Max-Kunz ber of visitors amounted to about 8,000 amounted to approx. 10 million Euro. In music academy. The concert was the of- people and exceeded all expectations. the afternoon Helmut Hey, Schwan- ficial opening of the music academy. There was an extensive program for dorf’s mayor, inaugurated the HORSCH This event, too, attracted more visitors the visitors. The whole day machines ACI. The Agricultural Centre of Innova- than expected. The HORSCH hall had were shown in practical use: demonstra- tion is the new test and research build- been prepared for an audience of 250 tion and presentation of machines with ing at Sitzenhof and another clear com- people. Thanks to the good weather tractors provided by all large manufac- mitment to the site in Schwandorf. So chairs could be put up in front of the turers, helicopter sightseeing trips, far there are approx. 40 employees hall so that in the end the audience con- guided factory tours, several informa- working in the R & D sector, the new sisted of 400 people!
Opening concert of the Konrad-Max-Kunz music academy
Kids program
Guided factory tours
Inauguration Machines in of the ACI practical use
4 HORSCH Soil Tour 2012
rom mid June to mid August The representatives of each manufac- Finally the visitors used the opportu- HORSCH together with the Bay- turer briefly spoke about the character- nity for personal discussions with the Wa, (the HORSCH sales partner in istic features of their products before representatives of the manufacturers. Bavaria), organised a special cam- the practical demonstration in the field We would like to thank our guests for Fpaign with focus on site-specific soil began. The visitors, then, critically ex- coming and the interest they showed. conditions and the correspondingly ad- amined the work. apted technology. After the demonstration Michael The events took place at the sites of Horsch and Kurt Glück spoke about the the Baywa in Ansbach, Bamberg, Nab- current situation of agriculture and the burg, Donauwörth, Fürstenfeldbruck, perspectives for the future. Dietfurt, Eggenfelden and Giebelstadt. Although is was high season in agri- culture we welcomed an average of 300 visitors at each event. At the beginning of each event the machines were presented – about 10 rigs consisting of HORSCH machines with Fendt and Massey Ferguson trac- tors. Among the HORSCH machines were Joker 3 CT, Cruiser 5 XL, Terrano 3 FX, Terrano 5 FM, Terrano 4 MT, Express 3 TD, Pronto 3 DC, Pronto 6 KR, Sprinter 4 ST as well as Maestro 8.75 CC. The companies Fendt and geo-konzept showed parallel guidance systems. Gütt- ler presented appropriate front tools for sowing with Pronto DC and Express TD.
Opening of new HORSCH Leeb hall
t the end of September the the water which is necessary for testing employees and the guests had lunch new HORSCH Leeb service can be re-collected. The hall is also together. At the suggestion of Gerhard and test hall in Landau was equipped with an overhead crane. Springs, head of HR, the focus in the af- opened. Beside the complete There are now additional offices with a ternoon was on the families. There was AHORSCH Leeb staff Michael, Philipp and total of eight workplaces at the disposal coffee and cake for the employees and Traugott Horsch, Horst Keller and Ro- of the service and the test team. their relatives, for the children there land Schönleber as representatives of During the official part of the event was a bouncy castle. There was a surpris- the HORSCH Maschinen GmbH manage- Theodor Leeb and Michael Horsch gave ingly large number of visitors, the em- ment board were present, too. a summary of the current situation of ployees and their relatives felt visibly at It had become necessary to build this the company and talked about the per- ease. new hall as due to the increasing pro- spectives for the months to come. They duction output the capacity of the exist- thanked the employees for their com- ing production hall was no longer suf- mitment in the past year. After that the ficient to adjust, test and inspect the machines after their assembly. The ser- vice department, too, urgently needed more room to be able to go on working efficiently. So far, they often had to work outdoors. For working at the spraying boom requires a lot of room as the booms extend to a width of up to 36 metre. The new hall is 48 metre long, 22 me- tre wide and 8 metre high. A sprayer test rig has been integrated, the floor in the test area is slightly sloping so that
5 terra News
CLAAS and the Fachagentur together are now selling HORSCH in Thuringia
Starting in October 2012 the Fachagen- for the HORSCH customer. We still are tur Bodenbearbeitung – Saat – Pflan- the first contact, only with even more zenschutz Wolfgang Nürnberger GmbH manpower“, says Wolfgang Nürnberg- and CLAAS Thüringen GmbH are jointly er, managing director of the Fachagen- going to sell together HORSCH pro- tur. Till October 2013 the company ducts exclusively in Thuringia. Luge will still be responsible for the area south of the motorway A4. After that date CLAAS will be the HORSCH fter their long-term partner- partner in this area, too. For the cus- ship HORSCH and the tomer this does not only mean an even Fachagentur are happy to faster service, but also shorter distanc- Wolfgang Nürnberger (left), Fachagentur, and have found a new and strong es, as CLAAS is going to have a total of Andreas Ramm (right), Claas Apartner - Andreas Ramm and his four new sales offices. “I am very hap- CLAAS Thüringen team – for first-class py to have the Fachagentur and CLAAS sales and service. A highly motivated Thüringen as two strong partners in products inside out“, says Horst Keller, and specialised team of both compa- this area who stand for absolute first managing director of the HORSCH nies will be at the disposal of existing class performance for the benefit of Maschinen GmbH, sector sales Germa- and new customers. “Nothing changes our customers and who know our ny.
Regards from Thuringia to Bavaria
blew her own time schedule. She was surprised to hear about the special and good relationship between HORSCH and the temporary workers. “Unfortu- nately this is not the case for all compa- nies“, Lieberknecht commented. She talked to an employee who came from Eastern Germany to Schwandorf as a temporary worker to work in the pro- duction department of the company’s headquarters. When he got the chance to work in Ronneburg he took it and got a permanent employment. In the medium term HORSCH plans to increase Christine Lieberknecht (3.right) and the managing directors Michael Horsch (4.right) and Horst Keller (1.right) at the HORSCH site in Ronneburg the number of employees in Ronneburg to 500. A number the Prime Minister was really enthusiastic about. “I am go- The Thuringian Prime Minister Christi- ing to a total of 350. And currently the ing to send my regards to my Bavarian ne Lieberknecht promises Michael Maschinen GmbH and the Industriet- colleague Horst Seehofer and I will ad- Horsch that she will send her regards echnik GmbH run projects which vise him to visit you in Schwandorf“, to her Bavarian counterpart Seehofer. amount to a total value of 20 million Lieberknecht remarked. Euro. „This is the largest investment ut how did this come about? At sum for an individual project in the the beginning of September company’s history“, says Horst Keller, Christine Lieberknecht paid a managing director and responsible for visit to the HORSCH plant in Ron- the financial sector. Christine Lieberkne- Bneburg on the occasion of her Thuring- cht was impressed by the worldwide ia tour. During this tour she visits 50 success of the HORSCH machines. She particularly excelling companies in was able to experience the Slogan Thuringia. In 2012 HORSCH figured “Farming with Passion“ not only when among them. For the companies growth talking to Michael Horsch and Horst Kel- at the Ronneburg site is extremely re- ler, but also among the employees on markable. Since its opening in 2007 the the premises. During her factory tour Prime Minister Lieberknecht talks to an number of employees has been increas- she talked to some of them and even HORSCH employee
6 HORSCH again has been awarded with the most coveted German economic prize
In October HORSCH Maschinen GmbH to managers have been working hard for Horst Keller accepted the award on behalf of has been awarded with the Große Preis the company’s success and, thus, the all employees des Mittelstandes of the Oskar-Patzelt- prize is the reward for the last years in Stiftung as Premier Finalist 2012. which our company has grown consider- most innovative companies of its kind ably. But it is also an incentive for our and has been ranking for years among n October HORSCH Maschinen GmbH employees to continue their commit- the top-ten in the sector of agricultural has been awarded with the Große ment for our family-owned company. engineering, especially with its core com- Preis des Mittelstandes of the Oskar- We are very happy that this award allows petences seeding technology, cultivation Patzelt-Stiftung as Premier Finalist us to show publicly the efficiency and and now also plant protection. During I2012. competitiveness of medium-sized com- the last five years HORSCH has been able It is the highest level of the so-called panies even in economically difficult to increase sales (165 mio Euro net turn- “Oscar for medium-sized companies“ times.“ over in 2011) as well as the number of and this year only four companies na- employees (950 employees in 2012). The tionwide have been awarded this prize. Assessment criteria: company is also very involved in the so- After the nomination in 2009 and af- overall development of the cial sector – the Horsch Foundation was ter having been the prize winner for Ba- company founded in 2006. Its mission are invest- varia in 2010 one of the most coveted creation/protection of jobs and ments in economic projects to overcome German economic prizes for medium- apprenticeships poverty on the basis and in the spirit of sized companies has come to Schwan- modernisation and innovation MEDA, a Christian organisation whose dorf again. regional commitment members provide their abilities and HORSCH Maschinen GmbH prevailed service, customer focus and means in order to counteract human over almost 3600 nominated companies. marketing. needs by economic development. More- Managing director Horst Keller accepted over, Horsch supports regional initiatives the award on behalf of all employees. Among other things the statement of at the company sites in Schwandorf, Ron- “Everyone at HORSCH from technicians the jury says: “HORSCH is one of the neburg and Landau.”
Future Award of the district Schwandorf
That the district Schwandorf is full of years have developed an excellent innovative economic power becomes product deserve the credit for this evident every two years when the prize. We have no lack of further in- “Future Award“ is awarded by the novations and ideas. To me the term economic association “Partner for the “innovation“ means to enjoy what you Schwandorf district“. Among a total of do.“ nine companies who were short listed As a symbolic signal the three win- for being awarded with the “Future ner companies (HORSCH Maschinen Award“ a team consisting of eight ju- District administrator Volker Liedtke (left) pre- GmbH was represented by Cornelia rors nominated the HORSCH Maschin- sented Philipp Horsch (right) with the prize Horsch (photo below, 2. right)) decided en GmbH as the winner for 2012. to invest the prize money of the Future Award in the future of the district ”Economy” will again release an im- Schwandorf. The money was equally he prize was awarded on the pulse. The candidates for the Future distributed to eligible projects of dif- occasion of a festive soirée at- Award are the very best examples. The ferent schools of the district. Upon con- tended by a lot of guests of reason why HORSCH ranked first was sultation of the education authority of honour. The chairman of the the development of the “Maestro“, a Schwandorf three projects have been Tpartner association, Alois Hagl, clearly new, even more efficient single grain chosen and each project will now re- expressed the objectives of the Future seed drill which was elected Machine ceive 1,000.- €. Award for the companies, but for the of the Year 2012. The innovation: In 24 district as well. “The award is an ap- hours, maize can be planted with up preciation and a targeted public pres- most precision on 448 hectares – a fact entation of achievements and develop- that guarantees optimum plant spac- ments which enrich and positively ing and, thus, better plant growth. influence the district in a very special Philipp Horsch attributes the success to way.“ He was sure of the fact that the his employees. “First and foremost our awarding of this prize in the category employees who during the past six
7 terra News
First steps
Those who have already read the in- wretched condition. Initially, it had could no longer be in calf or only had a terview with Michael Horsch on page been managed as a co-operative. When very low milk output were still kept in 26 of this issue of terraHORSCH know: this did not work anymore, an investor the herd. Although the shed is new, the the Horsch family has taken over an- was found, but in the end it was inevi- prevailing spirit was an old one.“ other farm in the Czech Republic. table the farm would be sold. The whole We were on site and talked to the organisation, the structure, the distribu- Based on a broad range farm manager Christoph Foth, an tion of experience as well as the hierar- The farm consists of a total of about experienced expert for restructuring chy still were the way they always had 3,500 hectare. 3,000 hectare of it is ar- and reorganisation, about the first been. The employees had no compre- able land. From an organisatorial point steps. hensive responsibilities. All processes of view it is very much about dairy farm- were extremely complicated. Addition- ing with 600 cows including sucklers. ally, there was a dubious salary and bo- Some of the crop area is used for culti- nezmost in November 2012, on nus scheme which only some specific vating forage and the straw consump- one of the many farmsteads of people benefitted from. Most of the tion is very high. There are problems AgroVision which are partly employees, however, were just kept at with fertility. The milk output of about used agriculturally and partly the poverty line. This was particularly 8,000 litres is moderate. Kare let as an under-roof storage area. evident in the cowshed: In the begin- The rough charm of socialism is still no- ning we wondered about the low milk Fruit growing on about 120 hectare ticeable everywhere. “When I was here quantity compared to the large number is another farm activity. Christoph Foth for the first time, I felt as if I had gone of animals. But we quickly realised that comments: “To tell the truth, we do not back 25 years in time, “Christoph Foth the latter was the decisive factor for the yet know how we will go on with it. The describes. “The farm as a whole is in a bonus and that is why even animals that main crop are table apples for which
8 Farm manager Christoph Foth is an experienced expert for restructuring and reorganisation.
and mostly has the same conditions that cultivation in autumn can be quite dif- So far AgroVation is no model farm. Build- prevail in Europe“, says Christoph Foth. ficult“, the farm manager says. “Often ings and fields are in a wretched condi- tion. The fields have slightly improved The field sizes range from 140 hectare you are quite lucky if the fields are har- after cultivation in autumn. Construction to 0.7 hectare. The fields are not cut vested in time. We rely strongly on the works will be the next step. straight, but are adapted to the land- frost to help cultivate the soil, the soils scape. This is a challenge for large ma- are dynamic. We have sown three units, chines. Before the harvest I went every- i.e. 750 hectare, of rape and five units where and determined areas for of wheat. For the latter we partly chose rotation. Previously there was three early varieties due to the following crop crops in one field – which depended on rape. Both crops have already been the soil. This was highly inefficient. With sown, the rape is looking quite well. the new fields, we will now make full There are also four units of maize. This use of the variability of the varieties.“ will mainly be grain maize, however some part of it will be used for silage. Foth formed units of 250 hectare The forage demand of the cows will each. The re-organisation of farming partly be covered by sowing ryegrass harvest and marketing are very exten- was one of the main objectives that had into early wheat on about 250 hectare. sive although we have our own cold to be realised in 2012 as this is the key This will be followed by maize. From stores. The trees are partly overaged to efficiency and the most important five units we get three units of rape and and badly kept. We have not yet de- basis for sustainability. Michael Horsch two of maize. Once maize is followed by cided whether we will manage this sec- and Christoph Foth together deter- maize. Soya might be interesting in the tor ourselves and perhaps change the mined rotation. “In general a lot of future. We are watching the develop- production towards apple sauce or if we spring barley is grown around here as ment with interest. The yield potential will let the area or even sell it.“
With regard to dairy cattle the deci- sion has already been taken: As the cowshed is new, it would be absurd from an economic point of view to give up this sector. However, the cowshed will no longer be jam-packed with cows. Currently, the whole suckler heard has been sold. In the future, the female calves will be taken to rearing farm at the age of three to four weeks and the animals that are necessary for restock- ing will be brought back. The genetic basis are Holstein-Friesians. There still is need for improvement where size and output are concerned.
