Post on 27-Dec-2016
New HORSCH company structure 36Growth involves changes
BoomControl Pro 22 and 44Silver medal for optimised boom control
Agritechnica 2013 4Most successful show in the company’s history
07 / 2013
More than just machinery
www.horsch.com
THE FUTURE IN CULTIVATION IS HAPPENING TODAY
4-bar universal cultivator
— Shallow mixing and deep loosening— Very manoeuvrable due to large wheels in the centre chassis— SteelDisc packer for heavy soils
3
terra
Editorial
Dear reader
At the beginning of 2014 we – from the company point of view - are looking back on a very
successful and eventful year 2013. The turn of the year is always an occasion to look back on
the past year – what we experienced, what we learned,
what we achieved.
Due to my job I am lucky to have the possibility to visit for-
eign countries and to get to know a lot of people - and this
is very important to me as it makes my life multifaceted and
full of impressions of all sorts. At the beginning of 2013, our
activities for the HORSCH Foundation took my husband and
me to Ethiopia. And we discovered a country that did not
quite correspond to my ideas and prejudices. I thought I
would travel to Africa, see enormous poverty with a lot of
sad people who have no perspective and who suffer. And at
first I did not want to go there at all, just to avoid seeing all
this suffering.
Poverty is immense – compared to our countries it is ex-
treme, almost a cultural shock – but Ethiopia is a colourful,
sunny, beautiful country, with an old culture (example: mon-
olithic churches from the 12th – 13th Century, Lalibela) and
with happy, positively radiant, smiling people in the streets
who take pleasure in small things. Although suffering is con-
siderable these people succeed in giving a positive impres-
sion. Where do they take this power and this optimistic atti-
tude from? They seem to be much more contented than we
are here in Germany. There are, of course, many reasons:
the sun, their faith, the
mentality, their attitude
towards life.
And each time I walk
through the streets in
Germany, look into people’s faces, read the event news with
only negative headlines, reflect on my own thoughts… I ask
myself: Are we happy and contented in Germany?
I learned a lot from this completely different African attitude
towards life, I admire it. When I feel blue I think of Africa,
Ethiopia and its people. The very memory and the photos
help me and give me strength. And that’s what I am grateful
for.
I wish you and your family experiences that give you
strength in a positive way as well as a good, successful and
blessed year 2014!
Contents
IMPRINT
News
Agritechnica 2013 4
Extension of the HORSCH site in Ronneburg 6
Setting things in motion
(Dr. Matthias Rothmund) 7
Around the world
Around the world:
38 machines in South Africa 8
Made in USA 10
profi FAHRBERICHT Stainless steel has its price:
HORSCH Leeb 7 GS 12
Practical experience
A different kind of maize grower:
Michael Ehmann (FR) 15
Company insights
The invisible men (IT department) 18
It’s awesome (Michael Horsch) 20
A different way (Theodor Leeb) 22
Single grain for cereals and rape
(Philipp Horsch) 24
HORSCH Foundation
MEDA Forum 2014 27
Ongoing and new projects 28
Farm report
A storm tipped the scales
(Hendrik Bünger-Lang, DE) 30
Farmer and contractor (Paolo Montana, IT) 32
On a large scale (TOV Kischentzi, UA) 34
Inside HORSCH
New company structure 36
Florian Reil – Germany’s
best production mechanic 41
Service & Sales
Successful together: BayWa and HORSCH 42
FITZ training centre
DLG Silver Medal: BoomControl Pro 44
DLG Silber Medal:
Singling technology for rape and cereals 46
HORSCH France Field Days 48
Edited by: Johannes Hädicke
Articles written by: F. Benabadji, D. Brandt, M. Braun, Dr. G. Eikel (profi Fahrbericht), J. Hädicke, C. Horsch, P. Horsch, T. Horsch (MEDA), H. Keller, G. Martin, C. Mühlhausen, J. Stangl, H. Wolf
Photos: Archiv Horsch, Photographie Petra Kellner, J. Hädicke, A. Hein-Horsch, C. Mühlhausen, O. Olexijovytch, A. Pacek, Hr. Tovornik (profi Fahrbericht)
Translations: English: H. Wolf; French: E. De Saint Laumer, S. Proust, S. Vanderhaeghe; Polish: B. Dudkowski; Russian: M. Sinichenko
terraHORSCH is published twice a year in the following languages: German, English, French, Polish and Russian.
The magazine and all its articles and illustrations are pro-tected by copyright. Any utilisation outside the limits fixedby the copyright act is illegal without the approval of the publisher.
Layoutkonzept: MarkenGrün
Layout: Otterbach Medien KG GmbH & Co
Druck: Vogel Druck, Würzburg
terraHORSCHMore than just machinery
It is the international customer magazine of HORSCH Maschinen GmbHSitzenhof 1DE-92421 SchwandorfTel.: +49 9431 7143-0Fax: +49 9431 41364terra@horsch.comwww.horsch.com
Responsible for the content: Cornelia Horsch
Cordially
Cornelia Horsch
terra News
Agritechnica 2013 - Most su ccessful show for HORSCH so far
Two silver medals, Machine of the
Year, Milestone of Agricultural
Engineering, Agro-Marketing Award,
a lot of innovative novelties and an
interactive show review
This year HORSCH was present
with a 2,000 m² show stand at
the Agritechnica 2013 which
with 450,000 visitors undoubt-
edly is the most important agricultural
show worldwide. HORSCH exhibited a
total of 18 machines from the sectors
cultivation, sowing and plant protec-
tion.
According to the DLG 115,000 inter-
national guests figured
among the 450,000 visi-
tors of the show. A lot
of them were inter-
ested in Farming with
Passion and the innova-
tions that were shown
at the new HORSCH
stand in hall 12. At
times there were 120
HORSCH employees at
the stand to discuss
with the visitors.
Already before the show HORSCH for
the first time had been awarded two
silver medals by the DLG for the innova-
tions single grain seed for cereals and
the new plant protection boom control
system BoomControl Pro. The medals
rank among the most important awards
of the whole sector. The crowd of visi-
tors for exactly these machines was ac-
cordingly.
An elevated Terrano FX was displayed
directly at the main building of the
stand. It was a symbol for another
award. This year HORSCH was awarded
the Milestone of Agricultural Engineer-
ing for its pioneering spirit and its in-
novations in the sector of „Farming
without a plough“.
During the show the whole plant
protection line, the innovative Leeb PT
330, the self-propelled sprayer Leeb PT
270 and the trailed sprayer from the
Leeb GS line, was awarded the prize
„Machine of the Year 2014“ for the
5
Most su ccessful show for HORSCH so far
revolutionary boom control system
BoomControl Pro which will be availa-
ble for all sprayers as of summer 2014
and can even be retrofitted to already
existing BoomControl machines.
Finally the current advertising and
communication campaign InnoFalcon
was awarded the Agro-Marketing
Award. For 10 years no manufacturer of
attached implements has been able to
win this prize. The InnoFalcon includes
components of all HORSCH machines
and convinced the jury due to the visu-
alisation of the core elements innova-
tion, quality, technology and the refer-
ence to farming.
HORSCH exhibited machines for
farmers from all countries - starting
with a lot of machines with 3 and 4 m
working width for farm sizes of about
50 hectare (75 % of the visitors farm at
least 50 hectare according to a survey of
the organiser) to a 18 m wide 24-row
Maestro for single grain seeding or a
Pronto NT for Eastern European coun-
tries and farm sizes of more than 10,000
hectare.
After the Agritechnica the HORSCH
corporate management (Michael
Horsch, Philipp Horsch, Horst Keller, Cor-
nelia Horsch, Traugott Horsch and Theo-
dor Leeb) agreed: „The Agritechnica is
the most important agricultural show
worldwide and for us like for most of
the manufacturers of agricultural engi-
neering is a barometer of public opin-
ion. With regard to the numerous con-
versations with our dealers and
customers from all over the world we as
a manufacturer are looking forward to
a positive future. With a turnover of
about 250 million Euro 2013 will be the
most successful year in the company’s
history. Our expectations for next year
are moderately positive. HORSCH stands
for Farming with Passion. For us it is not
only the machine that counts, but a cor-
responding intensive counselling of
every individual customer with regard
to his specific site. This as well as top-
quality and perfect service have always
been HORSCH’s core competences which
we are going to develop even further in
the future.
Agriculture and agricultural engi-
neering are the future and play a key
role with regard to feeding the increas-
ing world population, but also with re-
gard to producing renewable energies.“
75 % of the Agritechnica visitors are
planning to invest in machines in the
course of the next two years and 50 %
are even planning this investment for
next year and prepared it at the Agr-
itechnica. This is a positive sign for the
future, not only for the farmers, but
also for HORSCH.
Another indicator for the success of
this year’s Agritechnica surely also is the
HORSCH Shop. Despite a well-filled
stock especially high-quality clothing or
the new Schuco model (scale 1:87) of
the HORSCH Leeb PT 270 soon were in
short supply.
This shows how much customers and
visitors identify with the brand HORSCH.
On our website www.horsch.com the
shop is available all over the year.
Enthusiasm for the brand, product
quality, service and innovation are also
reflected in the DLG Image Barometer
of agricultural engineering which was
published shortly before the Agritech-
nica. For the sixth year in a row HORSCH
ranks forth behind the three large trac-
tor manufacturers Fendt, Claas and
John Deere. This year again HORSCH
was on the first ranks in most individual
categories like „particularly innovative
companies”.
Those who did not visit HORSCH at
the Agritechnica or who want to experi-
ence the show stand and its highlights
one more time at home, can simply visit
our website www.horsch.com. This year,
too, there is an interactive stand where
you can move around as well as see in-
formation and videos about all novelties
and show highlights in full detail.
terra News
Extension of the HORSCH site in Ronneburg –
the largest individual investment in the company’s history
On the premises of the HORSCH
Industrietechnik a 3,400 m²
steel storage area with several
levels was built and the pro-
duction capacity has been extended to
5,300 m². In the production and pre-cut
department the money was invested in
plasma and laser cutters as well as in
welding robots. The incoming and out-
going goods sector was adapted to the
new capacities. The investment sum for
this sector amounts to about 14 million
Euro. On the production premises of the
HORSCH Maschinen GmbH an annex
with 4,500 m² has been built. A new sec-
ond powder spray coating facility for
small mass parts was set up. Adjacent to
the new logistic hall an additional stor-
age area for the incoming and outgoing
goods has been created. The parking
area for finished machines has been ex-
tended to a capacity of 400 units. Ad-
ditionally, a shipping centre for trucks
has been created. The investment sum
for these sectors amounts to about 6
million Euro.
In September the extended buildings
were officially inaugurated. The Ron-
neburg employees and their families
were invited to the opening. An official
part with speeches of the HORSCH man-
aging directors was followed by an in-
teresting programme for young and
old. 800 visitors spent an interesting day
with machine demonstrations, factory
tours and entertaining activities for the
children.
This year’s HORSCH Press Day, too,
took place in Ronneburg in mid-Sep-
tember. HORSCH had invited about 90
international specialist journalists to
present the new factory that has been
extended for a total of 20 million Euro
as well as nine technical innovations. On
the occasion of a common dinner Cor-
nelia Horsch, head of marketing, and
the managing directors Michael Horsch,
Philipp Horsch and Theodor Leeb wel-
comed the guests. They gave a detailed
insight into the Ronneburg investments
and informed about the machine inno-
vations. The next day the journalists vis-
ited the HORSCH factories in Ronneburg
and got a picture of the investments on
site on the occasion of a factory tour.
The next part was all about technology:
the machine innovations were pre-
sented and then shown in the field. The
Press Day was to give advanced infor-
mation before the Agritechnica in No-
vember where HORSCH, in the mean-
time, has officially presented the new
disc harrows and cultivators.
