Precision, versatility and efficiency – Avatar LC
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In Lithuania, Simonas Barzda relies on innovative solutions to farm his fields efficiently. The farmer explains why he chose the Avatar LC and what role the machine plays for him.
Simonas Barzda, a farmer in the Panevėžys region in northern Lithuania, is the third generation to run a 1,200 ha farm. “There are many farms in our region – from small to large, professional farms that are competitive at a European and a global level,” he says. The farmer mainly grows winter wheat, winter rapeseed and beans as well as caraway, winter vetch, oilseed radish, red clover for seed production and grain maize. He attaches major importance to a sophisticated crop rotation that is adapted to the specific conditions of each field.
A few years ago, the farm still worked exclusively conventionally. Today, Simonas Barzda relies on minimum tillage, combines NoTill and StripTill technologies and takes steps towards regenerative farming. Direct seeding is an important element of his system: “For me, direct seeding is a very practice-oriented method and increasingly becomes the main seeding method on the farm.”
Well-proven technology
He has clear requirements on the technology used: “Our soils are very heterogeneous, and the weather can cause extreme conditions. You need machines that work flexibly and precisely.” Before deciding on a new machine, he rented the Avatar SD and tested it in a wide variety of conditions. “We wanted to be sure that the investment pays off. Once we had a very tall catch crop that we first had to mulch and cultivate with a disc harrow before we were able to sow. At the same time, we seeded part of the field directly with the Avatar SD and the yield was identical. That convinced me.“
Based on this experience, he opted for the Avatar LC. “For me, the LC is an upgrade of the SD. It offers a larger hopper capacity and new technical features that allow for greater efficiency and flexibility,” Simonas Barzda explains. "The large hopper capacity of 9,400 l means fewer filling stops. Some of our fields are far away from the farm, and with the large hopper, we can cultivate them in one pass which saves time and logistics." The combination of a triple tank (50:15:35) and an optional MiniDrill allows for applying up to four components in a single pass.
“At first, the machine seemed large and complex, but after testing it, we realised that the traction requirement is reasonable and that technologies such as AutoForce and RowControl facilitate work considerably. Seed placement was precise, and even with high crop residues, the machine worked reliably,” Simonas Barzda reports.
"With the Avatar LC, I can optimally implement my idea of direct seeding. For me, it is the technologically most advanced seed drill that can be adapted to different soils, crops and conditions and helps to save resources with precision and efficiency." The versatility of the Avatar LC also is shown by the fact that it is not only ideal for direct seeding but can also be used for mulch seeding and seeding with the offset method.
Innovation and sustainability
This flexibility and performance are particularly important in view of future challenges. “Innovations are crucial to remain competitive while protecting the soil and the environment. I believe that the climate change will have an even greater impact on agriculture in the Baltic region. Farmers will increasingly have to deal with soil processes and techniques such as direct seeding.” In his opinion, the Avatar LC is exactly the right tool for this task as it combines efficiency, versatility and power.
Simonas Barzda’s Avatar LC is equipped with the well-known SingleDisc single disc coulter with a row spacing of 25 cm. The new NarrowDisc coulter which ensures high-precision seed placement with a row spacing of 20 cm will also be presented at the Agritechnica.