Everything included „The farm lies in the heart of Europe Knezmost is situated in the Bohemian Paradise, north-east of Prague.
9 terra News
Old and new technology on the farm of AgroVation (left). There are about 600 dairy cows in the cowshed.
amounts to about 2.5 to 3 t/ha.“ ated on these high plains. The soil is seed is in the ground and the fields are degenerated loess. These fields were in a reasonably good condition. The yields of the harvest which had created when the forest was cleared. been taken over this year were bad: 3.5 What comes next to 4 t/ha of wheat (this corresponds to AgroVision is to be the first farm that eco-level), 2 to 3 t/ha of spring barley. will be completely converted to Con- Oats and rye were below 5 t/ha. Wheat trolled Traffic Farming (CTF). The con- with rape as a previous crop was quite version will start in 2013. During the decent. winter months the field boundaries will be determined, the field will be straight- A diversity of soils ened and the wood will be cut back. Not only for the field size, but espe- cially for the soils there is an enormous range at a level of 220 to 420 metre
above sea level. In the Isen river valley In the future, logistics are to be handled at the Western side of the farm there mainly by means of all-wheel trucks. are gravel deposits. Further to the South the soils are more alluvial. One of the problems is erosion. The Czech authori- ties try to counteract it by passing legal Michael Horsch compared the condi- regulations. Water is almost every- tions of the fields to a “military training where: there is a lot of reed in Bohemia. ground“. Christoph Foth noticed that the combine with its 6m header was not Moreover, there are high plains with able to cut down all crop. This is why sandstone weathering soils. The region levelling was the first task on the is called “Bohemian Paradise“ and has agenda. Here especially the Terrano FM the same geological origin as the Elbe did a real good job. Before rape a Focus It has not yet been decided whether the pro- sandstone. Some of the fields are situ- KE was used. Despite all difficulties the duction of table apples is kept up or if it will be outsourced.
Couch grass has turned out to be a problem and the ditches and drainage are still a source of concern. There will also be various construction measures soon. We will keep you informed in the next issues of terraHORSCH.
Plot size and soil conditons vary extremely.
10 DLG-Image-Barometer 2012
he results of the Imagebarome- provide corresponding developments ogy is already reflected positively in the ter 2012 of the Deutsche Land- are paid considerable attention. The ex- image barometer. The farmers also con- wirtschafts-Gesellschaft (DLG = pansion of the HORSCH product range sider HORSCH to be particularly innova- German Agricultural Society) in the area of plant protection technol- tive. Tshow that during the past years the re- nowned companies of the German ag- ricultural economy have gained strength and profile. The confidence of leading farmers in the competitiveness of these companies and in the quality of their products has noticeably increased in these economically turbulent times. For the fifth time in a row since 2008 HORSCH ranks fourth in the image rank- ing list - with an even further increased score. HORSCH, thus, is the best manu- facturer of mounted implements. Due to the requirements of further cost reductions and technologies for coping with extreme weather patterns Source: DLG-Trendmonitor 10/2012 Source: DLG-Trendmonitor the focus of the farmers is on sowing Image-barometer 2012. The companies with the most image points. methods. Companies that are able to *) max. 100 points
The HORSCH InnoFalcon – more than just an advert
nnovative, new and unique – that is adverts. HORSCH will also surprise you itechnica next year we will present fur- the new HORSCH InnoFalcon market- online and in other media. On the occa- ther highlights – simply “Farming with ing campaign! After an intensive se- sion of the big shows SIMA and Agr- Passion“ in all areas . lection process HORSCH Maschinen IGmbH opted for a bold, but also unique and innovative version. With the Inno- Falcon motif innovative power, preci- sion and orientation towards the future becomes evident without any explana- tion. Our falcon clearly is inspired by the world-famous characters. But there is not only a visual, but also an ideational inspiration. The way technology trans- forms/changes agriculture does, too. In the past 25 years it has changed – also influenced by HORSCH – into an innova- tion sector and this process still goes on – and this is what the new marketing campaign stands for. Innovation, farm- ing with passion, being a trend-setter for future farming, that is what the In- noFalcon represents – the further devel- opment of the agricultural sector for the future. After an enthusiastic process in Ger- many and the consultation of our ex- port markets the design has now been introduced world-wide. The kick-off was in the middle of this year in the Ger- man agricultural monthlies. For the fu- ture, however, we are going to use the InnoFalcon for much more than just for
11 terra News Playing farmer 2.0
What has already been working suc- cessfully on the computer for some years, now is also available for the Apple iOS devices iPhone and iPad. Some weeks ago the Farm Simulator was launched for these devices, too. HORSCH again cooperates with the Swiss company GIANTS Software whose iOS App already ranks among the top-selling games for Apple devic- es – similar to the PC game which ranks fifth among the top-selling games 2012. But what does the pro- gramme offer for the favourable price of only 1.79 Euro.
irst of all the image on all devices is extremely sharp – the high reso- lution of the new iPad is support- ed. Of course, the graphic does Fnot come up to real life, but equals the level of the Farm Simulator PC version of 2011. The machinery park is not as large as that of the big brother, but it is quite a nice mix. Tractors as well as com- bines and maize harvesters are exclu- sively Deutz – for maize harvesters there is also one from Krone. The largest pos- sible working width is 6 metre and for starters you only get a 100 hp tractor, a 3-metre cultivator, a 3-metre seed drill, a self-loading trailer, a simple combine and three fields. Now wheat, rapeseed and maize can be sown, but those who think that one single click is enough is Having more money in the game and have thought it – you have to pay an- quite mistaken. If you want to do eve- also in the real world adds considerably other 89 Cent to get it. For the equiva- rything yourself, you have to refuel the to increasing the fun of the game. If you lent of 3.80 Euro (game and in-game tractor, fill seed into the seed drill and have enough money in the game, you purchases) you then have an own then, of course, cultivate the fields can for example buy a second tractor HORSCH machine on your iPhone. The properly. However, you can also use the and a hay baler. Thus, you can simulta- real funs starts when you drive on the “automatic helpers“ which are also neously use three machines when har- road with the Sprinter as the machine from the PC version. But all the same vesting. The combine works on the field – like all the other machines in the game you have to wait until the field has been and directly beside it is a tractor with – cannot be folded. cultivated. About 15 minutes might pass trailer as an auger wagon. Behind them from sowing to harvesting. You will is another tractor with the hay baler. The Farm Simulator App is suitable have to be patient during the first 30 This really requires some logistic skills for all those who want an entertaining minutes of the game, afterwards there and you, surely, will not be bored. and good farming game for little is enough to do. After the harvest you money. However, for more ambitious either sell it immediately to one of the Getting a HORSCH Sprinter 6 ST, too, projects you should resort to the PC four purchasers or you store it until is a question of money, but of real game. prices have risen – we absolutely recom- money. It costs 89 Cent to activate the mend the latter. After cultivation it machine in the game. What is a little bit starts again – later on there will also be annoying is that for the Sprinter you plant protection as an intermediate need a more powerful tractor than the step. 100-hp model at hand and – who would
12 Farm report terra
HORSCH Sprinter 12 SW Horsch equipment helps farmer convert to CTF
HORSCH ma- His latest project would be a leap of neur. In 1996 James Peck started his own chinery lies faith for many growers. Controlled traf- contracting services company while at the heart fic farming (CTF) uses machinery with studying at college. In 1999 he became of one farm- matching widths guided by GPS ena- farm manager of the family’s Dry Dray- ing entre- bling it to use the same permanent traf- ton Estate near Cambridge before set- preneur’s fic lanes, season after season, to reduce ting up his current contract farming long-term project to reduce soil com- soil compaction. operation, PX Farms Ltd, in 2003. paction and boost yields. We visited his farm in the UK to find out more Although it will take several years to As managing director he oversees the see the effects, he is certain CTF will be contract farming of 2150ha of combin- worthwhile on the heavy boulder clay able crops and contracting services on a soils that make up the bulk of the fields further 600ha for 21 clients. The com- he farms. In 2010 he won a Nuffield pany also has its own 45,000t central ames Peck’s enthusiasm for large- Farming Scholarship – an award offered grain store and a bulk haulage opera- scale arable farming is plain to see. to individuals who are considered po- tion. Within minutes of meeting him in tential agricultural sector leaders and his farm office he is talking avidly innovators of the future. His topic was Given his obvious drive, it is perhaps Jabout his farming operation, its history, Arable farming – where next?, a project not surprising that after a couple of what makes it work and, crucially, its that took him to places like Australia, years’ development, most of his CTF sys- future direction. Argentina and the USA looking at CTF, tem is now in place and up and running. convincing him he could increase yields The scheme uses a 12m template based It quickly becomes apparent that this by almost a fifth on his farm. on his Nuffield research, and key ma- is a man who has strategy at his core chinery includes a HORSCH Sprinter 12 and who knows his figures inside out. If The award was the icing on the cake SW drill, a 36m Bateman RB55 sprayer, something stacks up financially, he’s not for what is already an impressive CV for two Challenger 865 tractors and two afraid to have a crack at it. this 36-year old agricultural entrepre- 12m Claas 600TT Lexions backed up by
1313 terra Farm report
a HORSCH Titan chaser bin – the heart mise wheelings on tight turns and head- of the harvesting operation. lands. The eventual aim is to reduce wheeling compaction to just 13% of the The HORSCH connection started with field surface once CTF is fully imple- a visit to managing director Michael mented, compared with the 140% often Horsch, who was interested to hear seen with traditional operations. more about James Peck’s CTF findings. “I spent a couple of very interesting The chaser bin is another key compo- days in Germany,” the farmer recalls. nent in achieving that aim. The Titan 34 “As well as discussing CTF I found out a was chosen for its large single wheels to lot about the HORSCH operation and its improve tracking behind the Challenger ethos, and ended up buying a drill and that pulls it. The wheels are shod with chaser bin – that was a pretty good re- 900/60 R32s which also reduce compac- turn on Michael’s time.” tion, keeping the 34m3 machine run- ning trouble-free even through this The Sprinter drill arrived this summer season’s wet harvest. and has already made short work of drilling 1300ha of oilseed rape, 80% of James Peck Its capacity and 18t/minute emptying which was direct drilled. At the time of speed are also key, making it the ideal writing a further 400ha of wheat had tool to keep the two large combines been sown, with the drill averaging fertiliser down the spout and still aver- running. “That’s the fastest unloading 100ha a day. age over 100ha a day. And previous ex- speed of any chaser bin in Europe,” he perience with our older 8m Sprinter drill notes. “We bought the drill for two main shows it will run season after season, reasons – firstly, because it is 12m wide, long after some rivals will need a total “We can easily load 120t an hour into and secondly, because we can put ferti- rebuild. No other drill on the market waiting lorries. The operator is the key liser on at the same time,” says James can do all that.” to the harvesting operation – he dic- Peck. “This is very important when you tates which direction the combines cut are taking on new land where nutrients Precision systems specialist Trimble the field, when they should unload and can be deficient. We can put the ferti- Agriculture, which also supplies the where the five lorries that run grain liser where the plant needs it. guidance and monitoring systems for all back to the central store are parked. PX Farms’ machines, has adapted the This ensures he can keep the grain mov- “HORSCH drills are real farmers’ steering ram on the drill’s seed/fertiliser ing without any delays. Seconds wasted drills,” he continues. “I can direct drill cart. This modification ensures the cart can soon add up into minutes lost.” oilseed rape, wheat or beans or drill tracks directly behind the 510hp Chal- them all conventionally without chang- lenger. Another important reason the Titan ing anything but the coulter pressure. found favour was its telescopic axle. The drill folds easily so can be moved Such attention to detail, evident This allows the track to be adjusted sim- between jobs without fuss. We can put across the whole operation, will mini- ply and quickly. To ensure wheelings in the field are kept as narrow as possible, the width between the inside edges of tyres or tracks for all PX Farms’ machines is set at 1.8m. This was the spacing that all the machines on the farm could run at without special modifications, apart from a John Deere 7530, which had to have spacers fitted. The 1.8m width also ensures machines with wide tyres will fit within the 3m limit for road travel - above this the police have to be noti- fied.
After some experimentation James Peck has set his CTF system to run on a tramline spacing of 11.9m rather then the full 12m. This is because the com- bine headers have a cutting width slightly less than 12m and a 4cm safety margin needs to be left at each side of HORSCH Sprinter 12 SW - a real farmer’s drill the header when operating to allow for
14 The HORSCH Titan can easily load 120t an hour into waiting lorries.
GPS error. meaning this is the only process left that leaves an extra set of wheel marks be- It’s a slight inconvenience rather then tween the permanent tramlines. an annoyance. The Sprinter drill’s tine spacings are set at 30cm so the slightly Another visit to HORSCH headquar- narrower rows where drill bouts join is ters is in the offing. “We are talking scarcely noticeable. The sprayer’s work- about developing a 12m cultivator that ing width should be 35.7m, but James suits our requirements,” says James Peck reckons any slight overlap caused Peck. Given the trademark enthusiasm is no more than would be expected of both companies and their ability to when spraying using tramlines estab- get things done, it can only be a matter lished by drill markers. of time before a third HORSCH machine is making its mark at PX Farms. The final component of the CTF sys- tem is a matching cultivation system. Currently PX Farms uses a 6m cultivator,
HORSCH Titan 34 UW - the heart of the harvesting operation
15 terra Farm report
Pronto 6 DC PPF Coming up to the expectations
Good agricultural practice is one thing, legal regulation the other. Keyword: winter wheat or winter barley and after erosion protection. terraHORSCH talked to Klaus Köhler, farm manager of the that as described above. agricultural cooperative Reinholdshain about how to balance all of this. “For spreading semi-liquid manure we are working with a contractor, but he agricultural co-operative of 75 cm. The co-operative keeps about all other work is done by ourselves“, Agrargenossenschaft Reinhold- 600 Holstein dairy cows with sucklers. Köhler says. “We have John Deere trac- shain e.G. in Dippoldiswalde The cows are milked in a double-twelve tors from 125 to 330 hp, our own com- (Saxony) was founded on 1st of herringbone milking parlor. The aver- bines, conventional and reversible TApril 1991. It emanated from the former age output is 10,100 litre per year. The ploughs from two to 2.5 m working Agricultural Producers Co-operative LPG farm also operates a biogas plant. width and a disc harrow as well as a Ter- Reinholdshain. The farm is situated in rano FM, both with 6 m working width.“ the district Sächsische Schweiz-Oster- The farm manager describes the geo- zgebirge. The fields range from the ma- graphical conditions: “We are situated The farm manager disapproves of dog- sonry dam Talsperre Malter and the Dip- in a foothill landscape at 350 to 570 m matic thinking: „I do not work without a poldiswalde Heath in the North to above sea level. The average annual plough at all costs, neither do I plough at Döntschen in the South. temperature is 7.5°C, the precipitations all costs.“ One problem of the farm is ero- range from 730 to 750 mm. We have sion on the hillsides. There are regulations It is a mixed farm with about 950 hec- Gneiss weathering soils and a lot of with regard to cropping and cultivation. tare combinable area. In addition there stones in the fields.“ However, even on these fields he prefers are hillside locations where maize is cul- ploughing, unless the area is extremely tivated with a HORSCH Pronto DC with The main crops are winter wheat, sensitive. The same is true for wheat after a row spacing of 15 cm. These are al- winter barley, winter rape, spring barley maize and on any field where the previ- ways 30 to 40 hectare per year. The re- and silage maize. A typical rotation is: ous crop does not leave the soil in an op- mainder of the approx. 230 hectare of winter wheat, silage maize, spring bar- timum condition. In general after winter maize is sown conventionally with a ley, winter barley, winter rape or grass rape for winter wheat or winter barley single grain seed drill and a row spacing clover before winter rape, then either they do not use the plough.