Presentation of the machines on the occasion of the Press Day in September
The extension of the HORSCH site in Ronneburg only took a little more than one year. The construction works of the
20-million-Euro project started in July 2012. This largest individual investment in the company’s history was to almost
double the size of the Ronneburg site to be well prepared for the future growth of the company.
7
terraHORSCH: Considering your pre-
vious activities, why did you decide to
work for HORSCH?
Dr. Matthias Rothmund: I was
intrigued by working directly for a man-
ufacturer and not for a supplier of com-
ponents. In addition, there was the chal-
lenge to start a completely new
department from scratch.
terraHORSCH: Where is the develop-
ment headed today, what are the cur-
rent challenges?
Dr. Matthias Rothmund: To us, it is
not only important to develop amazing
electronic systems, but also to make
sure that they can be operated in an
optimum way. There are various
approaches. On the one hand, we are
programming our electronic systems in
such a way that an optimum use is also
guaranteed in combination with all ISO-
BUS terminals of other manufacturers.
On the other hand, we are developing
completely new systems of our own,
e.g. for our self-propelled plant protec-
tion sprayers. They are very innovative
and include elements of tablet comput-
ers. Our focus is on an absolutely simple
and intuitive handling even of complex
control systems. People should be able
to handle the systems easily and not vice
versa. Of course, together with our sup-
pliers we are continuing to develop the
already existing systems even further.
terraHORSCH: What are the qualifi-
cations and training of the people in
your team?
Dr. Matthias Rothmund: There are
now 11 people working in my team
with the most different qualifications.
There are software engineers and devel-
opers and the typical computer scien-
tists. But there are also electrical engi-
neers who are responsible for the sector
cabling, sensors and circuits as well as
technicians who test these systems and
then put them to practical use. It is,
however, my objective to develop whole
systems. This is the reason why we also
have an expert in hydraulics in our
team, as here too the electronic system
more and more serves as a control sys-
tem. With regard to documentation we
have to work hand in hand to get the
whole developments across to sales, ser-
vice, dealers and final customers in an
easily comprehensible way.
terraHORSCH: The simpler and more
intuitive the tools are, the easier is the
handling even of complex systems?
Dr. Matthias Rothmund: Absolutely.
Let’s take the current version of our
Maestro seed drill as an example. If we
transfer it to the world of PCs, it has
developed from mouldy Windows XP to
state-of-the-art Windows 8. In the
future, it will be possible to control and
check the functions of the machine also
via an iPhone directly at the sowing
units. So to adjust the machine I do not
have to run to and fro between the
operation terminal in the tractor cabin
and the sowing unit. This saves time.
You even do not need a telephone con-
nection as there will be a WLAN connec-
tion. And if there is a software update
for the machine with new functions,
you can deploy it rather quickly to your
seed drill via iPhone.
Setting things in motion
Dr. Matthias Rothmund: „People should be able to handle the systems easily and not vice versa.“
HORSCH talked to Dr. Matthias Rothmund. Since 2010 he has been head of Systems Engineering, a specialised department
within R & D.
terra
8
Around the world
Around the world
For about one year the company Ter-
raTill has been operating actively as a
HORSCH sales partner. And quite suc-
cessfully so: They sold 38 machines at
one go. terraHORSCH accompanied
the delivery.
Normally, the working place of
René Lederer, Jan Schmid and
Eugen Trokmann is at Sitzen-
hof. They are part of the as-
sembly team that produces the Tigers,
but also the large Maestros. This year in
August, however, they worked in the
field. They accompanied the delivery of
HORSCH machines to the South African
importer TerraTill. From the marketing
side Freddy Linzmaier and Constantin
Horsch were with them on site in South
Africa. Their task was the final inspec-
tion and testing and the support of the
initial use of the machines in the field.
But let’s start at the beginning: Like
any other HORSCH product the machines
were produced according to the usual
quality standards – in this case in Schwan-
dorf – and were ready for delivery after
having been tested extensively. South
Africa, as is generally known, is situated
on the other side of the globe, the usual
mode of transport via a forwarding
agency was un-practicable. So every-
thing was disassembled again to make it
fit into maritime containers. The ship
went to Durban and from there to Ter-
raTill near Johannesburg. There were
slight delays during the sea transport as
the Cape of Good Hope truly lived up to
its by-name “Cape of Storms“.
The HORSCH technicians arrived in
South Africa on the 19th of September.
First of all their task was to unload the
machines and prepare the assembly. The
machines involved were mainly 24-, 12-
and eight-row Maestros as well as eight
units of a special edition with 16 rows
and a row spacing of 95 centimeters. This
is due to the immense dryness on the Af-
rican continent and is to prevent the
maize roots from taking water away
from each other.
“We were very surprised how well
TerraTill was prepared“, Freddy Linz-
maier told us. “They had invested heav-
This is how one imagines South Africa: dryness and red soils.
9
ily: in a new garage, the necessary tools
and service vehicles. A spare part storage
is being set up at the moment. The most
important special parts, like for example
hydraulic blocks, are available. And a lot
of other things can easily be purchased
on site – after all South Africa is not a
developing country.“
The main task of the technicians, how-
ever, was not to assemble the machines.
They trained the native employees and
showed them the ultimate tricks and fi-
nesses for the final assembly. After all
the latter is to be carried out by TerraTill
in the future.
On the one hand, Freddy Linzmaier
and Constantin Horsch were responsible
for the final control. There is, after all,
one standard for HORSCH machines all
over the world. But on the other hand
they also prepare the tractors and every-
thing else on the farm for the initial use
of the machines. “The dimensions are
gigantic“, Linzmaier says. „Farm sizes up
to 20,000 hectare are not uncommon.
One customer owns 120 tractors. I was
quite surprised that there are specialised
employees on the farms who are well
versed in all aspects of electronics, in Sec-
tionControl and in GPS. Wherever we
went we were very well received. The
farmers appreciated very much that we
handed over a completely assembled
machine. Products from Europe are usu-
ally delivered in a container.“
South Africa’s main crop is maize that
stays in the country and is the staple food
for the people. The yields are about
seven to eight tons per hectare, provided
that there is enough water. In this case
up to three harvests per year are possi-
ble. The technicians told us that at the
time of their visit it had not been raining
for more than one year. Therefore, they
often use centre pivot irrigation. These
fields are ideal for the eight-row Maes-
tros.
For René Leder, Jan Schmid, Eugen
Trokmann, Freddy Linzmaier and Con-
stantin Horsch the activity in South Africa
was a quite impressive experience. “It
was very interesting to experience the
country so closely and not as a tourist.
For those – like most of the white popu-
lation – mainly move in guarded sec-
tions“, Linzmaier states. “In former times
the area around Johannesburg was pop-
ulated by Germans and Dutch what can
still be seen today. You even get Thuring-
ian bratwurst. The cities show a consider-
able European influence, infrastructure
and the streets are excellent.“ However,
the extreme differences between the
poor and the rich are striking. And poor
in almost all cases means black. Apart-
heid can be felt always and everywhere.
Thus, it went without saying that the
white employees rode in the driver’s cab,
while the black employees sat on the
cargo bed of the pickup. It also was un-
thinkable that the black people would
eat with the others in the farmhouse.
Too big is the fear to arouse envy and
thus to provoke burglaries.
Security in general is an important
topic. Freddy Linzmaier adds: “As a mat-
ter of principle there is a fence around
the farm, often even an electric fence. In
addition, there are alarm systems and
security guards. Everything that is on the
field, like for example pumps, is addi-
tionally safeguarded. And every day you
can see bushfires which are either caused
by technical defects on a machine or by
arson. In such cases the farmers help
each other. By the way, they often use a
Joker to make fire belts around the
farms.“
In the meantime all HORSCH ma-
chines in South Africa have proven their
worth in practice. The demonstration
machines which already had been in the
country have been modified to serial
standard. However, HORSCH employees
again are on their way to accompany the
machines in practice. TerraTill is still be-
ing active, exhibited at the most impor-
tant agricultural show and shows
HORSCH technology in practice. For
whether here or in South Africa: Before
the farmers decide to buy a machine,
they want to see the machine in the
field. For the time being the assembly
team is no longer needed at the Cape.
TerraTill now can do everything by them-
selves. But the employees have already
planned to come back as tourists. The
reason: Once Africa has put its spell on
you, it will not let you go again.
It was the task of the HORSCH technicians to train the local colleagues in assembly and technology.
terra
10
Around the world
Made in USA
At the beginning there was a
partnership between Kevin
Anderson – Kory’s father –
and Michael Horsch. They de-
veloped the idea to offer special seed
drills for the American market. Today
HORSCH is present overseas with a large
product range.
terraHORSCH: Mr Horsch, what is
HORSCH’s market position in America?
Traugott Horsch: From modest begin-
nings we developed into a very impor-
tant supplier for the American farmers.
First we mainly stood for the Airseeder,
today we have a much wider range of
cultivators and seed drills.
terraHORSCH: How are sales in the
US organised?
Traugott Horsch: The same way as
everywhere in the world: our partners
are local dealers on site that we support
with our own sales and service team.
terraHORSCH: But especially America
is dominated by agricultural engineer-
ing full-liners. How do you handle their
claim for exclusivity?
Kory Anderson: The big companies in
our line of business put an enormous
pressure on their dealers. We only have
the possibility to work with dealers that
represent a short-liner. But there are a
lot of combinations where we fit per-
fectly. I am thinking for example of
North Dakota or Nebraska where we
successfully co-operate with Cat-deal-
ers. In total we operate at 70 to 80 sites.
terraHORSCH: Compared to Ger-
many, are there differences in the
dealer structure?
Traugott Horsch: Of course. First of all
the dealer’s sales area is much larger. On
the other hand, a lot is expected from a
dealer in the US. A call center that is
available 24/7 is standard. Moreover,
they need a much higher capital cover
to be able to survive on the market.
terraHORSCH: How do American
farmers take the decision to buy a
machine?
Traugott Horsch: That’s quite similar
to Germany. Demonstrations are very
important and the farmers attend
shows to get information. But what I
notice – except for the Farm Machinery
Show in Louisville – is that the gigantism
is by far not as distinctive as in Europe.
A lot of shows quite simply are open-air
events.
terraHORSCH: What are the features
HORSCH can score with on the Ameri-
can market?
Kory Anderson: We have some types
of machine that work very well in the
US. What is interesting is that the Joker
is ranking quite at the top. This type of
machine entered the European market
in the nineties. In America the trend for
this machine is only growing now. For
The farmers attend demonstrations and shows to get information.
HORSCH, of course, is a German manufacturer. But they also produce abroad. For
example in the US where among others Maestros are produced for local use and
for Canada. terraHORSCH talked to Kory Anderson and Traugott Horsch about
those markets.
11
us, the Joker is not only an important
top-seller, but it also opens the doors to
some dealers. Everyone wants such a
machine and we are the ones to sell it.
However, the Maestro, too, is an
extremely important machine.
terraHORSCH: Why is that?
Kory Anderson: Every farmer imme-
diately sees the advantages at first
glance. It is very clearly arranged where-
as American manufacturers often add
additional functions afterwards in a
rather inadequate way. I am talking for
example about things like coulter
adjustment. In our machine everything
is already built in. For quite some time
the farmers have been attaching great
importance to facts like that. With
regard to design it is quite similar.
American machines look rather rustic,
our machines are quite impressive. But
first and foremost the seed units that
are driven by an electro motor are what
make the Maestro a real trendsetter.
terraHORSCH: Which general trends
do you see?
Traugott Horsch: Among American
farmers the concentration process has
already started much earlier than in Europe. In the meantime it has almost
been completed to a large extent. With
regard to cultivation systems there were
two extremes: “no-till“ which means
doing almost nothing and “ripping“
which means moving a lot of earth with
deep cultivators or rotary harrows.
