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Survey & Tests

Continental NightViu LED work lights turn night into day

By Andreas Horn, DLG Test Center Technology and Farm Inputs

LED headlights promise a multiple of light output, which can make work in the dark much easier for the driver. However, there is a wide range of products on the market. The DLG test center has put the Continental NightViu LED work lights through their paces.

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Well mixed: Slurry from cattle and pigs

By Dr Frank Volz, DLG Test Center Technology and Farm Inputs

Combined slurries with different compositions and varying textures are on the rise. The DLG has reacted to this demand from practice and adapted the DLG test framework for nutrient measurement using near-infrared sensors (NIR sensors).

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EVO NIR 4.0: Expanded spectrum of applications

By Dr. Ulrich Rubenschuh, DLG Test Centre for Technology and Farm inputs

Already during the first measurements, the NIR sensor from Dinamica Generale was able to achieve recognition for the total nitrogen content in pig slurry. With version 4.0, new software versions and calibration models are now being used - with a significantly wider range of functions.

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Powerful control for slurry technology

By Dr Frank Volz, DLG, and Dr Ulrich Rubenschuh, DLG Test Centre for Technology and Farm Inputs

At the beginning of 2022, the Bauer Group joined the CCI (Compence Center Isobus) with the brands BSA and Eckart. In addition to the Isobus control of the liquid manure barrels, a near-infrared sensor (NIRS) was also directly integrated into the system. DLG tested the Signo ID 4.2 with the calibration model 6.0.1. from the company BSA GmbH.

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Economic milk production: Ensuring udder health

By Dr Michael Eise, DLG Test Centre for Technology and Farm Inputs

A consistently high level of herd health is a guarantee for the profitability of a dairy farm. In particular, the prevention of udder infections is crucial here, because mastitis can lead to high financial burdens. The use of udder hygiene products with the DLG quality mark is an important building block here.

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Claas CEMOS tractor: Assistance system beats experience

By Georg Horst Schuchmann, DLG Test Center Technology and Farm Inputs

Can an assistance system with its stored measurement data and algorithms adjust a tractor-cultivator combination better than an experienced tractor driver? The DLG Test Centre compared the recommendations of the Claas CEMOS assistance system and manual adjustment in terms of specific fuel consumption and area output.

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Amazone seeding technology: Precision in the field

By G. H. Schuchmann, DLG Test Centre Technology and Farm Inputs

Field emergence, longitudinal plant distribution and lateral fertiliser distribution - in DLG tests of precision air seeding equipment, the quality of work is closely scrutinised. In the DLG test, the 6-row maize seeder Precea 4500-2CC Super from Amazone, equipped with PreTeC sowing units, was examined.

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Bale density measurement: Non-destructive screening

By Dr Frank Volz, DLG Test Center Technology and Farm Inputs

Determining the density distribution in round and square bales with high resolution is one thing, but only the mobile density test stand of the DLG Test Centre can carry out these measurements non-destructively and thus also repeatably. We present the testing possibilities.

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Stenon FarmLab: Spade analysis of soil samples

By Dr Frank Volz, DLG Test Center Technology and Farm Inputs

In order to be able to control fertilisation and plant nutrition, there is no getting around soil analysis. The Stenon FarmLab promises the necessary values almost in real time - instead of taking time-consuming samples, a kind of spade is simply stuck into the soil.

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Slurry spreading: Optimal cross-distribution

By Georg Horst Schuchmann, DLG Test Center Technology and Farm Inputs

The challenge is clear: in low-emission, ground-level slurry application, the slurry must be distributed evenly to all outlets. And this is independent of the working width, which on the market ranges from less than 6 m for small booms to up to 36 m for large booms. With the latter, several distribution systems are then needed in parallel to supply the up to 120 hoses.

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DLG Practise Monitor: Front loader remains No. 1

By Dr Frank Volz, DLG Test Center Technology and Farm Inputs

What technology do leading farmers rely on when it comes to loading and unloading, lifting and clearing away? The current DLG-PraticeMonitor shows: In agriculture you can't avoid the front loader, but other loading technology is noticeably on the rise.

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John Deere 9800 forage harvester: Powerful and economical

By G. H. Schuchmann, DLG Test Centre Technology and Farm Inputs

While the maize sowing is in the starting blocks, it is time to think about the subsequent harvest. With the 9000 series, John Deere has expanded its forage harvester generation with a second series. The 870 hp version was tested by DLG in maize on high-yield sites in northern Italy.