16 A typical cultivation is as follows: af- ter grass-clover as the previous crop there is a pass with a disc harrow, they then plough and after that levelling is carried out with the disc harrow or with the Terrano. Before winter wheat there mostly is rape which is sprayed and then semi-liquid manure is incorporated with disc coulters. Before drilling another pass with the disc harrow or the Terrano is carried out.
Because of erosion protection culti- vation in some cases only starts at the 15th of February. This is too late to achieve a good frost mellowness. The result is a very cloddy soil. To incorpo- rate organic material Klaus Köhler relies on the disc harrow and on the Terrano. The HORSCH cultivator is optimum for deeper cultivation when working with- out a plough. Klaus Köhler (left) is the farm manager of the agricultural co-operative Agrargenossenschaft Reinholdshain eG. The self-loosening capacity of the loamy soils is rather bad. Because of the cool location air has to be incorporated ground fertilisation. The Pronto is able double rows. But Köhler has not bought into the soil to warm it up. This task is to do all that. “Two seed coulters are this equipment for his machine as he carried out excellently by the Terrano, supplied by one fertiliser coulter. The wants to sow 15-cm rows. But those says the farm manager. fertiliser coulters are positioned in the who want to work with a larger row middle in front of a tyre, the fertiliser is spacing can attach the maize distributor In general the time frame for cultiva- placed in the middle between two seed to the distribution tower. It is then only tion and sowing is comfortable. The rows. To be able to place the fertiliser equipped with the number of pipes harvest period, however, is compara- below the seed, the fertiliser coulters needed for sowing maize. The seed tively long. For capacity reasons there is can be charged with a coulter pressure hoses leading to the respective Turbo- hardly any time for sowing catch crops. of up to 200 kg. Disc seed coulters are simply connected Köhler explains: “Winter barley is com- to the outlets of the maize distributor. bined approx. from 15th of July on, fol- Klaus Köhler continues: „In theory, Due to a perforation in the maize dis- lowed by winter rape or - if falling num- we could also use the NP-fertilisation tributor excess air can escape via the ber or outgrowth might cause problems for spring barley, but time has not yet unused outlet of the main distributor. – winter wheat. After that comes spring been so scarce. In the erosion-prone ar- Thus, lateral distribution improves con- barley, winter wheat being the last. eas our Pronto sows about 40 hectare siderably. A combination with PPF ferti- Then it is already end of August. With- per year, for the rest we use a conven- liser coulters is possible. The fertiliser is out any transitional time we start har- tional single seed drill. In total the then placed alternately at the left and vesting silage maize, with only some Pronto works on about 1,150 hectare, as at the right side of the maize rows. The forage cuttings in between.“ we also cultivate whole crop silage.“ system with 60-cm double rows has proven itself (see terraHORSCH 04/12). The main reason of our conversation, The working width of Köhler‘s ma- however, was the sowing technology on chine is 6 m. The tractor goes at a speed Klaus Köhler is very satisfied with his the farm: the co-operative uses a of ten to 15 km/h. „Every seed coulter Pronto. „This seed drill completely HORSCH Pronto with PPF fertilisation. jumps at this speed“, Köhler is sure of it. comes up to my expectations. By the „But compared to our previous seed way, we also used the Pronto for the “When we talked about buying a drill, with the Pronto emergence has complementary seed of grassland. This new seed drill, one of the main require- noticeably improved due to the regular worked excellently. You only have to ments was that it has to be suitable for depth control. For maize the distribu- see to it that the discs are not set to working with or without plough“, tion accuracy could be a little bit better. deeply. The rare failures were caused by Köhler explains. „In addition, we But HORSCH has already signalled that stones which are a massive problem in wanted to use this machine for drilling there will soon be a solution.“ our region. No machine is able to cope maize, as this was a directive of the au- with this problem a hundred per cent thorities. But in our region cultivating An additional option for sowing and working without a plough is no so- maize does not work without under- maize would be a maize distributor for lution either.“
17 terra Around the world South Africa – an un known agricultural giant
HORSCH Focus 6 TD with Maestro 8 DP
We are visiting the HORSCH sales 1,600 hectare white maize, 600 hectare crops in the agricultural area in Greater partner Terra Till in Carletonville who yellow maize, 220 hectare soybeans, 120 Johannesburg. As the soil conditions are is situated in the province Gauteng, hectare wheat, 100 hectare potatoes for rather light and dry, the sowing quanti- about 80 km West of Johannesburg. producing crisps, 80 hectare red beets ties are reduced to 30,000 grains/hec- The landscape is characterised by and 80 hectare white sunflowers for tare to provide the individual plant with mining and agriculture. Beside maize producing bird seed. sufficient water. A characteristic feature fields there are intensively cultivated is that there is a distinction between and irrigated vegetable fields. Sarel Haasbroek gives us some basic white and yellow maize. White maize is data about agriculture in the area. The the food of many people in South Africa region is 1,580 metre above sea level, and with about 75 per cent of the total n the premises of Terra Till Im- the soil is sandy loam with a loam share cultivated area is much more common plements we meet Sarel Haas- of 18 to 32 per cent. The annual rainfall than yellow maize which is mainly used broek and Sieghard von Pan- is 650 mm falling in the months from as forage. Soya gets more and more im- nwitz who together founded October to March. The maize yields on portant as the farms have to struggle Othe company and now sell HORSCH dry land amount to an average of 6 t/ha with rotation, diseases and maize pests. technology. in the past years. On irrigated fields it is possible to achieve up to 13 t/ha. On his farm Sarel employs 20 perma- In addition to the machinery trade nent and up to 100 seasonal workers. As business Sarel Haasbroek manages a The farmer explains that maize sow- an answer to our question where they farm, Terra Aqua Farming, in Holfontein ing starts approx. mid October and in work he explains: “Red beet and the with a total area of 4,500 hectare, 2.700 some regions is not finished before mid potato harvest is carried out in an only hectare of which are arable land and December. Due to the favorable climatic partially mechanised way. And it is my 560 hectare of this area is irrigated. The conditions maturity values up to FAO duty to give work to the people in my remainder is pasture areas for the up to 800 are cultivated. Covering about 70 region.“ 1,200 cattle (the number depending on per cent of the total cultivated area the season). The farm cultivates about maize is one of the most important At Terra Aqua Farming you will not
18 South Africa – an un known agricultural giant
Sarel Haasbroek (left) and Sieghard von Pannwitz (right)
find any grain stores as during the har- HORSCH cultivation and single grain and I visited the HORSCH company. We vest all maize and wheat are directly sowing technology were immediately convinced by the taken to a near by mill. The prices com- On the farm there is a HORSCH Ter- high quality of the machines. Together ply with the world market. Red beet rano 4 FX, a Joker 5 CT and a Tiger 4 MT. with Michael Horsch we discussed how and potatoes are delivered to the pro- Consolidation behind the machine has to combine the Focus system with single cessing companies directly after the har- so far never been an issue. “Since we grain seed. The example of the Focus vest. have been using HORSCH machines, we combined with the Maestro shows that noticed that compared to our old tech- HORSCH listens to its customers and re- The Haasbroek machinery park in- nology the loss of water after the culti- alises individual solutions. With the Fo- cludes several small Landini tractors vation passes has reduced considerably cus system we are now able to carry out which are used for the complete farm to due to the consolidated soil“, says Sarel strip loosening with fertiliser applica- field logistics when sowing, planting Haasbroek. tion together with sowing maize in one potatoes, harvesting and for the main- pass with 14 to 16 l/ha at a working tenance of the roads and many things The old eight-row single grain ma- depth of up to 30 cm. Due to the double more. In addition, there are large Case chines were replaced by a Focus 6 TD hopper of the Focus we can even mix IH and John Deere tractors for the with attached Maestro 8 DP and by a two types of fertiliser, thus allowing for whole sector of soil cultivation and sow- Maestro 12 SW. When asked „Why completely new possibilities in the sec- ing. A John Deere self-propelled sprayer HORSCH?“ Sarel tells us: “I have been tor of maize production. However, the carries out the plant protection meas- looking for a long time for a high-qual- design of the StripTill seed combination ures. Due to the long harvest period ity and site-specific solution for our is very compact and maneuverable al- from beginning of May till end of July farm. The soils partly are very dry and lowing for efficient working even in the farm can manage with only one demand a great deal of the machines. smaller fields. Apart from maize we also CLAAS Lexion 750 with a twelve-row Cut-backs with regard to working qual- sow wheat with the Focus by disassem- Geringhoff maize header. To transport ity and broken machines were daily bling the Maestro and mounting the the crops Sarel uses farm-owned and business. In 2011 my partner at Terra Till TurboDisc seed bar. In about one hour rented trucks. Implements, Sieghard von Pannwitz, the Focus can be modified from maize
19 terra Around the world
Quick facts: South Africa Official languages: Afrikaans, English, Süd-Ndebele, isiXhosa, isiZulu, Nord-Sotho, Sesotho, Setswana, Siswati, Tshivenda, Xitsonga Capital: Executive: Pretoria (= seat of the government), legislature: Cape Town, judiciary: Bloemfontein Total area: 1.219.912 km² Agricultural area/arable land: 993.780 km² / 145.000 km² Population: 49.004.031 (2011) Population density: HORSCH Maestro 12 SW 41 inhabitants per km² Independence: 31st of May 1910 End of apartheid: 1994 to wheat. More interestingly, without that sometimes with a field roller. With the sowing units behind the packer the the Tiger MT we are now able to have Focus is used for the deep application of the field prepared in only one pass.“ fertiliser. The machine cannot be topped “In addition to the positive experi- with regard to flexibility thus reducing Successful with HORSCH ences on our own farm we only get our machinery costs.“ In 2010 Sarel Haasbroek and Sieghard positive feedback from our customers. Due to the large fertiliser hopper the von Pannwitz decided to import Not only working quality and reliability Maestro 12 SW is extremely efficient HORSCH machines not only for their and facilitates fertiliser logistics enor- own use and founded Terra Till Imple- mously. The handling via the E-Manager ments to sell HORSCH products in the is easy and self-explanatory. The hy- agricultural areas of South Africa. draulic coulter pressure adjustment al- lows for reacting very quickly to chang- Since that time Terra Till has been or- ing conditions. ganising two field days and has been exhibiting at the most important agri- “The Tiger MT“, explains Sarel, “of- cultural show NAMPO. “Each time the fers a completely new way of soil culti- events were a tremendous success“, says vation. Previously, after the harvest Sieghard von Pannwitz and emphasises
there was one pass with a disc harrow, the high build quality and the straight The Tiger MT prepares the field in only one then a pass with the ripper and after design of HORSCH machines. pass.
of the machines have to be pointed out, but also the excellent technical advice and the service of the HORSCH com- pany“, Sieghard von Pannwitz com- ments.
Sarel Haasbroek confirms: “With the Maestro 24 SW we have a unique fea- ture in South Africa. None of our com- petitors offers a 24-row single grain seed drill with only three metre trans- port width and a 7,000 litre fertiliser hopper. The unique metering system, too, is unparalleled with regard to ac- curacy and flexibility. In the years to come the Maestro 24 SW will be one of the top-selling single grain seed drills for large farms.“ the farmer smiles op- The HORSCH Maestro 24 SW – a machine with an enormous potential in South Africa timistically.
20 Foreigners unwanted
In an article titled nally, a temporary agreement was to even if areas are up for lease the na- “Autocratically ma- allow the free acquisition of land by tional soil fund has a lease option. Thus, niac“ this year in foreigners from 2011 on (seven years for many farms who want to expand an January the web- after the entry into the EU!). Hungary organic growth has become impossi- site Spiegel Online applied for an extension till 1st of May ble.“ (a highly reputable 2014 which was granted by the Euro- German weekly) described the pean Union. Farmer Z, however, vents his anger: current situation in Hungary. Prime “When we came into the country, we Minister Viktor Orbán turns Hungary However, resourceful investors found were welcomed more than happily. inside out in a rather radical way: he is a possibility to bypass the still valid Act: Now, as we have invested a lot of money said to have changed the Constitution, They concluded pre-contracts with the and have fixed the previously ruined curtailed the civil rights and disem- landowners – so-called pocket contracts fields, they want to take away our liveli- powered the central bank. – which they wanted “to pull out of hood. Even though we are creating jobs their pockets” after the transitional pe- and are paying our taxes.“ riod having expired. The Hungarian ronically, Hungary of all countries was state now plans to take rigorous action Superficially the Orbán government known for a slightly more moderate against these contracts. All those in- pretends to want to protect the “holy“ form of socialism and played a deci- volved, sellers, buyers and even the so- Hungarian soil from being exploited by sive part in the political reversal in the licitors are facing prison if the worst foreigners. But the true reasons might Iformer states of the Eastern Bloc in comes to the worst. be quite different ones: according to 1989. Since 1st of May 2004 Hungary is the Hungarian Income Tax Act yields a member state of the European Union. Immediately after the reversal, from from tenancies are exempt from tax for 1990 till 1994, it was possible to legally five years. Therefore, investing into ar- However, the developments are not buy arable land – even in nature protec- able land is extremely profitable. Inves- only problematic for Hungary’s citizens. tion areas. The state announced to buy tors from abroad are only a nuisance as Foreign investors, too, suffer from this these areas back and give them to Hun- they – being well-funded in general – new political system. garian farmers. The „Budapest Journal“ keep the prices at a high level and re- reported that Hungary offers 2,400 Euro duce the yield return. By the way, ac- Shortly after the political reversal in per hectare to the foreigners. However, cording to media reports almost 60 per 1989/1990 farmers from the West, espe- the realistic sales prices range between cent of the Hungarian parliamentarians cially from Austria, the Netherlands and 6,000 and 8,000 Euro. Those who do not own agricultural areas, the largest part Germany, discovered Hungary as a new want to sell are facing expropriation. of it being let for lease... field of activity. They were attracted by the comparatively favorable prices com- Farmer Y states: “Fortunately, I am Farmer Z is sure that this assumption bined with good area structures and not concerned by this whole situation as is true. He speaks his mind: „Those who excellent soil quality. In general, these I was able to purchase my land legally talk about pocket contracts, should also farms are managed efficiently and suc- and do not manage leased areas. For talk about nepotism.“ cessfully not only creating jobs, but fi- nally also being for the benefit of the Hungarian economy.