Today the farmers have found a com-
promise in the middle with Strip or
RidgeTill. By the way, for about one
year there has been a completely new
field of activity for our Airseeders: They
are used for the mere application of fer-
tiliser.
terraHORSCH: What about your pro-
duction sites in the US?
Kory Anderson: The construction
works have completely been finished by
now, production is in full swing. We
have employed some new employees,
everything else will now proceed
dynamically.
terraHORSCH: Why does HORSCH
produce in the US?
Traugott HORSCH: Almost all
machines we sell there are born-and-
bred Americans, i.e. they adapted to the
local conditions in an optimum way. For
example the transport width – quite dif-
ferent than in Europe – is only a minor
matter. The same is true for the com-
mon working widths. But what is even
more important: all connections are
made in inches. We, thus, are consid-
ered as an American brand with Ger-
man virtues.
Maestro production in the US
The construction works for the new production sites have completely been finished by now.
Traugott Horsch
Kory Anderson
HORSCH LEEB has updated the trailed sprayers of the GS line.
The technology of the previous GS 8000 has been transferred to
two smaller sprayers. We have tested the new 7 GS with 7,000
litre stainless steel tank with a 27-metre boom.
Stainless steel has its price
HORSCH Leeb trailed sprayer 7 GS:
IThe designation “GS“ for trailed
HORSCH Leeb sprayers is already
known from the GS 8000 with a
nominal capacity of 8,000 litre
and the GS 6000 with a nominal capacity of
6,000 litre. Both sprayers have been on sale
since 2009 and differ strikingly particular-
ly due to the parallelogram boom suspen-
sion of the GS 8000 and the vertical slide of
the GS 6000.
The new GS series basically corresponds to
the previous GS 8000. The line now consists
of three sprayers – the models 6 GS, 7 GS
and 8 GS – with a nominal capacity of 6,000,
7,000 and 8,000 litre, bottom hitching and
a parallelogram boom suspension. Except
for the tank capacity the design of all three
models is identical.
The stainless steel tank – with an actual ca-
pacity of 7,400 litre for the 7 GS – is with-
out doubt characteristic for the Leeb spray-
ers. To keep the centre of gravity as low as
possible the tank encloses the double beam
frame like a saddle. Due to this design 1,000
litre are at the same level below the frame.
Thus, two outlets are necessary to lead the
spraying mixture via two short hoses and a
central tube to the suction filter in the front.
Speaking of the frame: the tank is positioned
close to the front, the indicated vertical load
is up to 3.4 tons. Thus, the GS sprayer can
only be used with a bottom hitching with a
size-80 ball coupling. The dead weight of
the 7 GS is 5.5 tons depending on the equip-
ment, the sprayer is licensed for a maximum
load of 14 tons and a speed of 40 km/h.
According to HORSCH LEEB the production
costs of the stainless steel tank are eight
times those of a plastic tank. But in this pro-
fessional line of business there is one obvi-
ous advantage that counts for HORSCH
LEEB: Even after more than 130,000 hec-
tares of practical use you will not find any
deposits in the barrel.
However, the Bavarian plant protection
specialist is well aware of one fact: If they
want to increase their importance on the
The HORSCH Leeb 7 GS impresses with a very smooth control of the 27-metre boom. Fotos: Tovornik
12
terraprofi FAHRBERICHT from profi 10/2013
market in the future, they also will have to
produce less expensive sprayers. And the
tanks of those sprayers can only be made
of glass-fibre reinforced plastic or other
plastics.
Another characteristic of the GS sprayers
is a centrifugal pump. HORSCH LEEB relies
on this system not only because it is main-
tenance-free, durable and efficient – with a
maximum flow rate of 1,000 l/min, it takes
seven minutes to fill the tank . You have to
hurry to fill all spraying agents into the in-
duction hopper in this short period of time.
Good thing that the flow rate can easily be
reduced for complex cocktails.
According to HORSCH LEEB other advantag-
es of the 1,000-litre centrifugal pump are
the low installation space as well as the fact
that the system requires no pressure-relief
valve and no additional hose lines. The nec-
essary pressure is controlled electronically
via the pumping rotation speed, the pump
supplies exactly the quantity that is re-
quired for spraying and for the agitator –
with pre-selected intensity. The pump is
driven via the load-sensing hydraulic sys-
tem of the tractor. An on-board hydraulic
system with hydraulic pump for the pto-
shaft of the tractor is available as an option.
“No hose is the best hose“, this is what the
leaflet already has stated so far. And for the
new edition of the GS HORSCH LEEB also
stuck to that rule. They were even able to
cut down on some metres of hoses to avoid
breakdowns caused by abrasions. Basically,
all hoses which are kept as short as possi-
ble are combined in the front in a box that
also houses pump, filter and electric ball
valves. There is only one long hose leading
to the boom and one return line – and that’s
it.
To fill the sprayer, there is a comfortable,
completely electrical control panel at the
left side below a practical box for e.g. gloves
and mask. Above the box the tank level –
like in the terminal – is displayed digitally
in addition to the flow meter. When the tank
is full and when the quantity that has been
pre-selected via the terminal has been
reached, the pump automatically stops the
filling process.
The induction hopper – also made of stain-
less steel – is easily accessible after it has
An electro-hydraulic kingpin steering is optionally available for the axle (which is braked by com-pressed air) with anti-lock braking system, pneumatic suspension and level regulation.
From below the HORSCH Leeb 7 GS seems clearly arranged, smooth and thus plant-protective.
Few short hoses mark the image of the sprayer. The operation via electrical ball valves are…
Nominal/actual capacity 7 000/7 400 l
Boom width 21 to 36 m
Boom height 0.30 to 2.50 m
Fresh water tank 530 l
Pump output 1 000 l/min
Length/width/height 8.37/2.82/3,60 m
Dead weight/
admissible total weight 5 500/14 000 kg
Track width 2.00/2.25 m
Tyre sizes 380er bis 650er Breite,
top-seller: 520/85 R 46
Ground clearance 0.85 m
Manufacturer’s data
Horsch Leeb 7GS
DATA COMPASS I
…comfortable and functional like the stainless steel induction hopper.
13
the spraying mixture tank and has a capac-
ity of 530 l.
An additional piston diaphragm pump
supplies the nozzles of the inside cleaning
system with clear water while the rotary
pump constantly sucks off the diluted spray-
ing mixture. The concentration of the spray-
ing mixture decreases quickly, thus reduc-
ing cleaning time.
At the front of the sprayer there are three
manometers for the agitator output, the
pressure filter and the inside cleaning.
The rotary pump is equipped with an elec-
tronic protection against dry running.
The platform is easily accessible via a lad-
der and is sufficiently large.
A hydraulic support leg is standard equip-
ment.
An option of a powerful LED spot lights
at the inside wing lights the outside seg-
ments of the boom. To prevent them from
getting blocked due to deposits, they are
cleaned each time the main valve is switched
off. A monitoring camera is also available.
The 7 GS is ISOBus compatible and, thus,
can be controlled and operated via corre-
sponding terminals. Two different Müller
Elektronik ISOBus terminals are available as
an option.
Summary: For the Agritechnica HORSCH
LEEB has updated the trailed sprayer GS
line.
Their distinctive characteristic still is the
stainless steel tank. In addition to a lot of
details other features are the 1.000-litre
centifugal pump, short hoses and the paral-
lelogram boom suspension.
And to get back to the title: Stainless steel
has its price! And this price can only be paid
by professional farms who can make full use
of the sprayer’s technology.
Gottfried Eikel
of the filter as any dirt is returned to the
tank lid filter basket and gets caught in the
filter.
The 7 GS we used was equipped with a sev-
en-piece 27-meter-boom. We were im-
pressed about how smooth the boom is tak-
en over the population at operating speeds
of about 16 km/h. The parallelogram sus-
pension with nitrogen accumulators togeth-
er with a shock absorber is really doing a
great job. Even when carrying out fast turn-
ing manoeuvres the boom hardly plunges
as a cylinder that is coupled with the main
switch locks the oscillation compensation of
the boom. Due to the tank which has been
shifted to the front the boom is quite near
to the axle so that horizontal oscillations,
too, are contained.
To control the height of the boom, the 7 GS
was equipped with DistanceControl. The
whole working width remains rigid and is
kept in position by an ultrasonic sensor at
both outside segments. That is sufficient for
a level field. For hilly and very irregular ar-
eas the sprayer can be equipped with Boom-
Control where four sensors control the
height of both arms separately.
Variable nozzle spacings increase the ver-
satility. According to HORSCH LEEB 70 per
cent of the boom are sold with a nozzle
spacing of 25 cm. The 7 GS we used was
equipped with a 0.25-double flat fan nozzle
with a spacing of 50 cm as well as with
0.2-nozzles with a spacing of 25 cm. Due to
the pneumatic nozzle control you can
choose the suitable nozzles depending on
application rate, operational speed and tar-
get. For a nozzle spacing of 25 cm the boom
can be lowered and thus is less affected by
the wind.
What we also noticed:
The fresh water tank is positioned behind
comfortably been swung downwards by
means of a gas-filled shock absorber. With
a powerful circular flushing line, the push
nozzle, the washing lance as well as with a
rotating canister flushing nozzle the hopper
has been perfectly equipped to fill in even
powdery compounds reliably and complete-
ly. The capacity of 60 l is adequate and on-
ly for 50-kilogramme bags of urea it is a lit-
tle bit tight.
When the spraying tank is full, spraying mix-
ture instead of clear water is sent through
the induction hopper. It, thus, has proven
its worth to reduce the filling rate for com-
plex spraying cocktails. By the way, all
agents that are flushed in are led to the
spraying hopper via the tank lid filter bas-
ket so that any pollution is caught in the fil-
ter.
It also has to be mentioned that each time
the main switch is turned to “OFF“, the pres-
sure filter is cleaned. Thus, it is hardly nec-
essary to carry out the annoying cleaning
The GS sprayer is ISOBus compatible and can be operated via corresponding tractor termi-nals like the John Deere GreenStar.
The boom is suspended via a hydraulically spring-loaded and damped parallelogram (left). According to HORSCH LEEB 70 per cent of the GS sprayers are delivered with a combined nozzle spacing of 25 and 50 cm (above).
terraprofi FAHRBERICHT from profi 10/2013
14
1515
terraPractical experience
terraHORSCH: How did your family
come to Bézéril?
Michael Ehmann: In 1981, my father
Heinrich Ehmann quite simply fell in
love with the Gers region. As because of
the expansion of Stuttgart Airport he
had to sell part of his farm anyway, he
decided to invest in France. He bought
a 250-hectare-multi-crop farm in Bézéril
that was managed by a farm manager.
terraHORSCH: 1985 your father was
one of the first farmers in France who
bought a HORSCH seed drill. Can you
tell us a little bit about it?
Michael Ehmann: Of course, my
father opted for a semi-mounted Seed-
Exactor with four meter working width.
After almost 30 years we still sow all our
wheat with it, as it quite simply is opti-
mally adapted to our site. Can you
imagine that?
terraHORSCH: How did you come up
with the idea of growing maize for pop-
corn?
Michael Ehmann: After having fin-
ished my agricultural studies in Germa-
A different kind of maize grower
Michael Ehmann (left) and his farm manager, Christophe Morelière (right)
The department Gers in the south-west of France. What first comes to mind is
confit of duck and goose liver, but our topic is not poultry farming or the pro-
duction of gastronomic specialties, but maize growing. More precisely the grow-
ing of popcorn maize. Michael Ehmann is the founder of the company Nataïs,
the European market leader for popcorn maize. The farmer originally is from the
south of Germany, his wife is American and they have three children. In 1989 he
went to France to take over the family farm his father had bought eight years
before. terraHORSCH talked to him about this European success story.
