Practical Field Days in England: soil, technology, exchange

Every two years, customers from different countries come together at an arable farm for the Practical Field Days to discuss current topics, see new machines and learn more about arable farming strategies.

This year, the event took place in England for the first time - a deliberate decision with the intention to provide a view of future challenges in arable farming. In the course of four weeks, about 500 customers from all over the world took part in the events. They gained insights into the special agronomic characteristics of the location, exchanged ideas and discussed current topics together.

At the location near Cambridge, many of the problems that are becoming increasingly common in Central Europe are already a reality: wet seeding conditions and an increasing exposure to weeds. Thus, machines and processes that were developed precisely for these requirements can be tested in these conditions - ideal conditions not only to demonstrate technology, but also to discuss practical solutions. The event was hosted by the farm of James Peck who has been using HORSCH technology and Controlled Traffic Farming (CTF) on around 5,000 hectares for many years. With fixed tracks and targeted tillage, soil structure and bearing capacity are to be maintained - especially in wet conditions.

Practical demonstrations

The agenda was dominated by arable farming topics. Particularly impressive was a winter wheat population that had been drilled with an Avatar 12.25 SD in very difficult conditions. Despite the unfavourable conditions, the Avatar ensured an even placement which is now evident in the population and impressed the visitors.

On another field, a random comparison between three seeding methods was shown: a Serto 12 SC with PowerDisc double disc coulter, a Sprinter 12 SW with WideEdge coulter and a Finer with attached seed kit. The combination allowed for a clear comparison between different placement systems - from simple to high-precision - and was discussed intensively by the participants.

In addition to the arable topics, 14 machines were presented - including tried-and-tested models and innovations. The highlights were the new Fortis 5.4 LT, the new Finer 8 XL and the pneumatic fertiliser spreader Leeb Xeric with 36 m boom. In a live demonstration, the Xeric and a Leeb 6.230 VT were used at speeds of 20 km/h to show the boom control system in realistic conditions.

The Practical Field Days above all offered room for exchanging ideas and experiences. Topics like weed management and dealing with difficult weather conditions were discussed intensively. The focus was not only on the presentation of new technology, but also on the dialogue with farmers from various markets to find out more about current challenges and required solutions.