“The big crash came in 1994“, farmer X tells us. He manages a 2,500-hectare farm on behalf of an investor. “Since the commencement of the new Soil Pro- tection Act it has been forbidden for juristic persons to buy arable land. “The purpose was to prevent foreign inves- tors from indirectly buying land via cor- porate shares. This Act, however, has never been applied in practice. And maybe this was the reason why in the context of the rapprochement between Hungary and the European Union it never has been found fault with. Origi-
21 terra Around the world
Successful graduates of the LCC International University in Klaipeda Imparting values
Although the young democracies in Eastern Europe have already drawn level with the West in many respects, there are still sectors where a lot of catching up has to be done. One of these sectors is the educational system. The LCC International University in Klaipeda (Lithuania) – a state-approved university – is a private initiative that wants to break up these structures. This university does not only impart values, but it creates an access to Western culture.
he LCC was founded in 1991. As a standard, the lessons are held in Today, approx. 650 young English. people from about 25 coun- tries, but mainly from Lithua- Cornelia Horsch who recently has The university building Tnia, Latvia, Ukraine, Poland and Roma- been appointed to the advisory council nia, are studying there. The circle of of the LCC explains the objective of this professors is just as international. educational initiative as follows: “In ad- act according to their own moral and Whereas the basic classes are held by a dition to their major subject the stu- ethical believes. Thus, an important as- permanent pool of local professors, dents get to know history, politics and pect are the Christian moral concepts.” there are additional seminars offered economics from a Western point of by experts from all over the world. view. They are taught that is important The Bachelor programme includes They work completely free of charge. to think independently and critically to the subjects Business Administration,
22 At the campus In the sports hall Studying together
Psychology, English Language and Lit- lecturers and the students“, Cornelia that it is a campus university. The build- erature as well as theology. It is also Horsch explains. Due to her council ings are very modern, the students have possible to get a master degree in TESOL membership she visits Klaipeda twice a more than enough room in the residen- (Teaching English to Speakers of other year for four days respectively. She is tial homes. The spacious sports hall, too, Languages). The university also offers part of the marketing team whose task is not at all standard for Eastern Euro- English courses for external people. it is to make contact with future stu- pean universities. dents, other universities as well as com- “As a company we are always look- panies and to maintain them. The coun- Especially Lithuania is a country with ing for employees who act according to cil consists of a total of 20 people. They a lot of young people. As there is not our values in their home country“, Cor- mostly are from the United States and much industry, migration is considera- nelia Horsch emphasises. “This is one of Canada. But also some graduates from ble. In other Eastern European coun- the reasons why HORSCH supports the Lithuania have become members. Since tries, too, the future prospects for LCC.“ The financing of this private insti- 2012, Dr. Marlen Wall is president of the young people are limited. The educa- tution is based on two pillars: on the tion at the LCC International University one hand on donations, on the other provides the students with the precon- hand there are fees that have to be ditions to operate as executives in their paid. The students, however, can get home countries who think critically, act scholarships, for example in the context democratically, put the principles of a of a partnership with a company. The free-market economy into practice and tie between economy and science is very impart a Christian view of the world. important. An internship abroad is ob- ligatory. Due to the external lecturers who as their main profession mostly work in companies a network is created which the students can benefit from during their time at the LCC, but also later on in their professional life. Nor- mally, the lecturers are regulars, i.e. LCC – creating future prospects for young they teach at the university year after people year. If they are not on site, they stay in close contact with the students via e- mail and internet. university. She was born in the United States, but has been living in Lithuania “What strikes me about the LCC In- for more than 20 years. ternational University is the special spirit that prevails between professors, A particularity of the LCC is the fact Seminars with experts from all over the world
The campus of LCC International University: University (left), sports hall (middle), residential homes (right)
23 terra Company insights
The purchasing department team with its head Friedrich Lehner (first row, left) A life according to a plan
The new HORSCH logistic centre is not And this is where the challenge be- creased correspondingly – also with re- only used to guarantee the spare gins. First of all a few figures: From 1st gard to purchasing.“ parts’ supply. Part of it also stores of September 2011 till 1st of September material for the current production. 2012 the purchasing department dealt As HORSCH’s in-house production There are components stored on the with a total of 102,366 order positions. depth is relatively low – the emphasis open space at Sitzenhof and at the 14,579 different materials for produc- is on assembly, the share of purchased production site in Ronneburg. All parts tion and spare-part sales were ordered. parts is very high. In 2011, HORSCH whether it is a simple screw or a This does not include consumption purchased production material for a Pronto hopper have gone through the items like office supplies, tools etc. total value of about 120 million Euro. purchasing department, even though The main part at a value of approx. only virtually. terraHORSCH talked to Lehner has been working for HORSCH 100 million Euro is divided up between Friedrich Lehner, head of the HORSCH for more than 17 years. During that pe- about 350 suppliers from Germany; purchasing department. riod a lot has happened indeed. “At the remainder of approx 20 million HORSCH I have always worked in the Euro is purchased from 65 suppliers purchasing department“, he explains. from abroad – 17 of them are located “To start with I was alone, today a total outside Europe. Thus, hydraulic cylin- riedrich Lehner does not make a of ten employees are working in my de- ders for example come from Austria big thing of his job: “Anyone partment. It is almost the same with the and Ireland, press wheels and packer knows how to purchase”, he total number of employees which in- shafts from Italy and France or lathe states right at the beginning, creased from about 60 to today approx. parts and a few welded components F“However, we do not purchase everyday 1,000 employees during this time. This from the Czech Republic. Complete commodities like for example food, but is an enormous development and I am special parts resp. components are everything a company of this size needs. proud that I was able to participate in purchased in the USA or Canada. An- This goes from office supplies to all this development. But, of course, the other direct supplier of HORSCH is parts for production.” challenges for the company have in- even situated in Malaysia.
24 From time to time the purchasers also check Regular personal contact with suppliers is an Friedrich Lehner, head of the purchasing the quality themselves. important part of a good co-operation. department.
“The criteria for purchasing are many very important with regard to the selec- burnt down. HORSCH was able to help fold“, Friedrich Lehner states. “Al- tion and cooperation with the suppliers. out at short notice with its painting plant though the share of purchasing has in In addition to the subject of costs it is on in Ronneburg. “That’s no big deal be- the total production cost is relatively the one hand a question of flexibility, tween partners, “ Friedrich Lehner says. high, the price is only one aspect – even on the other hand a matter of capaci- The company HORSCH Industrietech- though a very important one. We attach ties. And not everyone can keep up with nik (HIT), a HORSCH subsidiary, is also greatest importance to quality, but also the growth of the HORSCH Maschinen situated in Ronneburg. HIT produces ap- to availability.” GmbH. A positive example is the com- prox. 1/3 of the necessary welded com- pany Quadrus Metalltechnik from ponents. The company is highly auto- Thus, planning is essential. Since Oc- Schmidgaden, one of the most impor- mated, produces large quantities and tober 2009 the purchasing department, tant suppliers, that has grown with has the use of excellent technical equip- too, has been supported by the com- HORSCH. For Lehner it is important to ment like robots that have to be used to puter system SAP. The basis of the plan- find and to establish such suppliers: full capacity. However, HIT, too, has to ning is the sales plan which is proposed “Our co-operation is based on partner- compete with external companies, thus by the sales department and which is ship. Otherwise it would not work at has to offer competitive prices. then fixed by the management. Based all“, he says. “The planning is discussed on this sales plan the production plans together and if sometimes there are The good cooperation with the sup- are developed and the latter generate shortages to face we will find a solution pliers is also based on the fact that every the plan figures in the system so that together. Our part of being reliable is supplier has one designated contact in the purchasing department is able to for example that off season we let them the purchasing department. And this act in good time. The decisions are produce ahead.” one contact is responsible for the com- based on past experiences, but also on plete purchasing process from inquiry, what is to be expected from the market. Good contacts to suppliers are addi- order, order confirmation and control to Therefore, the sales department that tionally favorable with regard to the deadline monitoring etc. A life according to a plan always is close to the customer is in- development of new machines. In such volved. “Before using SAP, we started a case the suppliers are generally The HORSCH purchasing department purchasing as soon as there was a spe- brought in at an early stage. This is par- consists of two teams each of which is cific order e.g. a production order, today ticularly important as at the HORSCH headed by a team leader. The focus of we are ahead of the times. This is indis- company only little time passes between one team is on purchasing all products pensable as for tool-specific parts we development and serial production. made of steel like sheets and plates, have to check in advance if the available welded components, lathe and milled capacities are sufficient to cover our re- Lehner gives another example: “Dur- parts as well as cast parts and forging. quirements or that we are able to order ing the past years many machine and The other team is responsible for all material with very long replacement equipment manufacturers had to face other sectors, e.g. plastic parts, tyres, times in due time. Depending on the shortages that partly led to machines electronic, hydraulic, DIN-parts etc. This market situation there might be deliv- having to be delivered without tyres. has proven to be a very successful sys- ery times of up to 10 months! Fortunately, HORSCH was hardly af- tem as the different requirements, due fected as in this sector, too, it had an to the different product lines, have to In practice this works extremely active partnership. For products which be approached differently. well“, the head of the purchasing de- are specially manufactured for HORSCH partment confirms. „However, the sys- an exact planning of the capacities is es- With regard to their professional tem still has to remain flexible. An adap- sential as – depending on the product education the employees of the pur- tion to cyclical fluctuations or trends – a short-term shifting to a new or an chasing department are mostly trained towards certain types of machines has additional supplier is extremely difficult industrial management assistants; but a to be possible at all times. And often it or even impossible. The suppliers can technical background is also important. is the famous gut feeling that plays a rely on HORSCH. HORSCH stands for se- Two employees have a technical educa- role. “ Thus, the purchasing department cure orders and timely payment. It is tion and take care that everything goes has always managed to provide the sup- part of the HORSCH motto to deal fairly according to plan in this respect. In the plies for production – even in view of with its partners. course of their training the HORSCH ap- the enormous sales increases of the past prentices also work in the purchasing years. But sometimes there are unexpected department. Thus, HORSCH is training problems that have to be solved: Re- qualified junior staff within its own Experience and foresight are also cently the painting plant of a supplier ranks.
25 terra Company insights
Everything under control
Managing director Michael Horsch’s that for our family the construction of objective to have the first completely part in terraHORSCH always is “Trends machines only comes second. The slo- integrated arable farm in Europe that and News“. In this issue we are talking gan “Farming with passion” is lived works with CTF. with him about his new farm in the practically by all of us. Thus, in the past Czech Republic as well as about years we are able to acquire farms and terraHORSCH: How did the contact Controlled Traffic Farming. Plus, he to do farming there. For example a farm with the new farm come about? gives a general outlook. in the Czech Republic where in 2011 the Michael Horsch: In fact only by HORSCH Field Days took place. This year chance. At a show a consultant of this terraHORSCH: Congratulations on we managed to find an additional farm farm mentioned to one of our salesmen the new farm in the Czech Republic. in the Czech Republic. Here we are par- that the farm might be for sale. Our How did this come about? ticularly interested in the subject Con- employee immediately pricked his ears Michael Horsch: It is widely known trolled Traffic Farming (CTF). It is our and passed the information on.
26 terraHORSCH: And why CTF? tors have a tracked chassis! All but the Michael Horsch: I simply want to see self-propelled sprayer: it has a three- how it works. There are already farms metre track on wheels. We specifically that partly work with CTF. But a farm of bought American John Deere tracked this size has never been consequently tractors with three-metre track. With managed with CTF. CTF surely is about regard to the combines we will addi- preserving the soil structure by always tionally extend the unloading auger so using the same tracks. But another that it reaches out to the middle of the advantage I see is to be able to structure corresponding track where the auger the workflow, i.e. to increase the wagon runs. machinery output even further. terraHORSCH: How do CTF and Strip- terraHORSCH: What do you mean by Till e.g. maize on ridges go together? that? Michael Horsch: Excellently. With this Michael Horsch: First of all we meas- system we can carry out a very targeted ured the whole area of the farm. Then placement of fertiliser in the long run. we thought carefully about how to And in my opinion an efficient use of drive on the fields in the most reason- fertiliser is one of the most important able way, e.g. diagonally to the hillside topics for the future. or along the hillside. This way the com- plete cultivation, sowing and the main- terraHORSCH: ...what leads us tenance works, but mainly the harvest directly to the general developments. can be rationalised. Of course, you also What is your prognosis for the near have to create a connection to other future? systems, e.g. yield mapping. Thus, you Michael Horsch: The economic and are easily able to tell whether the com- debt crisis will, of course, have its con- bine can do another track before sequences. But I do not think that it unloading or not. For one thing it is will be particularly dramatic. With clear: CTF does not make sense if the regard to corn prices I do not think that auger wagon is crisscrossing over the there will be a similar development as field. in 2008. At that time, the speculations on the price were considerably higher, terraHORSCH: What technical require- today our corn prices are much more ments are needed? realistic. If there is no absolute top har- Michael Horsch: The prerequisite is vest in 2013 worldwide, there will not DGPS. In addition to that all machines be a decline in prices. The consequence have to fit into a three-meter pattern: for us as machinery manufacturers will six metre for deep cultivation, 12 or 18 be a considerable demand for agricul- metre for shallow cultivation and sow- tural machinery. For the farmers this ing, 36 metre for spraying and fertilis- means that the safeguard of yields has terraHORSCH: Why in the Czech ing. The most essential point is that eve- top priority. And to achieve this they Republic? rything runs consistently on a will be ready to invest more in technol- Michael Horsch: I want to use the three-metre track – this is why all trac- ogy! farm for communicating with our cus- tomers. We will create sort of a “little FIT training centre”. Its situation at the Southern border of the Bohemian paradise is perfect for this purpose. From Germany the farm can easily be reached via motorway 10. The airport of Prague is only one hour away so that arrival and departure does not pose any problem even for interna- tional guests. From a farming point of view for example to show the func- tioning of our machines this region is particularly interesting as the soil con- ditions vary considerably. You can find almost any type of soil on the farm – from high plains to marsh. John Deere tracked tractor with three-metre track.