Rotation 2013 :
245 hectare arable land
terra
16
Practical experience
ny, my wife and I decided to go to
France in 1989. I had been working
there for two years, before I took over
the farm in 1991. During a trip through
the USA I met a colleague who grew
popcorn maize. I immediately took seed
with me to France to carry out the first
tests. I offered a sample of this first har-
vest to a customer in Germany. The
result was my first contract for 50 tons.
So I started to grow popcorn maize on
ten hectare. Step by step, with the
demand increasing constantly, the cul-
tivation area grew, too.
terraHORSCH: How did your com-
pany develop from that?
Michael Ehmann: 1994 further farm-
ers from Gers signed the first produc-
tion contracts and at the same time the
foundation contract for the company
Pop-Corn Midi Pyrénées that later on
became Nataïs. It was the first company
that was able to set up an important
production of popcorn maize in Europe
– in competition to the American com-
panies that so far were dominating the
popcorn market. Our popcorn maize
was able to convince by its quality, at
first in Germany, then in Great Britain
and in Central Europe. 1997 we decided
to offer our popcorn maize readily
packed for the microwave. In the US,
this already was a huge success – and it
was only a question of time till this
would become popular in Europe, too.
So we invested in a first production line
and were able to land a contract in the
Czech Republic. The final breakthrough
came in 2005. The company concluded
a contract with Benoit, a company that
supplies 80 per cent of the cinemas in
France! In the same year we started the
co-operation with the French market
leader for party snacks, Menguy’s. Today
packed microwave popcorn maize
accounts for two thirds of the turnover,
loose maize for about one third. From
one employee in 1994, over more than
forty employees in 2006, Nataïs today is
a company with 120 employees. Our
strategy paid off: On the European mar-
ket for popcorn maize which in the
meantime is between about 70,000 and
80,000 tons, Nataïs has the largest share
by far with 30,000 tons. Contracts with
220 producers from Gers and the south-
west of France confirm the success. We
produce 150 million packing units of
microwave popcorn per year and thus,
are way ahead of our largest competi-
tors who produce about 90 million
packing units.
terraHORSCH: What about your agri-
cultural farm? Could you give us some
information about the farm? How has
your cultivation technlogy developed?
Michael Ehmann: Though I am a busi-
nessman, I first and foremost am a farm-
er with all my heart and soul. I still man-
age my 250-hectare farm myself – we
are cultivating popcorn maize on half of
the land, and soft wheat on the other
half. Our manager, Christophe More-
lière, is responsible for the daily activi-
ties on the farm. He sees to it that the
technical processes are kept as simple as
possible. Situated in the heart of Gers
the rotation of the farm is short: pop-
corn maize and soft wheat. The soil that
is clay by nature has a clay content of 25
to 35 per cent depending on the plot.
Some plots in the hilly area have an
inclination of up to 35 degree what, of
course, causes erosion problems. The
high amounts of rain in winter saturate
the soil completely during this period.
Moreover, the soil structure is very sensi-
tive and the lack of frost makes sowing
in spring difficult. Residue decomposi-
tion is slow and requires particular
attention. Popcorn maize is cultivated
with a row spacing of 60 centimeters,
contrary to silage or grain maize for
which the row spacing in the region in
general is about 75 or 80 centimeters.
Thus, we were able to increase yields by
five to seven per cent and due to the
quick covering of the row spacing weed
management became easier, too. Sow-
ing in general starts on the 20th of
March and has to be finished before the
15th of April to be able to make full use
Nataïs is the European market leader for popcorn maize – company premises (left) and silos (right).
17
of the temperature sums the plant
needs. Harvest, however, is the restric-
tive factor for popcorn maize. The con-
ditions at the time of harvest have to be
good and the moisture content should
be below 21 per cent. Thus, the early
sowing date and the necessity of an
optimum soil preparation in autumn.
With 5 to 8 t/ha the popcorn maize yield
is slightly lower than that of grain maize
– here the yields in the region go up to
14.5 t/ha. For these difficult conditions
we were looking for a ploughless solu-
tion with the possibility of sowing catch
crops. So we were looking for a technol-
ogy that improves soil structure and
encourages straw decomposition. Step
by step we found out that the solution
is to sow on ridges. The basic idea is to
create a small ridge at the end of sum-
mer where you then will sow maize in
spring. While creating the ridges we at
the same time sow field beans and
phacelia as a soil cover between the
future maize rows. Thus, we are able to
sow the maize into the dried soil. More-
over, the seed row is free from residues
and the spacing is covered by the resi-
dues of beans and phacelia, thus in turn
reducing the danger of erosion of the
soil. At the same time we benefit from
the 60 to 80 units of nitrogen which is
gathered by the field beans.
terraHORSCH: How does HORSCH fit
into your cultivation concept?
Michael Ehmann: Sometimes dreams
come true. After we had analysed all
these parameters, Michael Horsch
offered to develop a machine that
would be perfectly adapted to our
region and our conditions. This machine
was to allow for preparing the soil in
autumn and sowing catch crops – with-
out using a plough! The attached culti-
vation tool is 4.80 meter wide and con-
sists of two tine rows as you know them
from the Terrano and that are mounted
with a spacing of 30 centimeters. At the
rear of the Focus frame there is hopper
for sowing catch crops. Thus, strip culti-
vation found its way into our farm.
HORSCH constantly accompanied us
during the use of the machine. And thus
the basic principle of the prototype
developed. At first the machine was
exclusively equipped with tines that
worked at the same depth at the front
and the rear. The second tine row sowed
the field beans in the trench of the
ridge. Phacelia was sown over the whole
working width. The first further devel-
opment resulted from the fact that we
wanted to work deeper under the
future maize rows, i.e. with the front
tine row. Therefore, HORSCH mounted
tines of different sizes. In the front row
there are 850 mm tines that loosen
deeply – exactly where later on the
future maize row will be. A second row
with 750 mm winged tines places the
field beans at a depth of 10 centimeters.
It throws earth on the area where the
first tine row worked previously. Thus,
the ridge is created. The second further
development was carried out because
the earth did not heat up fast enough
as the surface was completely covered.
To solve this problem, guide plates place
the phacelia seed at a width of 15 cen-
timeters between the ridges. The
machine is RTK-controlled so that the
ridges are totally parallel even on the
hills.
To improve the efficiency of this sys-
tem even further, HORSCH developed a
seed drill that crushes the catch crop
population in the trench and at the
same time sows maize on the ridge. This
Maestro is equipped with guide discs to
determine exactly the position of the
seed drill via RTK so that the maize real-
ly is sown exactly on the ridge. The
objective is to keep the catch crop as
long as possible. Previously we removed
the population three weeks before sow-
ing. After some tests and experiences
we realised that these three weeks in
the cycle of the field beans bring us 40
additional nitrogen units – so 80 units in
total. What we did not expect was that,
as a positive side effect, the snail and
insect attacks were reduced, too.
terraHORSCH: Does strip cultivation
go in line with the climatic conditions
on your farm?
Michael Ehmann: 2007 we started to
modify our technical processes for the
cultivation of popcorn maize. In the first
year we only cultivated one hectare
with the StripTill method, 2008 27 hec-
tare, 2011 already 50 hectare and 2013
we cultivate 114 hectare with StripTill.
We gradually familiarised with StripTill
technology which developed into strip
cultivation. At the same time the RTK
control system was introduced on the
farm – an essential tool when working
in stripes. With strip cultivation we
wanted to reduce the risk of erosion
and the cultivation passes as well as to
sow plants for covering the soil in
autumn. Maintaining the organic mate-
rial, but at the same time increasing the
humus share in the soil which are two
big challenges in our region. We perma-
nently have to develop further and fur-
ther with regard to the technology we
use to improve our production and
quality. After the maize harvest in July
we make one pass with a cultivator and
then a second one in mid-August. In
September we sow the catch crops with
the HORSCH Focus. Popcorn maize is
sown in spring directly on the strip next
to the catch crop which in turn is crushed
by the seed drill. 60 l/ha of liquid ferti-
liser (14-48-0) is applied in the furrow.
This method works excellently and we
try to introduce it at all our producers.
Our farm is sort of a “show window”.
We offer the popcorn maize producers
to adopt our technical procedure and to
test it on their farms.
terraHORSCH: Together with the
other farmers you have set up a system
of sustainable farming. Can you tell us
a little bit more about it?
Michael Ehmann: Two years ago we
all together took the step towards sus-
tainable farming. First of all it is all
about the personal conviction that
farming should work in harmony with
nature and not against it. But moreover
it was what the consumers and our cus-
tomers expected. You wouldn’t believe
how interested our customers are in
what we do and in how we do it. We
decided to work on three strategical
sectors: First on the fertility of the soil.
We try to motivate the farmers to work
without a plough and with catch crops.
In our opinion this is indispensable in
order to maintain the fertility of the
soils in our region.
The second sector is optimising irriga-
tion to reduce water consumption. A
network of 40 measuring sensors allows
us to provide extremely exact informa-
tion about irrigation. The objective is to
reduce water consumption by 20 per
cent and to improve the efficiency of
irrigation.
The last sector is to fight the corn
borer biologically. On 3,700 hectare we
use parasitic wasps. We worked quite a
long time on optimising the distribution
and on finding the right quantity of
parasictic wasps per hectare to achieve
an effect that corresponds to the use of
chemical agents.
terra
18
Company insights
The invisible men
Whether for the FITZ train-
ing centre, the R & D de-
partment, the produc-
tion sites in Schwandorf,
Ronneburg or in Landau or even for
HORSCH LLC in the USA – with regard to
information technology (IT) all threads
come together at the Sitzenhof. Thomas
Huber is head of IT. Although he is re-
sponsible for the whole IT of the com-
pany, his personal area of expertise is
the ERP software SAP. As in many other
large companies this software is used to
execute all business processes like pur-
chasing, production, sales, service, but
also financial accounting, controlling
and warehousing.
“One of the greatest challenges for
the IT is setting up and supporting the
networking system“, Huber explains.
“For with the growth of the company
the IT requirements have risen to the
same extent.“
Whereas formerly individual work-
places with local PCs were the general
rule, today all processes are interlinked.
This means for example that a supplier
gets an order from HORSCH per SAP and
via e-mail – all that, is carried out in a
SAP-assisted way – and the design data
from the HORSCH R & D department can
at the same time be imported into the
machine tool of the supplier.
There also is a network system be-
hind the new spare parts catalogue that
is now available under www.horsch.
The IT-Team (from left to right): Sebastian Pusch, Stephan Mauerer, Mathias Bein (on his knees), Markus Roppert, head of IT Thomas Huber, Hubert Beer, Markus Ströll and Anton Wittmann
They neither design nor assemble nor sell anything. But they are nevertheless significantly involved in the success of the
HORSCH company: the employees of the IT department. terraHORSCH talked to Thomas Huber, head of IT.
19
com. Access is not only granted to deal-
ers, but also to final customers. The lat-
ter, however, cannot order directly, but
they can choose their spare parts on the
screen. “We managed to get every sin-
gle part for every machine into the
catalogue“, Thomas Huber states
proudly. “And it does not matter which
web browser is used by the dealer or the
customers – all data formats especially
those of the exploded drawings are set
up neutrally and also work with older
browsers.“
At the moment nine people are em-
ployed in the IT department. All EDP
systems are operated and all IT business
processes are supported from here. An-
other team which from an organisa-
tional point of view is separated from
the central IT and is part of R & D devel-
ops control systems for HORSCH prod-
ucts.