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ExxonMobil lubricant combination: Combining well to save fuel

By Sander Schwick, DLG Test Centre for Technology and Farm Inputs

Some consider them to be a hoax, others praise the effects to the skies. Do special oils only benefit the manufacturer or also the farmer? The DLG Test Centre compared a lubricant combination from ExxonMobil with standard mineral oils.

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Vredestein tyres in long-term test - Wear under real conditions

By Niels Conradi, DLG Test Center Machinery & Inputs

With ever more transport tasks on the road, the cost factor “tyres” becomes increasingly important in agricultural work.  Decisive in this context is wear resistance and associated tyre replacement intervals. The DLG Test Center compared the performance of Vredestein tyres in tests.

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Self-propelled machines - Driver safety first

Thilo Keunecke and Maik Dubielski, DLG Test Center for Technology and Farm Inputs

Self-propelled machines must be designed so that the operator is protected from falling parts or in case of tipping over or rolling over. We provide an overview of how difficult it is to implement this test on a piping and drilling machine weighing 100 tonnes.

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DLG Testing Framework for Elastic Floor Coverings

By Dr Harald Reubold, DLG Test Center for Technology and Farm Inputs

The DLG Test Center has set national and international standards for many years with its regular tests of floor coverings. Now the laboratory tests have been integrated in the Germany Industrial Standard 3763 and also affect the international standardisation for floor coverings in animal husbandry.

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Video: Shell Fuels and Lubricants – Better Performance, less Consumption

By Frank Volz, DLG Test Center Technology and Farm Inputs

Fuels and lubricants are the lifeblood of your machinery. The DLG Test Center has quantified how Shell premium fuels and lubricants perform better than standard products in terms of Total cost of Ownership savings, performance and operational reliability in a specially developed series of DLG-PowerMix-tests.

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The development of tractor testing: DLG PowerMix

By Frank Volz, DLG Test Center Technology and Farm Inputs

Tractor performance tests have existed since 1920. In 2015 the DLG saluted the future of testing with its investment in the worldwide unique rolling testbed. The test procedure is explained here, including results from the New Holland T6.180 Dynamic Command tractor tested in the system.

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CLAAS NIR sensor for forage harvesters

By Georg Horst Schuchmann, DLG Test Center Technology and Farm Inputs

Whether with combine, slurry tanker or forage harvester: applying near-infrared spectrometry on materials being handled enables continual assessment in real time for nearly all constituents – depending only on the calibration curve applied. Claas has presented for testing by the DLG a sensor for measuring moisture content in grass harvested for ensiling. 

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Tractor model descriptions: No standardised information

By Niels Conradi, DLG Test Center Technology and Farm Inputs

Against the widely held assumption, precise performance of tractors cannot be worked out directly from the model designation. Here, we explain the differences to help you avoid buying a tractor with the wrong power output for the job you have in mind.

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Kuhn Universal seed drill Espro 6000 R: Precisely drilled

By Georg Horst Schuchmann, DLG Test Center Technology and Farm Inputs

With seed drills, differences between target values and those actually achieved in operation should be as small as possible. This applies, for example, to seed metering accuracy, lateral distribution i.e. quantity differences between the individual coulters, or placement depth. With the Kuhn Espro seed drill, every aspect was carefully checked at the DLG Test Center.

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Self-propelled vertical feed mixer wagon Siloking Selfline: Drives itself (almost)

Dr Harald Reubold, DLG Test Center Technology and Farm Inputs

Cattle feeding cannot be imagined nowadays without feed mixer wagons. And the question arising with every investment, especially in an expanding enterprise, is: »Tractor driven or self-propelled?«  A self-propelled machine from Siloking has been subjected to a comprehensive working performance test at the DLG Test Center.

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Older topics

Dairy farming management: Animal health has highest priority

By Dr Achim Schaffner

Milk producers in Europe face challenges following two drought years impacting forage crop harvests. Management is therefore increasingly in focus.

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Arable farming in Europe: Farm business expectations mixed

By Dr Achim Schaffner

The plentiful wheat harvest worldwide increased grain reserves and put pressure on prices. To this background, crop growers surveyed in Europe expect on the whole average business development in the coming 12 months.

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Huber Technik Vertriebs GmbH: Time and time again…

Dr Michael Eise, Dr Harald Reubold, DLG Test Center Technology and Farm Inputs

In manufacturing of highest product quality the special challenge lies, above all, in avoiding negative exceptions to high standards. For this reason, quality management systems have been introduced and used to manage the appropriate procedures. Huber Technik Vertriebs GmbH allowed the DLG to assess whether such a system was practical in everyday production.