27 terra Company insights
Having gained experience
At the Agritechnica 2011 HORSCH presented the Maestro – a particularly precise single grain seed drill for high speeds. This ground-breaking concept was awarded with the prize “Machine of the Year 2012“. We talked with Philipp Horsch about the experiences of the first season in the field.
terraHORSCH: Mr Horsch, did the ing quality. And we achieved this aim. terraHORSCH: How can something Maestro pass its baptism of fire? In the past season about 100 Maestros like this happen? Philipp Horsch: Yes. Among other were in practical use mainly in Western Philpp Horsch: Because of numerous things, the Maestro was able to prove and Eastern Europe and to a large and different influences you are in agri- its abilities on the occasion of the world extent worked very well. The Maestro cultural practice never beyond being record for precision sowing of maize was mainly used for sowing sugar beet, surprised by the unexpected. Actually which was carried out in cooperation maize, soya and sunflowers. we started quite optimistic into the sea- with Claas. Within 24 hours a total area son, as the first near-series machines of 448.29 hectare was sown and ferti- terraHORSCH: Why only to a large had already been running for more lised simultaneously with a Xerion 5000 extent? than two years with excellent results in and a Maestro 24.70 SW. The aim of this Phlipp Horsch: I do not want to gloss various conditions across Europe. How- joint action was to drive at a high speed over anything. There were some points ever, I have to admit that at this stage – the average was 14.7 km/h – and at which under certain circumstances did all test machines were handled by per- the same time guarantee a good work- not work the way I imagined fectly trained members of our develop-
28 ment test team who, of course, adjusted measure for placement quality and goes Now the driver is much better able to the machine in an optimum way and on increasing speed as long as he stays make a definite statement about the always had everything under control. within the VC range he approves of. The current placement quality. Now all Now the machine really had to stand result was that as a consequence the grains are taken into account to calcu- tough practice... speed often was too high, partly up to late the VC, i.e. set, missing and double 18 km/h, even in very adverse soil condi- spots. You, thus, get an exact image of terraHORSCH: Which problems did tions. The upshot was that the place- the grain placement in the soil. At the you encounter? ment accuracy partly did not meet our same time we extended our display by Philipp Horsch: In some cases we requirements. another very practical feature with the were not satisfied with the placement aid of which a change of the grain spac- accuracy. Our analysis showed that this terraHORSCH: What remedy did you ing is immediately displayed in the form was due to three points. find? of a traffic-light status lamp. We did not Philipp Horsch: As I already men- only focus on changing the algorithm Point 1: Especially when sowing sug- tioned in the beginning: The majority of for the VC calculation, but also on sim- ar beet on sandy soils under wet condi- the Maestros worked very well. But dur- plifying and improving the displays for tions and influenced by wet dust there ing the past month we, of course, con- the driver. was an increased torque requirement in centrated on this subject and found a the individual metering devices. We are remedy. With a small groove at the bot- terraHORSCH: Does this only apply to talking here about very small tolerances tom side of the metering disc we are the currently produced machines? inside the metering devices, deposits able to prevent deposits completely Philipp Horsch: No, the metering may become noticeable. If the torque even in wet and sandy conditions thus units will be replaced and a new soft- requirement increases too much, this reducing the torque requirement con- ware will be installed on all Maestros on may lead to a standstill of the metering siderably even in the worst case, exclud- the market. unit and to corresponding alarm mes- ing a jamming of the metering unit. In sages. addition, the tolerances e.g. the clear- terraHORSCH: How can you be so ances were increased significantly. sure that now everything is ok? Point 2 was that under certain condi- Philipp Horsch: In September we tions it was possible that grains got Point 2 was solved by numerous mod- delivered the first 4 Maestros to South clamped and started to bounce in the ifications inside the metering unit. The Africa. With regard to the season they outlet area of the metering unit. The edge below the metering disc was are half a year ahead and they already reason was that if the chosen metering removed. The scraper edge in the area started sowing at the beginning of disc was too large individual grains pen- of the grain placement which so far was October. The machines are working etrated too deeply and collided with an stationary now is spring-loaded and under practical conditions on large edge below the metering disc. Thus, for freely movable and further metering farms and sow maize and soya. For us example, very small irregular shaped discs for extreme grain shapes and sizes this is an ideal situation to test the sunflowers were damaged or tooth- have been developed. Thus, with imme- modifications in the field and to make like, small maize started to bounce diate effect, the bouncing and damag- sure that everything will work well while being released. ing of individual grains is impossible. here in Europe in the sowing season to The mechanical matters are no longer come – and things are looking really Point 3 was due to the calculation an issue. good! and the presentation of the variation coefficient in the display. One of the Also with regard to the display a lot main decision criteria for the driver for of modifications have been carried out. choosing the right speed for controlling the sowing quality of the Maestro is the variation coefficient (VC) of the longitu- dinal distribution. To calculate this VC, the grains are registered by a precise sensor in the seed tube right before they are placed into the soil. For the cal- culation of the VC we followed the cur- rent algorithm of the German Agricul- tural Society DLG which exclusively considers set spots, but does not involve missing and double spots. In practical use this means that the VC displayed is always calculated and shown a little bit too favourably as missing and double spots are not taken into account. The driver, however, uses the VC display as a Maize population on the world record field in June 2012
29 terra Company insights
DIV. 1000 UK DE 900 800 CZ/SR/HU 700 600 500 400 RO/BU/XS 300 200 FR 100 PL 0 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Schwandorf Ronneburg Landau Export UA/RU/KA
Staff development Turnover distribution Perfect framework conditions
Managing director Horst Keller is States our total turnover this year intensive tests in the field we can HORSCH‘s „Lord of the numbers“. He amounts to more than 230 million Euro. exclude a lot of problems that might informed us about the current market occur during the market launch, but, of developments and the integration of terraHORSCH: Which markets and course, we can never exclude all of the Leeb plant protection technology. products is this increase due to? them. All in all we are very satisfied with Horst Keller: Our markets are very the launch of the products and the sales stable and in all our sales areas we have figures confirm that we have met the achieved double-digit growth rates. The customers‘ requirements. The Terrano terraHORSCH: After a successful year home market still remains our largest FM performed excellently and was very 2011, the agricultural machinery sector individual market with a share of about well received. At the moment the expe- is looking back on a very successful year 25 per cent, followed by France with riences we made during the first full 2012. What was the year like for about 20 per cent. Poland, Russia, season are being incorporated into the HORSCH? Ukraine, Czech Republic/Slovakia and next production year so that we will be Horst Keller: This is also true for our Romania/Bulgaria contribute to the able to improve utilisation and working company. After a very successful year turnover with approx. seven per cent quality even further. The introduction 2011 with an increase of more than 60 each, followed by Great Britain with six of the new Maestro product line was per cent, we will this year be able to per cent and then all other markets. more exciting. A seed drill has to the even top this. As of today we reckon With regard to the products the increas- meet highest standards from a technical with a turnover increase of another 25 es are mainly based on 4 product lines: as well as from an agricultural point of per cent to a net turnover of more than the Pronto, the Terrano FM and the view. It gets even more complicated if 200 million Euros – our turnover, thus, Joker line as well as single grain tech- different field crops and types of seed has doubled within two years. This is nology with the new Maestro. All other are to be sown in different markets. Not why at this point I want to thank all our product lines will approximately reach to mention the diverse conditions and sales partners as increases of this kind the level of last year. requirements of the markets. At the would not have been possible without moment our R&D department is adding their sales and after-sales services. And terraHORSCH: You mentionned the the finishing touches to convert these that is the reason why we are, of course, Terrano FM and the Maestro – two experiences into product upgrades. The very satisfied with this year. These fig- product lines you launched this year. final tests were carried out at several ures do not include the turnover of Have you been satisfied with the results? machines in South Africa this year in HORSCH LEEB AS and HORSCH in the Horst Keller: The launch of a new October. For 2013, the sales department United States. With approx. twelve mil- product is always a challenge. With is planning a considerable increase of lion Euro in the plant protection sector modern test procedures already in the the sales figures for both types of and 20 million Dollar in the United development stage as well as with machines in Europe.
30 terraHORSCH: Back to plant protec- Horst Keller tion once again – a little more than one year has passed since HORSCH and LEEB have been joining forces. How do you assess this decision today and would you take it again? Horst Keller: The answer is a definite YES!! One year ago we were absolutely sure that it will be a perfect alliance for both of us. We were also well aware of the fact that a merger would entail enormous efforts on both sides. But no matter how big those efforts would be, we never had any doubt that it would be the right step to take. And today this conviction has not changed. The demand for the products and also the confirmation from our customers is that the innovation of the products is exact- ly what they are looking for have only confirmed our decision. The process of both companies growing together involved considerable changes in vari- ous procedures and structures of the organisation and, thus, it was a very demanding year for our staff. It was not easy, but necessary to be able to grow together into one company. We are still in the middle of this process, but we have already overcome the largest obstacles. We had expected that the demand for LEEB products would increase due to the merger as HORSCH has an excellent and professional dealer network; but the extent nevertheless took us by surprise. Thus, this year we completely focused on increasing pro- duction and on expanding the service sector at HORSCH. The growing togeth- year. This is why next year’s planning potential for future growth in all our er of both companies has been given includes a sales figure increase and a markets as long as we go on develop- top priority by the management in all turnover rise of another ten to fifteen ing innovative products and new mar- sectors and I am convinced that next per cent. There will be a growth in all kets. This is the reason why we first and year, due to the measures that have markets, but we will increase our activi- foremost invest in manpower by been taken in all sectors, frictional loss- ties in Russia, Ukraine and USA in a dis- recruiting new employees, but also by es and difficulties will be a thing of the proportionate way. Being close to the training apprentices and offering train- past. farmer and guaranteeing a perfect sup- ing programs to our existing staff. In port service – these are two important addition, we extend our production terraHORSCH: After all retrospection, factors we and our sales partners want capacities in Germany, but also in Rus- let’s take a look into the future. How do to increase even further. We know, sia and the United States. In total, we you assess next year in general and for however, that food prices are always think we are well prepared to shoulder HORSCH in particular? subject to considerable variations – for any further growth in a healthy and Horst Keller: Currently, the general political or global economic reasons. secure way. conditions in agriculture and especially This makes us check our forecasts regu- in the cultivation of cereals are excellent larly with our sales partners to correct and in the short run we do not expect them if necessary and adapt our produc- any dark clouds to gather. However, it is tion accordingly. difficult to judge the political situation on the different markets Europe and terraHORSCH: Will you be able to USA. The currently high cereal prices shoulder this growth? lead us to a positive forecast for next Horst Keller: We surely still have the
31 terra Machinery test
HORSCH Leeb GS 8000 Cleaning sprayers – the proper way
Why is thorough cleaning so impor- tant and how should it be carried out?