“However, such a central structure
can only work because we have so-
called key users in almost all depart-
ments and at each site respectively“,
Huber explains. “They are completely
integrated in their department and act
as an interface with IT. They consult
with us their department’s require-
ments and they are able to solve a lot of
problems themselves. Apart from that
we still have the possibility to intervene
via remote maintenance at each site.“
There is one thing Huber has no illu-
sions about: “No IT system is flawless.
But it is our task to provide concepts
which reduce such flaws – and the con-
sequences – to an absolute minimum.“
All processes are in constant flow. Eve-
rything is reviewed regularly – hard-
ware as well as software. To be able to
cope with future requirements, it is im-
portant to already have scalable solu-
tions in mind, says Huber.
Whereas SAP is running via an exter-
nal data centre, almost all other pro-
cesses are handled in-house. To be able
to do so they have a redundant network
system with up to 10Gbit at their dis-
posal. The tasks are assigned to several
physical servers in separate data centres
which handle the data of more than 50
virtual servers. Thus, maintenance work
can be carried out during the day with-
out shutting down large parts of the
company. The Sitzenhof is connected
via a glass fibre cable with a complex
redundant security architecture for
global communication.
Thomas Huber has only been work-
ing for HORSCH for one year, but he is
very satisfied with the working atmos-
phere. In his opinion the quick decision-
making processes are striking. While
other companies work with strict for-
malities with regard to EDP-problems,
at HORSCH a lot is still handled via per-
sonal contact. “It happens several times
a day that colleagues who have a re-
quest knock on our doors“.
By the way, the colleagues from the
HORSCH IT department from time to
time also work in the field. And not only
at the different sites, but for example
also at the Agritechnica 2013: a sepa-
rate team including hardware and
server saw to it that the data acquisition
system via iPad worked smoothly.
Within the HORSCH company IT is, of
course, essential, but by no means an
end in itself. “I am the most satisfied
when the colleagues don’t even notice
that we exist“, Huber comments.
Horst Keller
Within the management board responsi-
ble for the IT department
We cannot do
without IT. And
what an outcry
can be heard in
the offices and
production halls
when the com-
puters do not
work or are slow.
We as the users
do not realise
what the col-
leagues from the
IT department
work on quietly in their offices to make
sure that our computers start and that
we have all information we need for our
daily work at our disposal like we are
used to – at any time day and night. We
can all deal with sales, production, capac-
ity and cost plans, but what the guys in
the IT department do and plan is like a
closed book to most of us. And yet al-
ready today they have to take major and
cost-intensive decisions to guarantee that
our company will also run smoothly in
two years even if we continue to grow.
Network architecture, server landscape,
data back-up systems, storage media, cus-
tomer and supplier linking, smartphones,
tablets, and so on …. All that is linked
and supported by the IT department – in
an environment where everything
changes faster and faster. I am very
happy to have a team I can completely
rely on, who covers all sectors and is able
to look ahead and thus again and again
sets the right courses to make sure that
tomorrow, too, all our IT systems boot up
as a matter of course.
terra
20
Company insights
It’s awesome
Bombastic“, “awesome“, “gigan-
tic“ – when Michael Horsch talks
about the harvest 2013 on the
farm AgroVation in the Czech
Republic, he gets enthusiastic - although
the conditions were anything but good.
After weeks of extreme heat on one day
at the end of July it rained 80 millime-
ters in only 10 minutes. In addition,
there was a strong wind with gusts of
hurricane and 80 per cent of the rape,
wheat and partially the maize popula-
tion was down. Two reasons prevented
the harvest from becoming a mudbath:
Controlled Traffic Farming (CTF) and the
consistent use of caterpillar systems.
One could not wish for better condi-
tions for CTF!
terraHORSCH: Mister Horsch, how is
the progress of the conversion to CTF?
Michael Horsch: Conversion is the
wrong word. AgroVation is set to CTF.
Unfortunately, we have not yet man-
aged to implement 100 per cent of the
system as the fields were in an extreme-
ly bad condition when we took them
over one year ago and these extremely
uneven, very compacted fields first had
to be sorted: trees and hedges had not
been cut out, drains were clogged and
there are a lot of waterholes.
terraHORSCH: And still in your opin-
ion CTF was the essential factor for a
successful harvest 2013?
Michael Horsch: Definitely. But there
also were other factors: First of all our
general manager Christoph Foth had a
knack with regard to population man-
agement, second we consistently rely on
caterpillar systems and third we exclu-
sively work with a track width of 3m
with a cutting width of 12m.
terraHORSCH: Please tell us about
the harvest.
Michael Horsch: For three weeks I
myself have been on site most of the
time. To begin with rape harvest was
very difficult because of the extremely
wet soil. We worked with two own
Claas Lexion 780 combines. On one of
those combines Claas extended the
unloading auger to 12m as a test. Thus,
the auger waggon could drive exactly
on a 12m track. We knew right from the
start that the pipe would stick out quite
considerably at the rear and that the
cutting unit would have to be transport-
ed separately. Moreover, the drivers had
to be very careful when turning. But it
worked very well. We ourselves mount-
ed an extension on the second combine
that folds in and out each time. During
the wheat harvest, however, a coupling
broke down. This extension has already
been redesigned. Apart from that with
regard to wheat beside lodged wheat
we had to struggle with the fact that
because of the wet soil the plant togeth-
er with the root was drawn into the cut-
ting unit. It was a nerve-racking stop
and start as we constantly had to get off
to remove earth from the cutting unit.
For the maize harvest Geringhoff put a
16-row picker Horizon Star II at our dis-
posal. By using auto-contour we wanted
to chop a stubble length of max. 10cm
and everything to a length of max.
Michael Horsch
Agricultural engineering and farming – the Horsch family manages two farms in the Czech Republic – a total of 6,000 hec-
tare – in a future-oriented way. And due to their constant striving for increasing efficiency they do not hesitate to break
completely new ground. terraHORSCH talked to Michael Horsch.
21
10cm in one pass. To avoid fusarium
problems for wheat after maize to the
greatest possible extent, one must not
compromise with regard to crushing
straw and stubble. Re-chopping is of no
use at all because of the combine and
auger waggon tyre tracks a large part
of the stubbles and stems has already
been pressed into the soil in an unat-
tainable way. It only works with an
operational speed of 5 km/h and with
caterpillar system on the combine and
with 16 row resp. 12 m one can still har-
vest 120 to 140 tons per hour of maize.
It really is a pleasure to observe this rig
at work. For good maize the picker
requires about 250 hp and considering
the working quality it really is worth it.
Depth control has to be optimised a lit-
tle bit. If with 12m you want to go down
to 10 cm there is still some potential for
improvement with regard to soil scan-
ning and regulation. Geringhoff already
has found solutions.
terraHORSCH: How did the caterpil-
lar systems prove their worth?
Michael Horsch: Fantastically. It is
absolutely awesome to see how every-
thing runs in one track. I would not
want to miss the experience. We were
able to make a direct comparison when
a contractor with combine and auger
waggon worked on our fields: these
fields looked like after a war. We are
very consistent: At AgroVation we
exclusively use caterpillar systems – we
bought a third big one in 2013 – the
combines are equipped with caterpillar
systems and all-wheel drive and next
year I want to spread liquid and solid
manure with CTF and caterpillar system.
We will also have a new CTF fertiliser
spreader with caterpillar system and
Rauch components. Of course, with a
3-meter track especially driving on roads
is a disadvantage, but this problem
could be solved by using telescopic cat-
erpillar systems. All in all the “caterpillar
effect” was quite obvious: few tracks
which only are compacted from above
and which as of a depth of 15 cm leave
an intact good structure. Despite the
increased horsepower requirement the
advantages of the caterpillar system
simply are gigantic.
terraHORSCH: Apart from the cater-
pillar tractors, are there machines for
CTF on the market?
Michael Horsch: Hardly any. But what
we cannot buy, we build ourselves.
terraHORSCH: Do you see marketing
opportunities for these own designs?
Michael Horsch: I am not too much
interested in that. If we would only
think of business when developing a
new idea, 80 per cent of the ideas would
not be realised at all! We develop our
ideas, test on our farms if they prove
their worth and it is only later that we
decide whether to market them or not.
terraHORSCH: What about the yields?
Michael Horsch: For the first year
they were significantly better than
expected. We harvested more than 4
tons of rape. Although I estimate that
we surely lost half a ton due to the
heavy rainfall. We have not yet been
able to weigh all of the wheat, but it
was about 9 tons. Maize was quite ok
and should range between 10 and 11
tons. Harvest has not yet been finished
completely as our new silo plant with
drying unit has not yet been completed.
The authorisation procedure took quite
a long time and it was only in August
that we were able to start with the con-
struction works. Thus, we had to sell
most of the grain maize wet or to have
it dried by a contractor – this reduces
the profit margin.
terraHORSCH: During our last visit we
saw the self-propelled PT 330. How did
you use this machine?
Michael Horsch: This basic prototype
was the only plant protection sprayer
on the farm during the whole season.
Despite a lot of modifications the PT 330
did the 3,000 hectare all on its own –
with an operational speed of 20 to 30
km/h.
terraHORSCH: What about the other
branches of the farm, the apple orchard
and the dairy cattle house?
Michael Horsch: Both sectors do not
yet run smoothly. With regard to the
bio apples because of the high amount
of rainfall we suffered considerable
losses because of parasites which we
could not fight properly because of the
bio-status. In the meantime, however,
we started working with a fruit special-
ist from Dresden – a co-operation that
works well – but in 2013 we could hard-
ly market any dessert fruits, but almost
only fruits for processing. With regard
to the dairy cattle house there were a
lot of staff and management changes.
We invested in four liquid manure con-
tainers made of stainless steel with a
capacity of 8,000 cubic metre and in a
new bunker silo plant.
terraHORSCH: What are your plans
for next year?
Michale Horsch: We are planning
some construction measures: a new
machinery hall with chemical storage
and a repair shop. Moreover, the
HORSCH Field Days will take place at
AgroVation.
terraHORSCH : Your summary?
Michael Horsch: In my opinion, CTF
with 3m tracks on a caterpillar system is
an irreversible way. It was fantastic to
see how all that worked in extremely
wet soil conditions. We will now imple-
ment the CTF system even more ambi-
tiously, although some problems still
have not been solved. I am enthusiastic
about the fact that especially young
farmers all over the world get more and
more interested in this topic.
We regularly report about AgroVation. Please also see
the previous issues of terraHORSCH.Quite obvious: the advantages of the caterpillar system
terra
22
Company insights
A different way
At the Agritechica 2013 Boom-
Control Pro by HORSCH LEEB
Application Systems was even
awarded two prizes: the silver
medal of the German Agricultural Soci-
ety (DLG) and the prize “Machine of the
Year“ which is awarded by a jury con-
sisting of specialised journalists. At the
show the system was mounted on the
PT 330. But soon BoomControl Pro will
also be available for the HORSCH Leeb
self-propelled sprayers and even for the
trailed plant protection sprayer line.
terraHORSCH: Mister Leeb, what was
the crucial factor that made you encour-
age the development of BoomControl
Pro?
Theodor Leeb: The requirements of
practice. The farmers want to apply
plant protection agents very precisely.
Already in 2008, we have carried out
tests in the wind tunnel and later even
in the field which showed that the
essential factor for minimising drift and
improving the adherence of the agent
is an extremely small distance between
nozzle and the plant. Our objective is a
target area spacing of 30 cm. In addi-
tion, the farmer wants to go fast to
increase efficiency. With the common
boom control system this had not been
possible so far.
terraHORSCH: What were the first
steps?
