Comparative demonstrations will take place on the key topics of crop protection sprayers, mineral fertilizer spreaders, sensor technology for precision farming Seed drills for cereals and steering and data management systems and, new for 2018, mechanical weed control. Many of the demonstrations will have live commentaries, which will mostly be in German.

Comparative demonstrations

The comparative demonstrations will be carried out as follows –

• DLG Track 1:
  Crop protection spraying in practice at 10:00 and 15:45
• DLG Track 2:
  Mineral fertilizer spreading in practice, and
  Sensor technology for precision farming at 11:00 and 14:45
• DLG Track 3:
  Mechanical weed control at 12:00 and 14:00

Individual exhibitor demonstrations

The live presentations of machinery will take place behind the participating exhibitor's stands between 09:00-12:30 and again from 13:30-18:00. The topics covered this year are:

• Seeding techniques for cereal crops
• Steering and data management systems for tractors

A total of 62 demonstration teams will be presenting daily, supplementing the diverse range of information already offered by the DLG-Feldtage 2018.

This year's DLG-Feldtage will also host the DLG Special Feature  that will focus on using manure and fermentation residues efficiently, which will provide another important information platform. In terms of content, the special feature is aimed initially at all livestock farms or operators of biogas plants and contractors, but it will also be of interest to arable farmers who can find out more about the quality and availability of nutrients supplied by organic fertilizers, and the other benefits of using manure in their production systems.

DLG Track 1 – Practical comparison of crop protection sprayer machinery

Crop protection remains one of the most important and central measures for successful crop production, but generating healthy crops and, at the same time, high yields and quality are expected to become even more challenging in the future. It is necessary to apply active ingredients precisely to their site of action in increasingly narrower time windows. Trends in sprayer design include bigger, faster, wider machines, with the ability to operate at reduced application rates.

Against this background, there is an increasing need for crop sprayers to be even more precise in terms of application. Accurate nozzle control and automated switching on and off (also at the headland), while taking account of wind direction, may improve placement precision and reduce the usage of crop protection products.

Nozzle lighting and automatic nozzle monitoring are also more important, as are systems for automated steering and boom guidance.

The demonstration track for field sprayers at this year's DLG-Feldtage is again sophisticated and will allow visitors a good opportunity to compare the systems on the market. First, the sprayers will be driven at 6 to 8 km/hr across a section of obstacles that places extreme demands on boom stability and balance, which will demonstrate the suspension and damping properties of the sprayer's boom or chassis. This section of the route can be travelled with activated automatic linkage guidance so it can be seen how the linkage manages the section with as little vibration as possible.

Right after the headland turn, an obstacle is in place that must be avoided. And the final test will them demonstrate how well the automatic booms on trailed and self-propelled sprayers follow the natural contours of the land while travelling at a speed of 12 km/hr. The working speeds of the sprayers will be measured and displayed to visitors during the demonstration.

Exhibitors presenting solutions in this area include:

• AGCO Germany GmbH – Fendt, Marktoberdorf, Germany
• Agrifac Machinery B.V., Steenwijk, The Netherlands
• Agrio s.r.o., Kremze, Czech Republic
• AMAZONEN-WERKE H. Dreyer GmbH & Co. KG, Hasbergen-Gaste, Germany
• CHD EEFING, TE Ter Apel, The Netherlands
• Herbert Dammann GmbH Plant Protection Technology, Buxtehude-Hedendorf, Germany
• HARDI GmbH, Wedemark, Germany
• HORSCH Maschinen GmbH, Schwandorf, Germany
• John Deere Sales, Bruchsal, Germany
• Kverneland Group Germany GmbH, Soest, Germany
• LEMKEN GmbH & Co. KG, Alpen, Germany
• Pool Agri, Vroomshoop, The Netherlands

DLG Track 2 – Mineral fertilizer spreaders and sensor technology for precision farming

Placing fertilizer accurately is a vital requirement of today's granular fertilizer spreaders, whether they employ spinning discs or pneumatic application systems, so they meet both the desire of businesses to reduce costs and fall into line with environmental demands. Future developments will increase this precision, both in headland areas and where the field shape demands applying fertilizer in a wedge-shaped area. Visitors to the DLG-Feldtage will be able to see what is available today and what features could be offered in the future. Five of the machines shown will also be equipped with an N-sensor.

High yields and consistent quality in crop production can only be achieved if fertilizer applications are adapted to the nutrient requirements of the plants and are distributed evenly and precisely on the areas to be fertilized. Uneven fertilizer distribution leads to yield impairments.

In the first round of the comparison demonstration at the DLG-Feldtage, the spreaders will show how they perform boundary and water-border spreading. While they operate live, the spreading pattern can be observed by visitors.

Then, the spreader will turn and makes its way back through the crop. Although the spreaders will not be operating at this point, a display on the tractor roof will indicate the fertilizer application rate that the respective sensor or application rate map recommends. Meanwhile, the boundary spreading will be evaluated and the results presented on an LED screen.

Exhibitors presenting solutions in these areas include –
Mineral fertilizer spreaders:

• AMAZONEN-WERKE H. Dreyer GmbH & Co. KG, Hasbergen-Gaste, Germany
• BOGBALLE A/S, Uldum, Denmark
• BREDAL, Gnutz, Germany
• Kverneland Group Germany GmbH, Soest, Germany
• KUBOTA Germany, Rodgau, Germany
• GMB Güstrower Maschinenbau, Güstrow, Germany
• RAUCH Landmaschinenfabrik GmbH, Sinzheim, Germany
• Professional agriculture, Donnersdorf, Germany

Sensor technology for precision farming:

• Agri Con GmbH, Ostrau, Germany
• Claas Vertriebsgesellschaft mbH, Harsewinkel, Germany
• Farm Facts GmbH & Co. KG, Pfarrkirchen, Germany
• Fritzmeier Umwelttechnik GmbH, Großhelfendorf, Germany
• Topcon Precision Agriculture Europe, Tres Cantos, Spain

DLG Track 3 – Mechanical weed control

Changing legal requirements for farmers, for example restrictions on the use of crop protection chemicals, introduced partly because of increasing resistance to active ingredients, but also because of changed social demands, have resulted in increasing interest in mechanical weed control and different physical processes for dealing with them.

