AGRO SHOW 2019 – summary of demonstrations of machines at work.

The exhibition was held on 19-22.09.2019 on the area of Bednary airport. Favourable weather conditions allowed all participants to get familiar with the extensive offer of machines presented by exhibitors. What was the great advantage of this event was the fact that its visitors had an occasion to participate in the demonstrations of sprayers, as well as the aggregates aimed for soil cultivation, seeding and application of fertilisers? The additional attraction of the show was an opportunity to watch movies presenting equipment in operation.

            Precision farming is not a distant future plan any more, but it is reality, more and more frequently observed on the fields. This is a well-known fact for sprayer manufacturers. In the show held in the course of the exhibition 11 such devices were presented (manufactured by the companies Agrio MZS ś.o.r., Amazonen – Werke H. Dreyer GmbH&Co.KG, Bury Maszyny Rolnicze, Fendt, Hardi Polska, Herbert Damman GMBH, John Deere Polska Sp. z o.o, Kubota, Kuhn – Maszyny Rolnicze Sp. z o.o., Kverneland Group Polska Sp. z o.o., Unia Sp. z o.o.). Both mobile, and attached sprayers were presented, dedicated to family-owned farms, and also aimed for large-area plantations. Numerous technical parameters of presented machines attracted great attention among the visitors. One could observe the solutions aimed at lowering consumption of spraying liquid, reduction of drops being drifted by the wind, lowering consumption of plant protection agents and substantial increase in efficiency of operation. Manufacturers of sprayers took into account such solutions in the structure of their products, as fast filling system or turning traction system SafeTruck. What attracted attention of visitors were also such technical parameters, as the system of maintaining of the set boom height by means of ultrasound sensors Boom Guide Pro Activ or ENFO system for filling the boom before spraying and its rinsing after the procedure. What is a worth noting tendency in case of numerous machines are the systems allowing for automatic section control.  One could also observe variable dosing of plant protection agents based on the field map, drop size monitoring, and the control system of liquid volume in the tank. Manufacturers also pay their attention to the necessity of minimising failure frequency of the offered devices. This is confirmed, among others, by the idea consisting in equipping a sprayer with pumps resistant to operation of liquid fertilisers, and able to operate in dry mode, without risk of damage. Among the presented solutions one could also observe ideal positioning of the boom and subsoil tracking function. Presented technical novelties also included the systems that maintain arms at a required distance from the area being sprayed, and also an option of deactivation of the section by means of the GPS. Attention was paid to parameters of the respective water diluters, and to the possibility of wheel spacing adjustment. Attention was paid to technology allowing to control pressure and drop size in broad scope of machine travelling speed. Equipment was also presented, provided with the system allowing for stopping of mixing before the tank is empty, which prevents foam formation. Manufacturers also took into account the fact that efficacy of a conducted procedure depends on numerous parameters of spraying liquid, which is confirmed, among others, by equipment of a machine with a pH indicator, showing the current pH value and liquid temperature. Attention was drawn to the additional LED lighting of the spraying boom, being a great facilitation during night performance of procedures.

            Participants of the show had a chance to observe operating machines, both with all spraying sections turned on, and also on the fragments where the respective sections were off. Such solutions ideally fit in the concept of precision farming. Elimination of the problem of overlapping of spraying liquid allows for saving of plant protection agents, and also for increase in consumers’ safety.

            During the second demonstration the visitors had an opportunity to watch the operation of nine units, aimed both for strip till, seeding into mulch, direct seeding, as well as deep soil cultivation (manufactured by the companies Agro – Masz Paweł Nowak, Agro – Tom Tomasz Kaniewski, Czajkowski Maszyny Sp. z o.o., Farmet a.s., Kuhn – Maszyny Rolnicze Sp. z o.o., Maschio – Gaspardo Poland Sp. z o.o.). What attracted great interest in this case were the units for strip till. In the structure of these machines such solutions could be found as a seeding attachment PS, allowing for use of any point seeder or planter, and what is connected with it, allowing for strip till or planting of a broad spectrum of plant species. Attention was paid to an option of preparation of soil for seeding with simultaneous application of even two fertilisers and seeding.  In case of the units aimed both for soil cultivation and for seeding, such solutions attracted attention as an option of use of the application allowing for seeder control. What attracted great attention was also the possibility to seed two plants during one passage, with simultaneous application of fertilisers. The technologies applied in case of machines also allow for short standstill needed for loading and for quick turning back. Machine equipment with electric drive of seeding units met with interest, as well as the computer-operated system of seeding management. One of the solutions presented with erosion prevention in mind was the possibility of soil opening and mixing without its revering, leaving the harvesting remains on the surface. Attention was drawn to the universal character of presented devices, which may be confirmed by adjustment of a seeder both to seeding after ploughing, and to plough-free technologies, and additionally, there is also an option of simultaneous seeding of mineral fertilisers. Among the presented machines one could observe such devices that operate effectively also with large amount of straw on the field surface.  Attention was paid to solutions allowing for precise technological paths. What was most interesting for the visitors observing the operation of a stubble unit for deep soil cultivation was the comprehensive soil cultivation in one passage and also efficient mixing of harvesting remains. After completion of this part all persons gathered could closely watch what the level of remains was after passage of the respective machines.

            During the second show the greatest attention was paid to such aspects of equipment operation as limitation of evaporation from soil, necessity to take care of microbiological life in the soil or erosion prevention. One also did not forget about the option of limiting of the number of passages, which on one hand, allows for time and fuel cost saving, and on the other hand, in case of long-lasting unfavourable atmospheric conditions – for good and effective use of short period of good weather.

            Such a detailed familiarisation with the method of operation of the respective devices could provide a precious indicator for numerous farmers, allowing them to choose adequate machines. The area covering a number of hectares where the show was held allowed for precise analysis of operation of the machines.

This year provided the first possibility for the visitors to observe machines in operation from stands, which were filled to the every last place during each of planned shows. In addition, music and professional comments by presenters completed the demonstrations. Undoubtedly, this year’s machine demonstrations were a very successful element of the AGRO SHOW and definitely a strong point of the exhibition programme.