mall traces of for example sulfo- nylurea in the sprayer lead to se- rious damages in the rape popu- lation. But also other crops like Ssugar beet or cereals might be damaged if residues of the agents used remain in the sprayer. If damage only occurs in the first few metres, the reason is usually residues in the boom. Any greater dam- age is often caused by pollution or de- posits in the tank, in the induction hop- per or in the hosing system incl. the filter. The reason frequently is a not a thorough inside cleaning of the plant protection sprayer. A smooth hopper surface which does not rough up over the years, and has few “dead spots“ in the system as possible are the most im- Rape that has been damaged on the headlands by sulfonylurea residues in the sprayer portant preconditions for a thorough cleaning. The farmers’ requirement for material with quick and good cleaning steel which has been proving its worth This is why they opted for stainless steel behaviour right from the beginning led already for decades in the food sector for the hopper as well as for the induc- the HORSCH LEEB engineers to stainless due to the excellent cleaning behavior. tion hopper. The smooth surface almost
32 Cleaning sprayers – the proper way
completely prevents the building up of The active substance often settles in the deposits. The hoses are kept as short as lines and it is difficult to get it off again. possible to reduce the risk of damage. An optimised liquid flow and the use of The sprayer manufacturers offer var- electronically controlled shut-off valves ious hopper inside cleaning systems and are important components for this sys- cleaning programs on the market. With tem. By using electronic control valves it regard to handling, the systems of the is possible to place the valve exactly individual manufacturers vary from where it is needed. The result is that it manual operation to a fully automatic is not necessary to lay the hosing to the version which is operated from the cab. central operating area and back, thus in Also for the general cleaning process turn also reducing the total length of there are several approaches on how to the hose on the machine. achieve a successful clean. Cleaning is often carried out in several steps. The Stainless steel induction hopper The risk of damages increases if the inside wall of the tank is cleaned by sprayer is parked with a full tank or with nozzles. This step is repeated several a small amount left for a longer period. times and each time the residual quan- Once settled it is very difficult to stir up tity gets more and more diluted. An- the chemical products again. Weather other system does not work in steps, conditions sometimes force the sprayer but dilutes continuously by perma- to have a break. If a sprayer is idle for nently injecting in clean water via several hours, increased attention has to cleaning nozzles. HORSCH LEEB be paid to the agitation. If products are prefers a cleaning system that used that tend to settle, the spray mix- works according to the principle ture has to be agitated regularly during of displacement. After the tank the spraying break. The mixture in the has been emptied completely, the line of the boom should be moved, too. cleaning system can be started from the Induction hopper
33 terra Machinery test
Injector
Flow meter
Pressure filter Pressure Inside cleaning sensor
Spraying mixture tank
Electric control unit
Air
Agitator Fresh water tank
Piston diaphragm pump Fluid schematic HORSCH Leeb GS 8000 with piston diaphragm pump for contin- Filling valve Centrifugal pump Suction filter uous inside cleaning
tractor. When starting the cleaning pro- phragm pump delivers water from the guarantees that the tank always stays gramme the residual mixture is first fresh water tank via the cleaning noz- empty and that the tank walls are not forced out of the boom after the cen- zles, the agitator and the circulation polluted with diluted mixture. If the trifugal pump via the nozzles by means line into the mixture tank. In doing so pressure at the centrifugal pump drops of pressurised air. Thus, the residual the tank walls are cleaned and the below one bar, the piston diaphragm quantity in the complete spraying sys- spraying pump immediately sucks off pump switches back on and the clean- tem is extremely low. Then the cleaning the cleaning water which is sprayed out. ing and circulation process starts again. process starts. All nozzles are open. The As soon as the pressure at the spraying This procedure is repeated till the fresh spraying pump and the piston dia- pump exceeds one bar, the piston dia- water tank is empty. Due to the con- phragm pump, which is on board of the phragm pump and the circulation are stant supply of fresh water combined HORSCH LEEB sprayers as a second small shut off and the centrifugal pump emp- with the continuous sucking and the pump for cleaning, run. The piston dia- ties the sump in the mixture tank. This simultaneous spreading of the cleaning mixture, the spraying pump soon only sucks fresh water which forces the mix- ture out of the lines. We recommend to
0,250 rinse the induction hopper with fresh Complete inside cleaning – Trailed sprayers 2011 - 2012 with 4000 to 8000 l water after each mixing to avoid having Concentration in the tank after cleaning and refilling (%) concentrated mixture in the system. If ready mixture is loaded from another 0,200 tank, the connection piece and the area Limit value 0.2 % till the first valve has to be rinsed sepa- corresponds to dilution 0,164 factor 500 rately from the outside. The feeder 0,150 tank, too, has to be cleaned. As soon as the cleaning programme is completed, the residual mixture should be forced
0,095 0,100 out of the boom by means of air. 0,088
HORSCH LEEB cleaning system CCS 0,060 0,048 This year in August, the HORSCH 0,050 LEEB cleaning system CCS (Continuous Cleaning System) was tested by an inde- 0,014 0,009 0,010 pendent body at the Julius-Kühn-Insti- 0,000 Machine 1 Leeb – Machine 2 Machine 3 Leeb – tradi- Machine 4 Machine 5 Machine 6 tute (JKI) in Braunschweig. In recent optimised tional cleaning years the Julius-Kühne-Institute exam- Analysis cleaning test of pulled sprayers (JKI Braunschweig) ined thoroughly several machines with
34 Inside view of the stainless steel tank during the emptying of the Funguran solution in the cleaning test
regard to their cleaning behaviour. The was a considerable settling of the chem- test results are shown in the graph ical in the filter. To get an even better Summary: “Analysis cleaning test of pulled spray- cleaning result, the quick filling valve at Stainless steel tank with its ers“. For the test, this independent body the sprayer was opened for approx. five smooth surface facilitates used a Funguran solution with a de- seconds. As a consequence the whole cleaning fined concentration. This solution was pump quantity runs over the suction fil- Rinse induction hopper after filled into the mixture tank and then ter and dissolves the deposits. Due to every filling sprayed out again. During the emptying this measure it was possible to achieve process you could observe the solution a significantly better result (Leeb opti- If possible, always spray till running down the stainless steel wall of mised). Repeated cleaning with appro- the sprayer is empty the tank. After the hopper was com- priate cleaning products, especially in Start cleaning immediately pletely empty, the HORSCH LEEB clean- case of problematic rotation, is a must after the last spraying pass ing system was activated. With the hop- to prevent the crops from being dam- If the risk is high, carry out per cleaning finished the hopper was aged. In some cases it was the filter that cleaning with an appropriate re-filled and the Funguran concentra- caused the damage. The filter is easiest cleaning product and repeat tion in the new hopper filling spraying to clean when being disassembled. the process was determined. During the test there Some farmers opted for using several filters. The filter should not be stored in dry condition, but preferable in a solu- tion that includes a sprayer cleaner. So The Julius-Kühn-Institute – Federal Re- search Centre for Cultivated Plants (JKI) these farms use one filter for cereals is a research centre that has been estab- and one for rape. Sugar-beet growers lished on the 1st of January 2008 within have to look out: Debut, too, belongs to the portfolio of the German Federal Min- the line of sulfonylurea. And it is all istry for food, agriculture and consumer about minimising risks. protection. The institute is a merger of the Federal Biological Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry and the Fed- In addition to the sprayer cleaning eral Centre for Breeding Research on topic HORSCH LEEB has been concen- Cultivated Plants involving two institutes trating on the nozzle spacing and the of the Federal Research Centre for Agri- spacing between the spraying boom culture (Institute for Plant Nutrition and Soil Science and Institute for Plant Pro- and the target for several years. They tection in Field Crops and Grassland). The will continue to pursue this topic “25 Julius Kühn-Institute (JKI) is responsible cm nozzle spacing – better effect – for the protection target “Cultivated lower drift“ more activley in the com- plant“ as a whole. This responsibility in- cludes the sectors plant genetics, plant ing years. An improved adsorption at production, plant nutrition and soil sci- the crop plant or at the weed plant Julius Kühn (* 23rd of October 1825 in ence as well as plant protection and promises a better efficiency of the ac- Pulsnitz; † 14th of April 1910 in Halle plant health. Thus, the JKI is able to de- tive ingredient. Together with the JKI (Saale)) was a German agricultural scien- velop whole concepts for the complete and in cooperation with the plant pro- tist. He is considered to be one the most sector of plant cultivation, plant produc- important reformers of agricultural sci- tion up to plant maintenance. Their tection industry an intensive test series ence and the ground-breaking former of headquarters is situated in Quedlinburg will be carried out in spraying season the agricultural university studies in Ger- and it has several branches. 2013 with regard to the subject “Drift many. and Adsorption“.
35 terra Practical experience
Processing semi-liquid manure and biogas residue
What do herbal hay, vegetables, pota- toes and cereals have in common? No, they are not the ingredients of a cooking recipe, but part of the wide range of services contractor Ulrich Helmcke from Tolstefanz in the Wend- land region in Lower-Saxony offers to his customers.
The fields of contractor Ulrich Helmcke (2. right) were used for laying test plots for underground nd particularities are numer- fertilisation with biogas residue and semi-liquid fertiliser for root crops with different application ous on his farm. Part of it are dates. The machine used was a HORSCH Evo CS. Ralf Boeck (left, HORSCH area sales manager), Dr. Hinrich Hüwing (2. left, Chambre of Agriculture of Lower-Saxony) and Martin Konau (right, 25 hectare of his own grass- sales representative of Alka-Tec Land- und Kommunaltechnik), too, are anxiously waiting for the land (hence the herbal hay as results. Aa marketing product) and 75 hectare arable area. The rotation rye-sugar beet-potatoes on these fields is not re- potato fields he and his team of six an- km. However, spreading it on fields and ally spectacular, but the management is. nually carry out tasks like removing grassland is also part of their task. The For 30 years Ulrich Helmcke has been stones, planting and harvesting for the material is taken to the fields by tractor- focusing on technically optimising the regional farmers. Sowing vegetables tank truck rigs and is then pumped into cultivation of potatoes. He tells us that and cereals is part of his service range as a Xerion with a 15-cubic metre slurry due to his great knowledge and experi- well as threshing cereals. But semi-liq- tank. ence he is a sought-after discussion uid manure and fermenting residue Special feature in this context: the partner for industry and numerous col- from biogas plants have become one of contractor vehemently denies the re- leagues from all over Europe. his most important mainstays. Normally, quest of planting and harvesting maize: Logically this competence has a posi- the Helmcke team transports semi-liq- “This topic, similar to combining cereals, tive influence on his contracting busi- uid manure from agricultural farms to is subject to a ruinous price war. This is ness. In average, on about 500 hectare the biogas plants in a radius of about 50 why we keep our hands off maize. My
36 manure line, but then with a wider spacing. The principle corresponds to under- ground fertilisation as used in maize cultivation. Only the rear tine row is connected with hoses – but right from the start with two hoses per tine. The discs are turned by 180 degree and, thus, throw an earth dam onto the de- posit. In a second pass subsequent crops like maize or potatoes are then planted/ sown above the deep deposit. “From a technical point of view this is possible without any problems as the spacing between the deposit and seed horizon is approx. 10 cm “, the contractor ex- plains. Ralf Boeck, HORSCH sales man- The attachment Evo CS is equiped with a distribution head, two tine rows and a disc row. For a wide-spread application and incorporation of semi-liquid manure and biogas residue each tine is ager for Lower Saxony, North Rhine- connected to a hose. With underground fertilisation the hoses are only attached to the rear tines, Westphalia, Hesse and parts of but each tine in this case is connected to two hoses (top right). There is no important wear of the Saxony-Anhalt, adds: “Quite a large hose support at the coulter (bottom right). For underground fertilisation the discs are turned and form ridges (left photo at the left) where later maize or potatoes can be planted without any number of machines of this type are problems. working very successfully in Denmark. Ulrich Helmcke is our first customer in Northern Germany to use this method aim is rather to achieve a clear position- of underground fertilisation with semi- ing due to the quality and the kind of liquid manure and biogas residue. In our services and, thus, to realise the nec- 2013 we will start marketing it on a essary price structures.“ According to larger scale.“ him for semi-liquid manure and biogas Interesting experiences will also be residue logistics, this does not really gained from the cultivation tests Ulrich work where road transport is concerned Helmcke recently did with the Chamber (although it turns out to be very profit- of Agriculture of Lower-Saxony. In the able), but with regard to the real test organic and mineral underground In August 2012 Ulrich Helmcke carried out semi- spreading and incorporation. Although liquid manure application for mustard as a catch fertilisation is compared, but also the “processing” would be the much better crop with conventional technology (left) and use of additives like Piadin. The objec- term as: “The ultimate ambition has to with the HORSCH Evo CS (right). Field structure, tive of the latter is to preserve the avail- soil quality and sowing date were almost identi- be to apply the nutrients that are con- cal, but seed emergence and nitrogen availabili- able nitrogen so that semi-liquid ma- tained in semi-liquid manure and fer- ty were definitely different nure can be applied in the autumn menting residue as loss-free and profit- without any loss and with an optimum able as possible“, Ulrich Helmcke availability for root crops. explains and adds with total conviction: on slit device or disc harrow. Since sum- “Regardless of the plant production “Not only are the legal regulations mer 2012, however, another machine point of view, the easing of work peaks decisive, but mere plant production has quite literally been coming into fo- is another important aspect for us“, Ul- considerations. Optimum yields can be cus: the HORSCH Evo CS (based on the rich Helmcke mentions the economic achieved by correct handling – without original Focus CS converted for manure) side of the technology which is also im- any mineral fertilisation. For organic liq- with 6 metre working width. portant for their customers. “Saving uid fertiliser is a valuable resource and The basic design is a combination of mineral fertiliser, saving passes and only not a necessary evil. And everything de- two rows of cultivator tines for loosen- few losses because of ammonia gas pends on the right handling!“ ing the soil as well as a row of discs as a emission – all these points quickly add Ulrich Helmcke can rightly claim to following tool. For a wide-spread incor- up to a cost reduction of up to 150 Euro know what he is talking about. For poration of liquid fertiliser each cultiva- per hectare. With this background the years he has been practicing this suc- tor tine is connected with duck foot additional costs of deposit-underground cessfully on his own fields (loamy sand coulters and a feeding hose coming fertilisation of 25 to 30 Euro per hectare between 30 and 60 soil points). Yields of from the distribution head. The semi- compared to conventional application up to 10 tons of rye and up to 60 tons liquid manure is fed into the soil directly can easily be justified“, he thinks. There- of potatoes solely on the basis of 140 behind the coulter. The following annu- fore he is optimistic that based on kilogramme nitrogen coming only from lar plate spreads the earth widely. But HORSCH technology he will well be able semi-liquid fertiliser speak for them- the benefit of this machine is: The liquid to triple the current annual application selves. So far the contractor relies on fertiliser can also be applied as a deposit quantity of 40,000 cubic metre in the injection technology, optionally based in a depth of approx. 20 cm, sort of as a medium term.
37 terra HORSCH Foundation
Sowing music for a fulfilling life
Thanks to the support of the HORSCH Foundation it was possible to bring the “Konrad Max Kunz Music Acade- my” in Schwandorf into being.
hat does the HORSCH Maestro CC, which after all was awarded the prize “Machine of the Year W2012“ in the category sowing technology, and a music school have in common? “In both cases it is about sowing“, explains Cornelia Horsch, head of marketing of HORSCH Maschinen GmbH and deputy The opening concert of the music academy attracted more visitors than expected so that chairs chairwoman of the “Konrad Max Kunz had to be put up in front of the hall. Sponsor’s Association“ (KMK). In the mu- sic sector, too, you have to sow before being able to reap. the foundation of the “Konrad Max Kunz school based on the “Bavarian sing and Thus, the HORSCH Foundation decided Music Academy“ in Schwandorf in spring music school regulation“ which offers a to donate a large sum on the occasion of 2012. Basically, the Academy is a music comprehensive musical basic training
38 Perseverance, commitment, team work – values the music academy wants to convey to young people, not only for music, but for life.
leading as far as the entrance examina- with the Music Academy holds an enor- tion to a music conservatory. At the mo- mous potential for the regional cultural ment, 14 teachers are teaching more than life. And Cornelia Horsch explicitly points 220 children, adolescents and adults. The to the fact that due to the offers of the courses cover almost all instruments, vocal association the attractiveness of the site arts, ensemble and orchestra playing, cho- Schwandorf increases considerably. Being ral singing, music theory as well as drama one of the largest employers in the and speech training for laypeople. The Schwandorf area who also operates on an Academy is named after Konrad Max international scale, it is, of course impor- Kunz – the composer, music pedagogue tant for the HORSCH company that it is and choirmaster who was born in Schwan- not only the working environment that dorf in 1812 and who in 1860 composed offers interesting possibilities to the em- the tune of the Bavarian anthem. Cornelia Horsch (middle), Thomas Göttinger ployees. Attractive and varied cultural „Without the support of the HORSCH (left) and mayor Helmut Hey (right) welcomed leisure facilities for the employees and the guests at the opening concert of the music Foundation our institution would not ex- academy. their families are an advantage for the ist“, a fact Thomas Göttinger, head of the site Schwandorf which should not be un- Academy, is sure of. “Such an institution der estimated. As member of the audi- cannot be managed in a cost-effective or ence either at concerts or plays or as an even in a profit oriented way. Sponsoring active participant in the choir, orchestra by third parties will always be necessary.“ and drama group there are by now a mul- In fact the Academy does not pursue any titude of interesting and entertaining profit intention and attaches great impor- possibilities in Schwandorf on a cultural tance to social sustainability where tuition level – for adults as well as for children. fees are concerned. And it even takes an- And all this thanks to the Konrad-Max- other step: As of next year the Academy Kunz Sponsor’s Association. “Our employ- wants to systematically address children ees shall be comfortable in their working Thomas Göttinger (left), president of the and adolescents from socially disadvan- Konrad Max Kunz Sponsor’s Association and environment, but together with their taged families who normally could not head of the music academy families also in their private life with re- afford music lessons to provide them with gard to their social environment. And a a free-of-charge access to music. certain degree of cultural offers is part of In this context Göttinger, too, uses the enjoying the music. “With our Academy that.“ Cornelia Horsch states as a reason image of sowing. “We do not only convey we place the seed for an in every respect for the decision to get the HORSCH Foun- certain skills, but virtues beyond the mere a fulfilling life“ dation involved in the Konrad-Max-Kunz musical aspect the children and adoles- The institution is funded by the regis- Music Academy. cents will benefit from in their life“, he tered non-profit “Konrad Max Kunz This is also the reason why the city of explains. You cannot learn to play a musi- Sponsor’s Association“ which is jointly Schwandorf, too, supports the activities cal instrument without assiduity, preci- chaired by Thomas Göttinger and Cor- of the Sponsor’s Association and the Mu- sion and perseverance. Moreover, as a nelia Horsch. The “Oratorio Choir Schwan- sic Academy. At the beginning of July on member of an ensemble or even an or- dorf“, one of the best amateur choirs in the occasion of the opening concert of chestra you realize immediately that it is Eastern Bavaria, the drama group “SAD- the Academy on the HORSCH premises only together that you can achieve a set Theater“, the German-Czech joint project Helmut Hey, Schwandorf’s mayor, explic- objective. “Perseverance, commitment, “Orchestra without borders“ as well as itly appreciated its work and particularly team work are becoming more and more various children and youth ensembles are thanked the Horsch family for their com- important in modern professional life. We part of the association that has been mitment. Before an audience of about have to convey the basis for that to our founded in 2000. In Göttinger’s and 400 guests more than 70 children and children“, the head of the Academy ex- Horsch’s opinion the cooperation of the adolescents then demonstrated how the plains. But first and foremost it is about individual segments of the association seed has already begun to sprout.