Now being used in both organic and conventional crops, mechanical weeders tend to follow either a harrow or tine design concept. Modern weeding hoes, in particular, are often equipped with state-of-the-art digital technology that controls where the hoe makes contact with the soil. Automatic row guidance not only relieves the driver, but also enables higher working speeds to be used without compromising high precision.

The automation of weed control even extends to field robots, although only a few models are available on the market so far. Field robots are expected to become viable for smaller farms in the very near future, and the fact that the technology is scalable makes it an exciting prospect for farms of all sizes.

As part of the mechanical weed control comparisons at DLG-Feldtage, six modern hoes for weed control in sugar beet will be presented for the first time. In addition, two tine harrows will show how they manage weed control in a cereal crop.

Participating companies (hoe harrows):

• Kongskilde Agriculture, Albertslund, Denmark
• K.U.L.T. Kress, Vaihingen an der Enz, Germany
• Schmotzer, Bad Windsheim, Germany
• Volmer pvactiv (Garford Robocrop), Geseke, Germany
• Pool Agri, Vroomshoop, The Netherlands
• Plow Masonry GmbH Kappel-Grafenhausen, Germany

Participating companies (tine harrows):

• APV - Technical Products, Dallein, Austria
• K. Wallner Maschinen-Bau und Handel, Roßbach-Münchsdorf, Germany

Seeding techniques for cereal crops

Cereal growers are all seeking more ways to optimize production, so it is not surprising that current development trends in sowing technologies include increasing efficiency and precision. Seed drills should be as easy to operate as possible, so the use of electronic control systems is increasing. The spectrum of developments ranges from improved features, such as tramlines and calibration devices, to variable electrical seed metering drives and sensors for controlling seed flow, and all the way to GPS-supported, site-specific sowing.

Seed drills with wider working widths and larger seed, and often fertilizer, tanks are now appearing on the market in Europe, and if the new technology also allows higher working speeds, then productivity increases to an even greater extent.

The seed drill demonstrations at DLG-Feldtage will be presented by individual exhibitors on their demo plots.

Exhibitors presenting solutions in this area include:

• Alois Pöttinger Maschinenfabrik Ges. MbH, Grieskirchen, Austria
• AMAZONEN-WERKE H. Dreyer GmbH & Co. KG, Hasbergen-Gaste, Germany
• Claydon, Hornmühlen; Gebrüder Peiffer GmbH & Co. KG, Germany
• Güttler GmbH, Kirchheim-Teck, Germany
• HORSCH Maschinen GmbH, Schwandorf, Germany
• Kongskilde Agriculture, Albertslund, Denmark
• Köckerling GmbH & Co. KG Landmaschinenfabrik, Verl, Germany
• Kverneland Group Germany GmbH, Soest, Germany
• KUBOTA Germany, Rodgau, Germany
• KUHN Maschinen-Vertrieb GmbH, Schopsdorf, Germany
• LEMKEN GmbH & Co. KG, Alpen, Germany
• Mzuri-Agro, Poland
• VÄDERSTAD GmbH, Derwitz, Germany

Steering and data management systems for tractors

Automated steering systems are a major innovation that has achieved widespread adoption in just a few years. Demand for the system on tractors is increasing especially in the middle and lower power bands. The systems have a range of benefits including comfort, efficiency and precision, in addition to being environmentally friendly. Work can also be carried out late in the evening and at night in most cases. Through reduced workload, driver fatigue can be reduced, which means the driver is able to focus his energy on his work and optimizing productivity.

Effective steering and data management not only makes working in crop production more precise, it is also made easier. Data management systems are enabling many farmers to optimize the regulation and control of machines, logistics, documentation, quality assurance and traceability. The systems should not only support the farmer in the field, but also in the office at his work.

Hardly any other technical innovation has found its way into practice within such a short space of time, and at DLG-Feldtage the exhibitor demonstrations will offer farmers a unique overview of current systems available.

Exhibitors presenting solutions in this area include:

• AGCO Germany GmbH – Fendt, Marktoberdorf, Germany
• AGCO Germany GmbH – Massey Ferguson, Marktoberdorf, Germany
• AGCO Germany GmbH – Valtra, Marktoberdorf, Germany
• CLAAS Vertriebsgesellschaft mbH, Harsewinkel, Germany
• JCB Germany, Cologne, Germany
• John Deere Sales, Bruchsal, Germany
• KUHN Maschinen-Vertrieb GmbH, Schopsdorf, Germany
• Müller Electronics GmbH & Co. KG, Salzkotten, Germany
• CNH / New Holland Germany GmbH, Heilbronn, Germany
• CNH / Case IH, Heilbronn, Germany
• Reichhardt GmbH control technology, Hungen, Germany
• SBG Innovative BV / Raven Europe, The Netherlands
• SAME DEUTZ-FAHR GERMANY GmbH, Lauingen, Germany
• Topcon, Tres Cantos, Spain

Machinery demonstrations overview:

Morning timetable 

Afternoon timetable