Theodor Leeb: Ever since we have
been building own booms for our plant
protection sprayers, we have also con-
centrated on the topic of boom control
and boom suspension. One suspension
possibility is the so-called free pendu-
lum. This type of suspension compen-
sates the rolling motions of the machine
excellently. But when turning, the boom
tends to swing and can only be read-
justed very slowly. To avoid this shock
absorbers are mounted between chassis
and boom which in turn, however, result
in a coupling of boom and tractor.
A second possibility is to suspend the
boom in the centre of gravity. Turning
here is a minor problem. Slope compen-
sation and boom control are carried out
by means of hydraulic cylinders and
springs. But, depending on the spring
stiffness, the boom is connected to the
tractor in a more or less intensive way.
If the springs are very stiff, the boom
mirrors every movement of the chassis.
Thus, so far a really freely suspended
boom has not been available on the
market.
In 2009 we opted for an extremely
damped pendulum suspension. But with
regard to a control system we broke
completely new ground. We no longer
control the slope compensation (the
usual proceeding today) but the height
Theodor Leeb
Sometimes you have to detach yourself completely from traditional ways and break new ground. At best, the result is
something like BoomControl Pro. Theodor Leeb, managing director of HORSCH LEEB Application Systems GmbH, describes
the way towards the product that is ready for practical use.
23
of the individual boom wings indepen-
dently via a proportionate hydraulic
control.
This kind of control allows for a very
good adaption to the ground and
results in an extremely smooth boom
position especially at high operational
speeds.
terraHORSCH: But that was not
enough?
Theodor Leeb: No. With BoomCon-
trol we learned that mechanic suspen-
sion and control system have to be har-
monised in an optimum way to make
the boom control work in different con-
ditions – driving fast or slowly, on even
or hilly ground resp. with good or bad
tramlines. However, the optimum
adjustment is not always the same so
that one would have to find the opti-
mum adjustment for every extreme.
This is, of course, not possible in prac-
tice. We now use various absorber
adjustments depending on boom width
and main operational speed. This is
where we – like all other manufacturers
– had to compromise.
terraHORSCH: Where did the idea for
BoomControl Pro come from?
Theodor Leeb: Our objective clearly
was to further develop our control sys-
tem so that we would not have to com-
promise with regard to adjustment.
We were quite aware of the fact that
a completely decoupled boom would be
the optimum. But the question was how
to control a free boom as any adjusting
element, whether a hydraulic cylinder,
air cylinder or springs, would again
bring about a connection to the chassis
and, thus, again the rolling motions of
the machine would be transferred to
the boom. The essential approach came
from Otto Hirthammer. Mr Hirthammer
is responsible for the development of
the new PT 330 chassis and in the past
was hardly ever involved in the topic of
spraying boom technology. But proba-
bly it was exactly this that made him
find the solution. The best ideas often
come from an unbiased mind. The idea
was to actuate a hydraulic cylinder in
such a way that in the first case it fol-
lows the motions of the tractor in real
time. Thus, it does not influence the
boom. Only when an adjustment
becomes necessary a force will be trans-
ferred to the boom via a cylinder.
terraHORSCH: How did you go on?
Theodor Leeb: To be able to compen-
sate the motions of the vehicle, it has to
be possible to position the hydraulic cyl-
inder quickly and precisely. For this new
control approach we needed an
extremely fast-working system consist-
ing of hydraulic cylinder and valve. We
were able to carry out initial tests on the
test rig of our supplier Log Hydraulik.
The results were so promising that we
immediately started to develop a con-
trol algorithm together with our elec-
tronic partner Inmach. The result was a
control system which allows for trans-
ferring a force to the boom in a target-
ed way. The adjusting element follows
the motions of the tractor. If the need
for adjustment arises the adjusting ele-
ment presses an elastomer element with
a calculated path. The position of the
adjustment cylinder is measured and
kept up constantly so that the rolling
motions of the machine are compen-
sated even while adjusting.
terraHORSCH: That sounds compli-
cated. Did you have to test it first?
Theodor Leeb: Yes, of course. We first
built a carriage with a simple boom to
carry out initial tests on a bumpy road.
terraHORSCH: And then you turned
to practice?
Theodor Leeb: The next step was to
mount the new control system to the
prototype of the self-propelled PT 330.
The interesting part of the development
was: It is often the case that an idea
more and more improves over a longer
period of time and in the end there is a
final result – with regard to BoomCon-
trol Pro there was the idea, it was put
into practice and the system worked
immediately. Of course, we could rely
on our long-term experience with boom
control systems – due to this advantage
we were able to realise the control sys-
tem this quickly as we could exclude
some aberrations in the first place.
terraHORSCH: When will BoomCon-
trol Pro be in your price list?
Theodor Leeb: As of next season
BoomControl Pro will be available. To
tell the truth, it was our ambition to put
the system on the market right after we
had received the DLG silver medal. An
advantage is that the system can be ret-
rofitted very easily. As of now we
already equip our plant protection
sprayers with the necessary cabling. The
costs for the retrofitting will then only
amount to about 1,600 Euro. Older
sprayers with BoomControl can be ret-
rofitted for about 2,000 Euro.
terraHORSCH: Was it complicated to
adapt the system of the prototype PT
330 to the trailed sprayers and the PT
270?
Theodor Leeb: At our current booms
we adjust the central part via air cylin-
ders. Thus, the task was to actuate the
air cylinders also very quickly. We had to
carry out some programme adjust-
ments. After a short start-up we were
ready to carry out first tests in the field.
Straightaway the result was stunning.
terraHORSCH: What features still
have to be refined?
Theodor Leeb: For the PT 330 we are
still working with a very expensive
hydraulic system, for the trailed sprayers
with a pneumatic system. This works
just as well and the machine is already
equipped with the cylinders. But we still
pursue both approaches. At the moment
the operating interface is redesigned in
a more user-friendly way.
terraHORSCH: A straight answer
please: How long did it take to develop
BoomControl Pro?
Theodor Leeb: From the first idea till
the realisation: 1 ½ years.
terra
24
Longitudinal distribution or more
precisely the optimisation of plant
distribution when drilling has always
been an important topic for HORSCH.
Already in the middle of the eighties
HORSCH carried out tests with pneu-
matic singling systems - and quickly
realised how complex it was to meter
for example wheat in high frequencies
and place it in the soil. Philipp Horsch
tells us about it.
However with the HORSCH Seed-
Exactor the plant distribution
topic became less important.
For with the Seed-Exactor and
its almost perfect broadcast sowing we
were able to solve the distribution prob-
lem in an optimum way. Only in the sec-
ond half of the nineties, when disc seed
drills entered the market, we started
again to focus more and more on longi-
tudinal distribution.
The following external influences
played a major role:
The seed quantities especially for
wheat were reduced more and more se-
verely and often ranged from 100 to 150
grains per square meter. The more you
reduce the seed quantity, the more you
notice the insufficient longitudinal distri-
bution of today’s seed drills. Small heaps
and gaps in the row, thus, became much
more evident.
Various farmers, especially from
the high-yield areas in Northern and
Central Germany as well as from France
and Great Britain again and again con-
tacted us with regard to this topic and
stated their dissatisfaction with the avail-
able technology for seed distribution.
The consultants, too, put more
and more pressure on us.
From our own agricultural activities
we were, of course, well aware of this
problem, but finally the above men-
tioned external influences of many cus-
tomers and consultants made us start
about ten years ago to concentrate on
finding a technical solution.
At the beginning I was absolutely
sure: Within two to three years we would
Company insights
Single grain for cereals and rape
Philipp Horsch
25
have found a solution! But far from it – it
took us a whole decade including a lot
of setbacks. During this time an average
of two engineers continuously dealt with
this topic. This amounts to about 20 man
years!
My first concrete approach: in 2004 I
built a drum with 24-hole rows for three
meter working width, sucked the grains
from a central grain supply to the holes
and at one spot placed the grains into an
air hose. However, this idea of a central
metering system combined with a pneu-
matic transport to the coulter failed com-
pletely. I neither achieved the intended
grain frequency of a minimum of 60 to
70 Hz (resp. grains per second) nor was it
possible to keep the grains even roughly
singled via this long transport distance. I
realised: The longer the transport dis-
tance, the worse the distribution at the
end – and the problem already starts
with rather short transport ways as of
two meters.
I then changed my approach com-
pletely and tried to concentrate on sim-
ply improving the longitudinal distribu-
tion by simple modifications in the
pneumatic transport system.
This was followed by a two-year test
period – with the most different, partly
crazy approaches. In addition, we dealt
with systems which were already known
on the market, like the cascade and cy-
clone systems. Although at first some ap-
proaches even showed promising results,
in the end there was not one single mod-
ification in the pneumatic system that
was able to influence the longitudinal
distribution in a safe and sustainably
positive way.
The conclusion: It is not possible to re-
ally influence today’s usual pneumatic
distribution principle which finally is
based on coincidence resp. chaos. The
same is true for mechanical seed drills.
Tests in the laboratory proved that even
grains that started falling down in a per-
fectly singled way begin to catch up with
or overtake each other already at drop
heights of 30 to 40 centimeters. Thus, the
singling is null and void.
Practical analyses again and again
confirmed: For all seed drills, no matter
which principle or colour, the variation
coefficients (VC) in general range be-
Exact singling in a row
This system allows for grain frequencies of up to 120 grains per second per row.
terra
26
Company insights
tween 90 and 120. For comparison: For
well placed sugarbeets the VC is about
20, for maize it is about 30.
Parallel to our development efforts
the Betriebsgemeinschaft Schackenthal
KG in Saxony-Anhalt started to sow rape
and especially wheat with a single grain
seed drill from the specialised crop sec-
tor. Since then they have been drilling
some hundred hectares per year this
way, so considerably more than only
some few plots. Although this system
only allows for operational speeds of five
to six km/h, the VC improves rather re-
markably to 60 to 80.
Eight years of experience speak for
themselves: With the high-yield condi-
tions in Saxony-Anhalt it was possible to
increase the wheat yield by an average
of six per cent (five to ten per cent de-
pending on the year) compared to the
conventionally sown fields – and all that
with severely reduced seed rates! For
rape the yield increase is significantly
lower.
However, you could see clearly that
the better distribution results with more
regular and more healthy plants with
better developed roots.
These practical results confirmed our
development efforts – the pressure to
find a solution grew considerably. But
we still were far from finding an even
roughly appropriate solution.
In 2008 I could win over two people
from my extended family to concentrate
on this topic. It was our common objec-
tive to single wheat and rape up to a
frequency of 100 Hz per row. This was
the start of an intensive cooperation dur-
ing which Thomas Horsch and Gerald
Funck independently worked full time
on this topic.
They found several different ap-
proaches, but they all failed.
However, we came to one essential
conclusion: High-frequency metering is
not the problem – it was even solved
rather quickly. Bridging the way from
the metering system down to the ground
is the greater challenge by far. Even mi-
nor influences, like small swirling parti-
cles of earth in the grain area, uncon-
trolled touching of the grains or
movements in the coulter unit, mix up
the once perfectly singled grains com-
pletely.
With increasing frequency this effect
intensifies even more – up to the point
that no improvement of the VC com-
pared to conventional seed drills can be
measured at all. After two more years
without any useful results I almost
wanted to give up the development ac-
tivities in this sector. But I started one last
attempt with a completely different ap-
proach:
The new line of approach was: Back
off from the approach to single every
single grain and work on a “blackbox“
in a pneumatic distribution system at the
end of the hose directly at the coulter
itself that will influence the distribution
in a positive way.
At the end of 2011 we made a break-
through: for the first time even two dif-
ferent systems worked in a very promis-
ing way.
In both systems we were able to solve
the problem of the grain transport be-
tween metering and soil by accelerating
the grains extremely fast, thus bridging
the way towards the ground quickly and
leading the grains along a circular path.
After intensive tests we decided in
spring 2013 to take Gerald Funck’s sys-
tem to serial production.