39 terra Inside HORSCH
Gottfried Horsch deceased l
t the age of 49 Gottfried advantage and the necessity to be able Horsch died in a serious car ac- to mix the soil at a deeper level, too. cident near Regensburg on The idea for the heavy cultivator Tiger Saturday, 13th of October AS which was presented for the first A2012. Gottfried Horsch was the cousin time at the Agritechnica 2003 was born. of the managing directors and associ- Gottfried Horsch was an excellent ates of the HORSCH Maschinen GmbH farmer who wanted to and was able to Michael, Philipp and Traugott Horsch. achieve maximum yields even on diffi- Although he was not employed at the cult and poor sites. This ability was company, HORSCH owes him much. again and again reflected in his local Since the founding of the company 28 farms in Bavaria and also in the farms in years ago Gottfried Horsch contributed the Czech Republic he was involved a lot of ideas. Courageous farming con- with. cepts, experiences with machines and But agriculture and technology were Gottfried Horsch l prototypes influenced the development not his only concerns. His fellow men of new products and the improvement and their well-being were very impor- particularly committed himself to the of existing ones. tant to him. He leaves behind a family interests of the young people. In many He attached great importance to the with four children he always took great other sectors, too, he was a networker intensive exchange with farmers, but care of. With regard to his church life, who attached great importance to the also to the exchange within the com- too, he was a role model for many peo- contact and the exchange with other pany. Today a lot of farmers are “Tiger- ple. He was an active and unfailing people. Gottfried Horsch was also a ing“ instead of cultivating – and Got- member of the Mennonite Community member of various associations like the tfried Horsch deserves the credit as he in Schwandorf – he was one of the Deutsche Landwirtschafts-Gesellschaft had the basic idea for the Tiger cultiva- founders and also a member of the ex- (DLG = German Agricultural Society) tor. Originally, he relied on direct sow- ecutive committee. In this context he where he sat on several committees in ing, but more and more realised the was in charge of home groups and he the farming sector.
Apprentices released into everyday working life
uring a little ceremony at Commerce. ture. Marina Trettenbach will spend Sitzenhof in July 2012, five ap- Michael Horsch complimented them some time abroad and then continue prentices were released into on their success and emphasised how with her studies. She will continue to everyday working life. Two in- important it is for a company to train work several hours in the HORSCH HR Ddustrial management assistants and their own qualified staff in good time. department. Anton Grauvogl, head of three production mechanics successfully He expressed his hope that the young training, and Christian Graf, training passed their final exams before the ex- people will be successful in their future supervisor, handed over the diploma for amination board of the Chamber of life and that some of them might even the three production mechanics Dennis work their way up within the HORSCH Meier, Raphael Barbalace and Andreas company. Steinbauer. Dennis and Andreas passed their final exams with a grade point av- Gerhard Springs, head of HR, joined erage of 1.7. All three production me- Mr Horsch’s good wishes. Cornelia and chanics got a full-time employment Michael Horsch awarded the industrial within the HORSCH company. Produc- management assistants Marina Tretten- tion mechanic Christian Schlegl from bach and Sandra Wiesenbacher with the Ronneburg site also passed his pro- their final diploma and a small present. ficiency examination successfully. The latter passed her exam with an ex- cellent grade 1 and will support the Congratulations to them all and our HORSCH sales team (office) in the fu- best wishes for their future..
Apprenticeship Information Day
ecently, HORSCH had invited the mation about apprenticeships at the ship Information Day. surrounding schools to visit the HORSCH company. Almost 200 pupils company headquarters at Gut from five schools together with their Gerhard Springs, head of HR, wel- RSitzenhof to get on-site infor- teachers attended the first Apprentice- comed them. He explained how the 40 Head of HR Gerhard Springs (right) and head of training Anton Grauvogl (left) (both in the right picture) welcome one of the groups.
idea for this event came into being. The tour pupils as wells as teachers stated contact with the young people at re- unanimously: We had never imaged the cruiting days and exhiobitions is not suf- company being this large! ficient. There never is enough time for Finally, there was an information a detailed conversation as everyone is desk where the young visitors could pressed for time. With this first Appren- get tips on how to prepare application ticeship Information Day HORSCH tries documents properly – an opportunity to strike a completely new path. they intensively made use of. Manuela Richter, responsible for the commercial First of all the pupils were provided apprentices, and Christian Graf, re- with an insight into what an apprentice- sponsible for the industrial-technical ship at HORSCH means and how it is apprentices, answered all questions organised, which requirements should concerning the topic apprenticeship. be met and what HORSCH attaches great importance to. The feedback to the event was so positive that this surely will not be the Then the pupils where shown around last HORSCH Apprenticeship Informa- the premises in small groups. They tion Day. learned more about the company’s his- tory and about the machines which are Guided factory tours gave the pupils an im- produced at Sitzenhof. After the factory pression of the company.
And it works !!! – The HORSCH Racing-Kart
hen visiting Prokart gine which was in rather good condi- brake parts. Gerhard Springs, head of Raceland in Wackersdorf tion. Production mechanics Thomas HR, organised the covering of the on the occasion of this Dobler and Roman Fleischmann over- bucket seat with a special HORSCH de- year’s apprentice excur- hauled the engine while construction sign. Thus, the Go-Kart was ready right Wsion the idea for a new HORSCH ap- mechanics Josef Hanauer and Peter on time to be shown on the occasion of prentice project was born: to build our Zenger manufactured the steering and the Open House at Sitzenhof. own HORSCH Go-Kart. At rather short notice the apprentices prepared an ex- cellent concept and thus they got the ok to start the project “HORSCH Go- Kart“. Jakob Landes (technical product designer) together with the production and construction mechanics prepared the drawings and the parts list. Based on these documents the commercial apprentices, Karin Tauer and Florian Oberndorfer, invited offers, ordered the raw material as well as purchased parts and gathered data for the calcu- lation. Step by step the kart took shape. A rather big problem – where to get an engine – solved itself: Alex Kiss, one of HORSCH’s long-time employees, do- nated an original Honda Go-Kart en- The HORSCH Go-Kart
41 terra Inside HORSCH
Check-In Days 2012
From 10th to 12th of September the new 2012 apprentices from all three German HORSCH sites met in Kloster Ensdorf near Sitzenhof for the first Check-In Days. The objective of these three days was to guarantee the ap- prentices a good start of their appren- ticeship and, of course, for the appren- tices to get to know each other.
There were three production me- chanics and one female process engi- neer coating technology from HORSCH Ronneburg and two construction me- chanics from HORSCH Industrietechnik. From HORSCH Leeb in Landau there were two industrial mechanics and from the headquarters in Schwandorf a total of 7 apprentices took part consisting of industrial management assistant, tech- nical product designer, production as well as construction mechanics.
First of all the 15 new apprentices Head of training Anton Grauvogl (1.left) and the training responsibles Manuela were shown around the premises in Richter (commercial, 4.right) and Christian Graf (technical, 1.right) with the new apprentices Schwandorf.
After lunch Manuela Richter from the HR department and responsible for techniques and with trainer Christian could be packed and “sold“ in a promo- the training of the commercial appren- Graf explaining the rights and duties tionally effective way. In the evening all tices asked for the objectives and expec- during their apprenticeship. In the af- current apprentices met for a barbecue. tations the young people had with re- ternoon the apprentices prepared and gard to the HORSCH Check-In days. then presented a draft for a team-mar- On the third day Christian Graf dealt Anton Grauvogl, head of training, in- keting concept. The objective of the in a more detailed way with the topic formed the young people about the exercise was to find out the strengths “Strengths and weaknesses“. Based on company’s mission statement and the and weaknesses and to think about how a questionnaire the apprentices pre- values according to which HORSCH em- to improve the quality of the team. In a pared a self-evaluation. Then everyone ployees live and work. The second day second step the team had to prepare was evaluated by a colleague. The last started with Manuela Richter introduc- the actual concept, how the existing step was to compare the self-evaluation ing the apprentices to presentation strengths could be used and how they to the evaluation made by the others. Thus, the young people were able to learn a lot about themselves.
Finally, all apprentices together pre- pared the presentation they had to give to the management board at Sitzenhof in the afternoon.
Excellently prepared they gave a summary to the members of the man- agement board. The latter were enthu- siastic with how much commitment and confidence the young people carried out the presentation.
Presentation for the management board
42 Service & Sales terra Czech Republic – our market with a long tradition
pril 1991: Near Pilsen, close to where the motorway is lead- ing to Prague, the HORSCH Seed-Exactor SE is presented Afor the first time. The machine is sowing spring barley, earth is flying away from the machine. A lot of spectators have come to witness this event. One pass and sowing is completed. The barley emerges at record speed. Due to this demonstration HORSCH sells almost one hundred Seed-Exactors in the Czech Re- Stagra Studená s.r.o.: Company building and premises public in the course of the next few years. cultural services. In the latter the range regard to trading with agricultural ma- Five years later - September 1996: On of activity mainly includes cultivation chinery. All salesmen dispose of their the occasion of a field day near Prague and sowing. Thus, year after year Stagra own practical experience. Thus, they the first Airseeder 6 CO is presented, a cultivates and sows several thousand know their customers‘ requirements tine seed drill with six meter working hectares. As their own fields are located and speak their language. width. Those present seriously doubt at about 500 to 650 meter above sea that such a large machine will work at level the contracting services do not in- Concerning the trading with agricul- all. The soil is wet and heavy. Conven- terupt the work on their own fields. For tural machines Stagra is highly special- tional seed drills get clogged as the almost everywhere in the Czech Repub- ised. HORSCH machines are their core ploughed soil sticks everywhere. The lic harvest and sowing is carried out con- products. coulters of the Airseeder, however, siderably earlier. loosen the stubble field only slightly, Lukrom the tractor easily pulls the machine and There are only a few dealers for agri- Lukrom s.r.o., too, has similar long- the self-cleaning effect of the tandem cultural machinery in the Czech Repub- term experiences as importer of HORSCH tyre packer is excellent. The machine lic who are able to carry out practical machines. Originally founded as a small provides a perfect result and hundreds field days on their own fields like Stagra agricultural trading company, Lukrom of curious spectators shake their heads does it. Here the visitors can experience has become an important company with in disbelief. The very same day the local population management on a very high a lot of subsidiaries. In addition, Lukrom dealer gets a large number of orders. level. For the agricultural company is also manages a few farms with plant one of the co-founders of the agricul- and animal production, including two Almost all presentations of HORSCH tural consulting company N.U. Agrar CZ. feed concentrate plants and the produc- novelties in the Czech Republic followed The soils of the farm are shallow with a tion of fruits and poultry are affiliated. this or a similar pattern. But HORSCH’s high amount of hard stones. Cultivating success on the Czech market is not only them, thus, is a real challenge with re- In the course of Lukrom‘s develop- due to the products, but in large part to gard to strength and wear resistance of ment the agricultural machinery trade the sales partners. any machine. This is the reason why al- has been outsourced in time as a sepa- most all HORSCH novelties are tested at rate branch. Especially from 1998 till Stagra the Stagra site, often even in their pre- 2005, years which were extremely diffi- Since 1993 Stagra Studená s.r.o has series stage. cult for the Czech farmers, this proved been importing HORSCH machines. The to be an enormous advantage. They company which is positioned near the The combination of their own farm were able to offer financing options to Austrian border is an agricultural farm and contracting business, is a vivid evi- their customers, among others on the as well as a trading firm providing agri- dence for the Stagra’s competence with basis of agricultural products.
4343 terra Service & Sales
But as the fertile areas of Eastern Bo- hemia where the cultivation of grain maize prevails are very close by, Agrokonzulta has established a second main pillar in the agricultural machinery trading sector.
On the extremely heavy soils espe- cially the heavy cultivators Tiger AS and MT and the single seed drill Maestro prove their skills. Due to the very tight cultivation windows the farmers want seed drills with large working widths like the Pronto 8 and 9 DC. Vertical cul- tivation and the cultivation of maize on ridges are also of great interest.
Already for quite a while the Horsch family has been managing a farm in the Czech Republic which is located in the Lukrom s.r.o.: Petr Kachník (head of sales) in front of the company headquarters (left) and in sales area of Agrokonzulta. A lot of new the spare parts store (bottom right). The company premises (top right). methods are tested there and this means an additional attraction for the customers. In the present agricultural market of the agricultural sector with any equip- the Czech Republic Lukrom is one of the ment for animal production as well as Pekass few competitors of the monopoly hold- with software for animal nutrition, data The most recent importer of HORSCH ing Agrofert. management and processing, project technology is the Prague-based com- documentation and counseling. pany Pekass a.s. The cooperation started Lukrom relies on a long-term and an as extensive as possible cooperation with the customers. In a customer satis- faction analysis that was carried out three years ago among the users of HORSCH technology the trading com- pany achieved excellent marks in the sectors service quality, delivery reliabil- ity for spare part deliveries and success- ful service interventions.