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Slurry: Separation succeeds

By Susanne Gäckler, DLG Test Center Technology and Farm Inputs

Aqua Vivendi slurry separation system MoRoPlant 20: The degree of separation with manure slurry from feeding pigs and dairy cows achievable by the MoRoPlant 20 system is very convincing. Here, we summarise the results.

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Trends in pig farming

By DLG

Pig farmers need innovations to further develop their animal husbandry. In the international comparison pig farmers set different priorities.

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Management methods in dairy production

By DLG

Higher basic feed performance, healthier animals, efficient feed use – numerous parameters determine the economic success of milk production. Milk producers from different regions around the world set different priorities in the management of their herds.

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Graphic of the month: Regular use of digital tools in farming

By DLG

Digitalisation offers abundant opportunities for agriculture in production and contributes to meeting the requirements of society. Digitalisation offers possibilities for successfully combining productivity, animal friendliness, information management and sustainable use of natural resources. Requirement for the successful use of digital instruments is the digital competence of the users. It is met in most cases, especially in the young generation of farm. Now potential users have to be convinced of the benefits.

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Further development of cultivation methods in agriculture

By DLG

Cash crop producers in Europe face challenges such as increasing resistance of grass weeds to active ingredients of chemical pesticides, increasing disease pressure due to narrow crop rotation with more winter-planted crops. Agriculture needs to regain more stability to secure yields. DLG-Agrifuture Insights shows the starting points of the cash cop producers.

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Country Report China: Dairy Cattle Farming

By DLG

China's milk market is still characterised by extensive imports. Since the melanin scandal in 2008/09, Chinese milk producers have been increasing production, however this increase is not keeping pace with the growing demand. So Dairy cattle farmers are still focusing on improving genetics, building up stock and improving feed quality.

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Thai farmers optimistic about business development

The majority of farmers in Thailand are satisfied with the current business environment and assess the current business environment with cautious optimism.

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Securing profitability a central topic for Thai farmers

As far as investment confidence is concerned, Thailand is at the top compared to other countrie. Sixty-seven percent of the cash crop producers surveyed in Thailand intend to invest in the coming 12 months.

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Milk production in Brazil: signs are pointing to growth

Milk producers currently have to contend with an economic environment that tends to be difficult and is marked by falling producer prices and rising production costs. Nevertheless, dairy cattle farmers are focusing on improvement of genetics and herd management.

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Machinery prices decide about willingness to invest

Insights into the buying behaviour of agricultural technology purchasers is a central factor for the success of technology manufacturers on international agricultural technology markets. The knowledge of the importance of various purchasing criteria is a condition for meeting the farmers' expectations.

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Livestock facilities lead global farmers’ investment intentions

By Dr. Achim Schaffner

The Summer 2018 Agrifuture Insight chart shows the investment focus of many of the world’s farmers is in livestock facilities – Russia is concentrating on the arable sector to capitalize on export trade – Professional subscriptions now available for DLG-Agrifuture Insights.

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Diesel: Better than its reputation

By Frank Volz

DLG PowerMix 2.0: Under practical agricultural conditions there’s little alternative to the modern diesel engine. Current controversies about this power source rely on wrongly-based premises, points out Andreas Ai. He uses the updated PowerMix test to explain.

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Farmers in Thailand and Zambia are most likely to invest in their businesses this year

The scale of modernization under way in Thailand’s farming sector is clear from the latest “Chart of the month” from DLG-Agrifuture Insights. On average, about 70 % of farmers in the country intend investing in their businesses.

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DLG: Continuous high quality

By Dr. Michael Eise

To receive the DLG "continuously tested" Seal of Approval or DLG Quality Label, farm input materials must pass a comprehensive acceptability test featuring practically relevant criteria. An annual control ensures that quality is continually maintained from one batch to the next.

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Boosting performance

By Niels Conradi

With the launch of the Traxion Optimall tyre, Vredestein has extended its product range to include a further model with a "Very High Flexion" (VF) carcass. The tyre was subjected to a DLG test to verify the extra efficiency derived from VF technology.

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Slurry ingredients at a glance

By Dr. Ulrich Rubenschuh

For a long time, the use of near-infra-red sensors (NIRS) has been discussed with regard to the determination of substances in liquid manure. The DLG testing commission "fertilizing technology" has now developed a test framework, and the DLG test centre has carefully examined the first manure NlR sensor.

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