After first comprehensive tests in the
field we sowed rape as well as wheat at
different sites and under different condi-
tions with a Pronto 3 DC in summer 2013.
The results are extremely promising: For
seed rates between 100 and 200 grains
for wheat and between ten and 25
grains for rape we were able to achieve
VC of 30 to 50 – and all this with normal
operational speeds of ten to fifteen
km/h!
This system allows for grain frequen-
cies of up to 120 grains per second per
row.
With regard to practical use I assume
that we will succeed in reliably achieving
VCs of about 50.
But one precondition is absolutely
necessary: the more regular the seed, the
better the VCs. The best VCs were
achieved with calibrated seed. In this sec-
tor a cooperation with seed breeders
and growers will surely bring further
progress in the future.“
My prospects:
In our opinion, there is a market po-
tential for singling primarily in region
where high yields can be achieved with
low seed rates. After another year of
intensive testing the market launch of
this technology is likely to start as of
2015.
The great advantage of our system is
that the singling is exclusively carried
out at the end of a conventional seed
hose on the coulter itself. This means
the already existing Pronto seed drills
can be retrofitted with the system any-
time!
The seed rate for a singling
frequency of 100 Hz per row is
240 grains per square meter
with a seed row spacing of 15
centimeters and a sowing speed
of ten km/h.
DLG president Carl-Albrecht Bartmer hands the silver medal to Gerald Funck (left).
2727
terraHORSCH Foundation
MEDA Forum 2014 – Venture responsibility
The main speaker Dr. Tomáš
Sedláček is one of the “young
wild ones“ among the econo-
mists. The Czech governmental
adviser and chief economist of the most
important Czech bank demands more
sense of responsibility – from everyone.
Sedláček, born in 1977 and crosser be-
tween economy, science and politics,
was an advisor of President Václav Havel
and is the author of the economy best-
seller “The Economy of Good and Evil”
(Hanser Publishing). Why he believes a
look into the Old Testament to be inspir-
ing and why he believes the proclaimed
Jubilee – the year when debts are abat-
ed, slaves are released and acquired
property is returned to the original
owner – to be quite up-to-date will be
very exciting.
In addition to journalist, author and
baptist minister Andreas Malessa the
political scientist Dr. Andreas Püttman
also takes part – well-known due to his
bestseller “Society without God? Risks
and side effects of Germany’s de-Chris-
tianisation“ (Gerth Media) – as well as
editor Norman Rentrop, member of the
synod of the Protestant Church in Ger-
many, founder of Bible TV and donor of
the ecumenism sermon award.
MEDA reprensentaives from all over
the world will take part and discuss live
on stage, among others vice-president
Kim Pityn and Gerhard Pries (invest-
ment) from Canada/Ontario, Tigist Tes-
faye (EDGET project) from Ethiopia.
They together with Frieder Boller, direc-
tor of the Theological Seminar Centre
Bienenberg from Liesthal/Switzerland,
Eckhard Eyer, management consultant
from Köln, and others will talk in detail
about responsibility with all its facets.
MEDA (Mennonite Economic Devel-
opment Associates) actively fights pov-
erty and underdevelopment worldwide.
Entrepreneurs, self-employed people
and committed individuals all over the
world today are part of the MEDA net-
work which was founded 60 years ago
by a small group of Mennonite business-
men in the United States.
What they all have in common is that
they have a heart for the poor, a sound
entrepreneurial spirit and the wish that
other people prosper, too.
Women and men with their experi-
ences and resources contribute to MEDA
and become part of the solution. Thus,
the living conditions of millions of peo-
ple are sustainably improved.
MEDA’s characteristics are creative,
innovative and market-oriented pro-
grammes which are marked by courage,
expertise, esteem and faith in God.
The conference is to bring people to-
gether – people with entrepreneurial
expertise and a heart for their fellow-
men. Here they cultivate long-standing
friendships, make new contacts and ex-
tend their personal network. They get to
know what economists, theologians,
ethicists and entrepreneurs think about
the pressing questions of our time. In
2014, we particularly address people
who bear responsibility in companies or
organisations. With this forum, we want
to contribute to the fact that they get to
know MEDA’s work and that they find
balanced responsibility for their profes-
sional and private everyday life.
For more information and for
registration to the forum please see
www.meda-europa.org
0 / 15 / 78 / 36 Farbwerte in CMYK 0 / 15 / 78 / 76 95 / 0 / 100 / 27 95 / 0 / 100 / 77 0 / 9 / 50 / 74
After the MEDA Forum “Go for fairness – When entrepreneurs are finding new
ways ...“ which took place in Bonn in March 2013 and attracted an enormous in-
terest, the preparations for next year’s forum are already in full swing. On 14th
and 15th of March 2014 the next MEDA Forum is taking place in Bonn. The topic
is “Venture responsibility” and experts as well as committed laymen discuss, find
orientations and approaches to change the world sustainably for the better. The
focus is to be on venture in the double sense of the word – as a place of value
creation, of earning money and working together as well as the verb, the action
behind it.
terra
28
HORSCH Foundation
Ongoing and new projectsIn terraHORSCH we regularly report
on the projects of the HORSCH Foun-
dation. Here is a short summary of
what is going on at the moment and
of what is new.
Sierra Leone:
The HORSCH Foundation tries to
meet its mission of a sustainable devel-
opment not only by means of project
donation, but it also uses part of the
foundation capital to transfer capital
via direct investments and credits to the
poorer regions of the world. The latest
international investment project is lo-
cated in Sierra Leone, Africa. Via its
partner MEDA (Mennonite Economic
Development Associates) the Founda-
tion here co-operates with Mountain
Lion Agriculture. The latter is an agri-
business which improves the lives of Si-
erra Leoneans by strategically and prof-
itably displacing lower quality rice
imports in Sierra Leone with a higher
quality, competitively priced domestic
brand. Mountain Lion Agriculture
places improved seed at the farmers’
disposal and supports them in improv-
ing their farming methods. The income
situation of the regional farmers al-
ready has improved considerably due to
higher yields and improved sales poten-
tial.
The capacity of the existing rice mill
already was doubled in 2012. Currently
the HORSCH Foundation has provided a
credit for building a new rice mill.
Gera, Thuringia:
The HORSCH Foundation does not
only work internationally, but also at
the HORSCH sites in Germany. Thus, it
even supports three institutions in and
around Gera with donations:
The Evangelische-Freikirchliche Ge-
meinde Gera (Protestant/Free Church
Community Gera) provides free lunch
for the homeless two times a week. Af-
ter the flood in 2013 the community
started a project to repair the play-
grounds in Gera which had been de-
stroyed by the flood.
The Christliche Lebenshilfe e.V. Werk-
und Lebensgemeinschaft „Die Ranch“
(Christian working and living commu-
nity „The Ranch“) is an assisted living
community for people with addiction
problems. It encourages and demands
co-operation: living together, believing
together during the daily morning
prayers and the Sunday mass attend-
ance as well as working together. Each
occupant takes over jobs and tasks in
various sectors. Renovation works at the
farm, daily housework, taking care of
the farm cattle, working in the orchard,
in the garden in the bakery and in the
farm shop, production of fruit spread
and syrup which together with self-
made bread is sold in the farm shop or
at the farmer’s market – everyone con-
tributes his part. Sense of responsibility
is essential, but there is always enough
freedom to discover one’s strengths and
even new talents. Supported by pastoral
workers and experts a houseparent cou-
ple provides help to people which is
mainly financed by donations and vol-
unteer activities. With the latest special
donation of the HORSCH Foundation
they purchased a high grass mower.
The association Alternative e.V. is an
association for the promotion of public
health care as well as for education and
mainly works on the sectors aid to ad-
dicts and youth welfare. The projects
are divided in ambulant and residential
ones. Here is a short summary of the ac-
tivities: ambulant therapy for people
with substance-related disorders (espe-
cially alcohol and drugs), courses for
drivers who have committed alcohol-
29
and drug-related offences as prepara-
tion for the physical and mental (status)
examination, relaxation and smoking
cessation classes, anti-violence training,
various sporting facilities, experiential
education. The residential community
provides pedagogical and therapeutical
lessons as well as the corresponding
follow-up care and support. They help
the people to prepare for a clean and
independent life. Moreover they offer
the possibility to pass the exam for the
Certificate of Secondary Education or to
attend a vocational preparatory class.
The HORSCH Foundation supports the
association with permanent donations.
An additional project-related donation
was currently made to allow for pur-
chasing a second-hand small car.
Schwandorf:
HORSCH attaches great importance
to not only offering an interesting job
to the individual employee, but also to
the fact that the employer himself as
well as his partner and family find an
attractive living environment. At the
site of the company headquarters in
Schwandorf the HORSCH Foundation,
thus, is involved in the cultural sector
and supports the Konrad Max Kunz
Sponsor’s Association e.V. The Sponsor’s
Association includes the “Oratorio Choir
Schwandorf“, the drama group “SAD-
Theater“, the “Orchestra without bor-
ders“ as well as the Konrad Max Kunz
Music Academy. The latter is a music
school based on the “Bavarian sing and
music school regulation“. It attaches
great importance to quality and pays at-
tention to the fact that everyone is en-
joying the lessons and has fun. The
teachers are graduated musicians and
benefit from a longtime experience as a
practicing musician as well as in the
teaching sector. The range of the Music
Academy includes early musical educa-
tion, ear training, ensemble music and
choral singing. The Academy teaches
numerous classical and modern iinstru-
ments as well as percussion and singing.
Non-binding and free-of-charge taster
lessons go without saying. The Music
Academy first and foremost wants peo-
ple to enjoy the expedition through the
world of music. It especially wants to
encourage young people and provides
children and adolescents from socially
disadvantaged families who normally
could not afford music lessons with a
free-of-charge access to music and a
qualified basic musical training.
The HORSCH Foundation also sup-
ports the Förderverein Oberpfälzer
Künstlerhaus e.V. (Sponsor’s Association
supporting the Upper-Palatinate House
of Arts based in Schwandorf) as a pre-
mium partner. The Upper-Palatinate
House of Arts provides ideal premises
for exhibitions, concerts, poetry read-
ings and theatre performances. The
considerable collection called Bezirk
Oberpfalz (District Upper-Palatinate)
shows temporary regional visual arts.
The focus of the collection is on the sec-
tors painting, graphic arts and sculp-
ture. The print-graphic studio for lithog-
raphy and etching can be used by
regional artists on prior notice. Moreo-
ver about 20 exchange artists per year
spend a work scholarship in the Upper-
Palatinate House of Arts.
You are looking for employees who…… in their – mainly Eastern European – home countries can work as executives in your
company?
… think critically and act democratically?
… put the principles of a free market economy into practice?
… impart a Christian view of the world?
Contact us - LCC International University in Klaipeda (Lithuania) - www.lcc.lt
Our students come from about 25 countries, but mainly from Lithuania, Latvia, Ukraine,
Poland and Romania. Apart from their mother tongue they are fluent in English.
In addition to their major subject the students get to know history,
politics and economics from a Western point of view.
They are taught that is important to think
independently and critically, to act according
to their own moral and ethical believes.
Thus, an important aspect are the Christian
moral concepts.
We will be happy to put you in contact
with our students.
terra Farm report
A storm tipped the scales
Two original small farms – the
parental farm in Föhrste near
Alfeld and the farm of his wife
whom he married in 1990 – over
the years have become a farm with 400
hectare arable land and 100 hectare
grassland. In addition, there is a con-
tracting business with two permanent
employees. For almost 30 years they
have been working without a plough
and today completely rely on HORSCH
technology with regard to cultivation
and sowing.
It all started with a storm. “That was
in 1985, after the barley harvest“, senior
boss Siegfried Bünger-Lang remembers.