Agrokonzulta The area near Poland is extremely hilly, cattle breeding prevails. Thus, the original focus of Agrokonzulta Zamberk s.r.o. is on the production of forage as well as forage mixtures. In addition, the company provides their customers from
Agrokonzulta: Head of sales Petr Vaňous (left) and director Václav Kubín (right). The company premises (bottom).
44 Pekass a.s.: The team at the Techagro Show in Brno.
the immediate availability of spare parts and the professional service play a key Stagra Studená s.r.o role in the company’s strategy. The com- HORSCH sales men: 5 pany takes over a great many of admin- Service centres: 1 istrative services for their customers, like Internet: www.stagra.cz for example field sprayer check, emis- Lukrom s.r.o. sion control of tractors and other docu- HORSCH sales men: 5 mentations. Service centres: 1 Internet: www.lukrom.cz With regard to their range of prod- Agrokonzulta Zamberk s.r.o. ucts Pekass exclusively concentrates on HORSCH sales men: 5 the top manufacturers. Along with Service centres: 2 HORSCH the other important mainstays Internet: www.agrokonzulta.cz are Fendt and John Deere. In recent years the company grew rapidly and in- Pekass a.s. creased the number of service as well as HORSCH sales men: 11 of sales employees. Pekass is planning to Service centres: 5 invest even further in new sites being Internet: www.pekass.eu well aware of the fact that a top-service is one of the most important purchase criteria for the farmers.
Each of the four HORSCH importers in Quick facts: Czech Republic the Czech Republic has its own special Official language: Czech Capital: Prague Pekass a.s.: The company headquarters (top). focus as well as different experiences. It 2 Field day on the premises (bottom). is the innovative potential of HORSCH Total area: 79.000 km that they all have in common and that Agricultural area: 4.260.000 ha they all benefit from. The Czech farmers Population: 10.505.000 in 2005. Originally, this public limited are very open minded with regard to Population density: company dealt with selling municipal new procedures and methods. That is 130 inhabitants per km² technology and equipment for road why they keep an interested eye on the Government: construction. With nine sales and service new farm the HORSCH family has started Parliamentary republic sites Pekass has step by step established to manage recently and that right from Foundation: 1st January 1993 a strong position in selling agricultural the beginning has been organised ac- EU-membership: since 2004 machinery. Especially short distances, cording to state-of-the-art standards.
45 terra FITZ Training centre Strip cultivation for rape – targeted loosening, targeted fertilising
Strip cultivation technology for sowing rape and cereals has become established in the market in the course of the past two years. However, it still is discussed intensively. terraHORSCH presents the interim results of a current test with regard to strip cultivation, underground and deep fertilising in rape. The whole test period is five years. Currently, we are in the third cultivation year.
The test: Two days before sowing a second vator worked with the eight-centime- pass for stubble cultivation has been tre-wide standard coulter points. The The test “Strip cultivation for rape“ carried out with a HORSCH Terrano 3 FX. reason was that this plot 22 was to be is carried out at the site Sitzenhof (Ba- The three-bar cultivator was equipped drilled with a HORSCH Pronto 3 DC uni- varia, Germany). The rotation is winter with wing coulters and had been ad- versal seed drill as a reference for strip rape/winter wheat/silage maize/winter justed to a working depth of twelve cultivation and an additional pass had wheat. centimetre. This pass had become neces- become necessary to achieve equal con- sary as August 2011 was a month with ditions. The previous crop winter wheat was high rainfall and the drying of the sur- harvested under wet conditions and the face had to be speeded up. Plot 22 (ref- Rape was sown on 18th of August chopped straw was left on the field. For erence plot) has additionally been loos- 2011 under good, slightly too wet con- stubble cultivation a HORSCH Joker CT ened with the three-bar cultivator ditions. The sowing technology used was used at a working depth of six cen- HORSCH Terrano 3 FX at a depth of 22 was a HORSCH Pronto 3 DC and a timetres to speed up the first emer- cm. The wings of the MulchMix coulter HORSCH Focus 3 TD. With regard to the gence of the volunteer crops. system has been removed and the culti- variety we opted for the winter rape
46 Date Winter rape Activity Means Quantity Remark (500 g/kg Clomazone) plus 2.0 l/ha 02.08.2011 Harvest previous crop Quantum (600 g/l Pethoxamid). 03.08.0211 Stubble cultivation Joker 3 CT 6 cm Complete Slug pellets were also applied (3 kg/ 16.08.2011 Cultivation Terrano 3 FX 12 cm Complete ha Delicia slug lentils) as the risk of slugs Terrano 3 FX Cultivation 22 cm Only plot 22 without wings was quite considerable because of the 18.08.2011 Sowing Raps Dimension Versuchsplan Focus TD, Pronto DC wet conditions and the expected rain- Premium dressing fall. 19.08.2011 Herbicide Quantum 2,0 l/ha Broad-spectrum herbicide Echelon 150 g/ha Broad-spectrum herbicide All plots were fertilised to the same Delicia slug 19.08.2011 Molluscicide 3 kg/ha All plots level: 50 kg/ha N; 70 kg/ha P O ; 30 kg/ lentils 2 5 ha K O 19.08.2011 Fertilisation DAP Fertilisation of all plots to 2 SSA 50 N, 70 P,30 K Patentkali Field emergence and early growth of 15.09.2011 Herbicide Agil S 1,0 l/ha Volunteer crops the rape was very speedy and regular.
Fungicide Folicur 0,6 l/ha Phoma The quick and long development in au- Carax 0,6 l/ha Growth regulator tumn made a second shortening meas-
Insecticide Kararte Zeon 0,075 l/ha Rape flea ure necessary. The rape population with Bor liquid 0,8 l/ha all possible fertiliser variants was very 29.09.2011 Fungicide Carax 0,4 l/ha Post-shortening well developed at the beginning of win- ter. The start of the vegetation in Janu- 31.10.2011 Herbicide Kerb flo 1,25 l/ha All plots, brome grass ary and the very extreme frost season in 13.03.2012 Fertilisation ASS 25/12 3,0 dt/ha 75 kg/ha N; 36 kg/ha S February did not cause any damage to 23.03.2012 Insecticide Trebon 30 EC 0,3 l/ha Rape stem weevil the plant population. Fertilisation Bor liquid 2,0 l/ha 05.04.2012 Insecticide Plenum 50 WG 150 g/ha Blossom rape beetle After having applied the starter Fungicide Folicur 0,6 l/ha Shortening amount of nitrogen spring passed ex- Fungicide Carax 0,4 l/ha Shortening tremely well and the rape population Düngung Bor 1,0 l/ha developed excellently. The continuous 05.04.2012 Fertilisation KAS 2,0 dt/ha 54 kg/ha N all plots drought from beginning of February till 02.05.2012 Insecticide Biscaya 0,3 l/ha Blossom rape beetle end of April took a considerable toll on the rape population. At the end of this Insecticide Fastac SC 0,1 l/ha Fungicide Cantus Gold 0,3 l/ha stage differences at the plants could be noticed. The amount of rainfall from Fungicide Ortiva 0,5 l/ha end of April on was enough to achieve Fertilisation AHL 50 l/ha 18 kg/ha N an average yield for the site. Production technology rape 2011/2012
variety Dimension. The main reason for choosing this lodging-resistant and healthy variety was its rapid early growth and the fact that it is very suit- able for mulch seeding.
The seeding and fertilising variants were laid out according to the test plan. The loosening depth of the HORSCH Fo- cus 3 TD was set to 22 centimetre. Be- cause of the prevailing soil conditions deeper cultivation does not make any sense as otherwise subsoil is taken to the surface. The rape seed is placed at a depth of 1.5 centimetre to achieve a quick emergence under the sufficiently wet conditions.
Herbicides are applied immediately after sowing. We used: 150 g/ha Echelon Rape population on 11th of October 2012
47 terra FITZ Training centre
Fertiliser placement
Seed placement
Pronto DC PPF principle
Nr. Grains/ Depot N / ha P / ha K / ha S/ ha Adjusted lizer) with underground fertilisation (70 m² yield Remark dt/ha kg/ha ammonium sulphate + 100 kg/ha Di-ammonium phosphate + 100 kg/ha 1 15 0,7 SSA+1 DAP+1 Pkali 33 46 30 34 deep and shallow 50/50 37,4 Patentkali) achieved a yield of 3.52 t/ha 2 25 0,7 SSA+1 DAP+1 Pkali 33 46 30 34 deep and shallow 50/50 37,6 (plot 22). Underground fertilisation was 3 35 0,7 SSA+1 DAP+1 Pkali 33 46 30 34 deep 39,9 carried out 7.5 cm beside the row and 4 35 0,7 SSA+1 DAP+1 Pkali 33 46 30 34 shallow 40,9 eight centimetre below the seed. Com- 5 35 0,7 SSA+1 DAP+1 Pkali 33 46 30 34 deep and shallow 50/50 37,2 pared to that by using the HORSCH Fo- 6 35 0,8 KST+1 DAP+1 Pkali 33 46 30 17 deep 36,7 cus 3 TD with the same fertilisation a 7 35 0,8 KST+1 DAP+1 Pkali 33 46 30 17 shallow 38,9 yield of 4.09 t/ha could be achieved 8 35 0,8 KST+1 DAP+1 Pkali 33 46 30 17 deep and shallow 50/50 36,3 (variant 4). With the HORSCH Focus TD 9 35 1,5 DAP 27 70 deep 34,6 fertiliser can be placed in three different 10 35 1,5 DAP 27 70 shallow 36,6 ways: 11 35 1,5 DAP 27 70 deep and shallow 50/50 34,5 12 35 0,8 KST 16 deep 32,3 1. Deep: near the cultivation depth; 13 35 0,8 KST 16 shallow 35,1 in our case at approx. 20 cm 2. Shallow: underground fertilisa- 14 35 0,8 KST 16 deep and shallow 50/50 35,2 tion; approx five to ten centimetre de- 15 35 1,6 KST 32 deep 38,3 pending on the flow behaviour of the 16 35 1,6 KST 32 shallow 34,4 soil 17 35 1,6 KST 32 deep and shallow 50/50 37,0 3. Deep and shallow: a combination 18 35 2,5 KST 50 deep 36,0 of 1. and 2.; 50 per cent of the quantity 19 35 2,5 KST 50 shallow 36,1 are placed on each level 20 35 2,5 KST 50 deep and shallow 50/50 28,9 21 35 without 34,0 In general, when choosing the type 22 35 0,7 SSA+1 DAP+1 Pkali 33 46 30 34 Reference sowing 35,2 of fertiliser placement you have to de- technology cide how intensively the fertiliser is to SSA = Ammonium sulphate DAP = Di-ammonium phosphate Pkali= Patentkali KST = Calcium cyanamide
Harvest was carried out on 28th of July 2012 with a plot combine. Only the core of the individual plots was threshed. The area of the harvested core was 36 m2 per plot. In addition to the weight of the harvested crops we also recorded the humidity and the oil content.
The result The individual results shown in the chart have been adjusted to a grain moisture of nine percent. In the test the reference seed drill HORSCH Pronto 3 DC PPF (Precision Placement of Ferti- Pronto 3 DC PPF
48 Fertiliser placement: Deep
Seed placement
Fertiliser placement: Shallow
Seed placement
Fertiliser placement: 50% Deep Fertiliser placement: 50% Shallow Seed placement
Focus TD principle
stimulate the development of the young ammonium, potassium Thus, di-ammonium phosphate is rape plant. At early, advantageous sow- particularly suitable for placing ferti- ing conditions a “deep” fertiliser place- Nutrients with high attracting effect: liser. Combinations with ammonium sul- ment is recommended so that the devel- ammonium, phosphate (water-soluble phate provide a higher ration of nitro- opment of the rape plants is not phosphate) gen and additional sulphur which is stimulated too much. For normal seed dates it has proven its worth to split up the fertiliser quantity into “deep and shallow“ to continuously support the growth of the young rape plant. Under wet, cold conditions the “shallow” fert- liser placement variant should be cho- sen to quickly stimulate the rape plant right from the beginning to allow for a sufficient early growth in autumn.
In the test we tried different fertiliser combinations. To decide upon which fertiliser to use we took into account the suitability of the fertiliser for the placement of a fertiliser depot as well as the attracting effect of the nutrients on the plant root.
Nutrients that remain in the depot: HORSCH Focus 3 TD
49 terra FITZ Training centre
Assuming that by placing a depot the Precipitation concentration increases by a factor of three, the effect should be identical. 120 Summary: 100 Especially due to targeted loosen- 80 ing and targeted placement of ferti- liser strip cultivation for rape offers 60 several very interesting approaches mm/m2 to tap the yield potential even fur- 40 ther. 20 Choosing the right fertiliser is as crucial as the right placement level. 0 The HORSCH Focus TD offers three different variants to place the ferti- Aug 11Sep 11 Oct 11 Nov 11Dec 11 Jan 12 Feb 12 Mar 12Apr 12 May 12June 12July 12 liser: deep, shallow, deep and shal- low. Weather station Sitzenhof (August 2011 till July 2012) Fertiliser should be chosen with regard to the available form of nutri- necessary on a lot of sites. For sites with problems with cabbage clubroot or scle- ents (ammonium-containing respec- a need for potassium respectively with rotinia the placement of calcium cyana- tively phosphate-containing fertiliser potassium fixation it is possible to add mide fertilisers can have very favourable or a combination of both are espe- potassic fertiliser to the depot fertilisa- effects. The site Sitzenhof is not a risk cially suitable). tion. In our example we used Patentkali site with regard to cabbage clubroot The test description shows an in- to provide the plant additionally with and sclerotinia. Thus, you cannot gener- terim result with very interesting ap- magnesium. ate any yield effects by placing calcium proaches. With regard to fertiliser cyanamide. The variants have been cho- and fertiliser forms we are still work- What surely is of high interest for sen in such a way that the recommended ing intensively to achieve an opti- some sites is the fertiliser variant with quantity of 250 kg/ha calcium cyana- mum of fertiliser efficiency. calcium cyanamide. Especially in case of mide is in direct comparison to 80 kg/ha. THE FUTURELeeb IN PLANT PROTECTION GS 8000 IS HAPPENING TODAY
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