Above Föhrste they were just cultivating
barley stubble with a skim plough when
suddenly a summer thunderstorm
started that brought 120 litres of rain.
“On our farm and other farms, too, the
soil was swept off down to the plough
pan. Then it all flowed down into the
village.“ Only a railway embankment
that runs across Föhrste prevented the
lower village from being overrun by the
mud like the upper village. Back then he
decided: “We have to do something. In
the future we will only use a cultivator“.
To work completely or partly without
a plough – today a standard on a lot of
farms – was absolutely unthinkable at
that time. This was the reason why at
first professional colleagues scoffed at
the “messy“ non-ploughed fields and
jeered: “Next year you surely will use
the plough again anyway.“ But Mr
Bünger-Lang really had abandoned the
plough for good. “In 1986 we ploughed
for the last time. Later we sold the
plough and today we are working 100
per cent ploughless.“, Hendrik Bünger-
Lang explains.
But it was quite a long way to get
there. “We searched for a long time and
we tested a lot. We were some sort of
pioneers“, the senior says. Today the 73
year old still works fulltime on the farm
and is responsible for sowing, fertilisa-
tion, plant protection as well as the har-
vest while his daughter-in-law Iris
Bünger-Lang (44) takes care of cultiva-
tion and accounting. Hendrik Bünger-
Lang (46) is responsible for the contract-
ing business as well as for the
development of the farm as a whole.
But they also had to pay dearly. Some
sites are clay, some are loamy and often
they are full of stones. Quite a lot of
stone protections were sacrificed. “Cul-
tivators that work well on light or ho-
mogenuous soils won’t necessarily work
well on our soils“, Hendrik Bünger-Lang
comments. But always keeping the ad-
vantages of ploughless cultivation in
mind – soil preservation, water conser-
vation, soil fertility and the saving of
one pass – made the Bünger-Langs stick
to their guns.
It was in 2002 – at that time HORSCH
was not as well-established as today and
rather a hardly known Bavarian manu-
The Leinebergland region between Hildesheim and Einbeck. Fertile valley floodplains, difficult agricultural conditions
on the slopes and a lot of grassland in the transition regions to the numerous forests – this is what characterises the
conditions in which Hendrik Bünger-Lang and his family from Brunkensen near Alfeld run the family farm.
Hendrik Bünger-Lang swears by the HORSCH Pronto as the tyre packer, on which the whole weight of the machine rests, does not run behind but in front of the seed coulters.
The Bünger-Lang family appreciates the exact seed placement of the HORSCH Pronto.
Constant exchange: Hendrik Bünger-Lang (left) benefits from his father Siegfried’s
decades of experience.
31
facturer of agricultural equipment – the
first HORSCH Tiger arrived at the farm:
“It was so well laid out, so clearly ar-
ranged and I already liked it simply for
those two reasons. Instead of grease
nipples at the moveable parts there
were greaseless mounted bushings.
That was really convenient“, Siegfried
Bünger-Lang remembers. Even if the
stone protection system was brought to
its limits time and again on the difficult
sites, the cultivator stood the test. The
Tiger (3 m) later was joined by a Terrano
(4 m), a Joker disc harrow (4 m) and a
Pronto seed drill (3 m). Siegfried Bünger-
Lang particularly appreciates that the
machines are sturdy, clearly arranged
and uncomplicated and that the Pronto
in addition is equipped with a large
seed hopper.
On the steep fields tractor power
rather than cultivation technology was
the limiting factor for the desired crum-
bling effect after cultivation. And thus
one investment often entails another.
Last year new tractors were purchased
(John Deere, up to 350 hp) and the
HORSCH range was changed to a Pronto
(4 m), Joker (5 m), Tiger (3 m) and Ter-
rano (4 m). While the Tiger is used on all
fields mainly for deep loosening before-
hand, Joker or Terrano is used subse-
quently depending on soil and weather
conditions.
“The investments we make over the
years are only possible as we generate
further earnings with the contracting
business“, manager Hendrik Bünger-
Lang tells us. With among others two
On the difficult, steep sites of the Bünger-Lang farm HORSCH technology proved its worth.
The following press rollers of the Pronto presses the seed only as much as necessary.
sprayers and nine tractors the farm and
contracting business is quite well
equipped for its size. “But thus we do
not have to spend much time on chang-
ing equipment. And tasks that require
the right, but sometimes only short
point of time simply can be carried out
much faster. Due to our technical equip-
ment our satisfaction increases, too“,
Hendrik Bünger-Lang says (see box).
Last year the 60 dairy cows were sold
with a quota of 500,000 kilogramme. In
addition to the two new machinery
halls a hall for straw and hay was built.
The contracting business has specialised
on green forage harvest, straw baling,
spreading of digestates and solid matter
as well as on forage maize harvest (two
chopping gangs, 12,000 hectare maize
harvest in 2012). The farm cultivates
sugar beet, rape, wheat, maize and bar-
ley.
“For us HORSCH was and still is the
right decision. HORSCH has developed
the machines on difficult sites like we
have them here“, father and son agree.
The yields of the farms in total have be-
come more stable, especially on the
more difficult soils, due to the water-
conserving, ploughless farming system
combined with the production of hu-
mus with livestock manure. And with
regard to heavy rainfall the Bünger-
Lang family today is much more relaxed
than they were in the past: “At least we
can say that we did everything in our
power to prevent the soil from the
fields from flowing onto the street“,
Siegfried Bünger-Lang says.
Due to the special design HORSCH seed drills are particularly suitable for ploughless farming.
The heavy cultivator Tiger 3 AS is used for the first cultivation pass on all sites. The horse power requirement is rather high.
Satisfaction as a success factor
Siegfried Bünger-Lang says: “I am a farmer through and through and I enjoy doing my bit of work“. Aged 73, he still works fulltime on the farm. “Because he enjoys the work, his health allows for it and because we need him”, Iris and Hen-drik Bünger-Lang comment. ”As a general rule an external employee never is as produc-tive as a family member. Formerly my father ploughed with horses and this is why he has a very good feel for the soil. We do not want to do without this know-how. As my mother as well as my mother-in-law do the cooking at the time of har-vest, my wife is free to help in the field“, says Hendrik
Bünger-Lang. On the basis of these mainstays the family built a house which is very stable today. And with the adult children who both are interested in agriculture respectively make an agricultural ap-prenticeship the next generation is already waiting in the wings.What they all have together is a certain basically relaxed attitude. “Farming is nice and fulfilling, it is fun and sometimes also stressful. Thus, it is all the more important to sit back sometimes, to treat one-self to something, to go on holiday and to occupy oneself with something completely different. This quality of life is important and this is what we convey to our children“, Iris Bünger-Lang emphasis. And her husband adds: “I do not think much of attitudes like: “You have to work all the time and get dirty, otherwise you are not working hard enough.“ Why not relax at the pool in the morning and recharge your batteries before the harvest bustle starts at lunch time? Only if there is a certain quality of life, productivity will increase and this is where new growth results from.“ Iris and Hendrik Bünger-Lang were able to deepen this approach in many entrepreneurial training courses at the Andreas-Hermes-Academy organised by the Chamber of Agriculture of Lower Saxony. And they consequently live it.
terra
32
Farm report
Farmer and contractorThe Po valley in the north of Italy is
one of the most fertile regions in
Europe. This is where farmer and
contractor Paolo Montana lives and
works.
With a continental climate
and best soils which
mostly developed from
sedimentation, the Po
valley is Italy’s breadbasket. Medium-
structured sandy loam prevails in the
north, whereas in the south the soil is
rather clayey and silty. “The climate is
changing at the moment“, Paolo Mon-
tana explains. “During the past years we
often had to struggle with extremely
dry summers. Our irrigation possibilities
are excellent and with the seas and riv-
ers of the Alps we have an almost un-
limited reservoir, but irrigation always
means high costs for the farmer.“
In this respect, 2013 was an abso-
lutely exceptional year: Because of an
extremely wet spring they partly could
not work in the fields before July. Sow-
ing maize what normally is carried out
in April/May was delayed till that time.
The result: crop failure of about 30 per
cent.
Maize
“In our region there are a lot of dairy
farms, but also biogas plants“, Montana
says. “Therefore, maize is the main crop
alternating with wheat, soya and bar-
ley. In 2013 we were able to harvest
about 3.5 to 4.5 tons of silage maize per
hectare with a dry matter content of 30
per cent, for grain maize it ranged be-
tween 8 and 11 tons.“ Harvest moisture
content here also was 30 per cent. Over
the years the yields were as follows: 12
tons of grain maize, 4 tons of soybeans,
7.5 tons of winter wheat, 6 tons of bar-
ley and 3 tons of rape (moisture content
15 per cent respectively).
Owing to the competitive situations
between farmers/ livestock farmers and
the biogas plants Montana notices that
a lot of farmers try to keep the costs
low. However, in some cases this partly
leads to agricultural mistakes as they
Paolo Montana
33
top: On some plots Montana tests the StripTill system.bottom: Paolo Montana particularly appreciates the flexibility of the HORSCH machines.
often economise at the wrong end. But
still: When a biogas plant owner can pay
a rent of 1,500 Euro per hectare and a
dairy farmer already has to give in at
550 Euro, their line of action becomes
comprehensible.
Contracting
Although Paolo Montana talks about
his yields, he keeps a low profile on his
farm size. However, he does not mind
talking about his contracting business:
“On the whole I notice the trend that in
economically difficult times farmers
tend to cut back on farm-owned ma-
chinery. Instead they use service provid-
ers not only to carry out the work but
also to supply the corresponding know-
how.“
Among others Montana also has a
Fendt 936 Vario and an older Xylon. The
latter is equipped with a built-on Rau
sprayer and is used for plant protection
on a total of 2,300 hectare. Apart from
that not the tractors are his favourites,
but rather the attachments. Here he
likes to test a lot and he often choses
unusal combinations: „In this season I
carried out two tests: on one part of the
fields I immediately sowed with the
Pronto resp. Maistro after one single
pass with a one-bar subsoiler, on other
plots I tested the StripTill system with
RTK. Sowing was carried out with a
Kinze 3500.“ By choosing this special
technology Montana did not only want
to create agricultural effects, but also to
test a more extensive cultivation system.
As his tests are always laid out for sev-
eral years, results have not yet been
available.
Universal
Paolo Montana really appreciates the
enormous flexibility of his HORSCH ma-
chines and especially of his Pronto 6 AS.
This is particularly important for his con-
tracting work. Thus, the Pronto works
from May to November. “Fewer passes
on the one hand bring about a reduc-
tion of costs, but in this case it also has
an agricultural advantage. Mulch seed
improves the permeability of the soil,
the creation of humus, the cation ex-
change capacity and the capacity to
take up water. In my opinion, one of the
most important topics of the future will
be the targeted placement of fertiliser
– namely of mineral and organic ferti-
liser. StripTill will become more interest-
ing as the horsepower and thus the fuel
requirement will decrease what in turn
will result in fewer emissions. And all
that in addition to the positive agricul-
tural effects. According to my experi-
ence those who want to sow directly
need perfect conditions. I do not recom-
mend it for maize.“
terra
34
Farm report
No matter which country in the
world you look at: Everywhere
you will surely find a Dutchman
who runs a farm. There are
quite a lot of them in the Ukraine. We
are in Mankivka in the Cherkaska dis-
trict, about 200 kilometers south of Ki-
ev. After his agricultural studies in Wa-
geningen and after having worked on
farms in Poland as well as in Russia, Kees
ended up in this former Soviet Republic.
He is partner and farm manager of TOV
Kischentzi: “Beside me the farm has
three more associates: two more Dutch-
men – both have already been in the
country for more than 20 years – and a
native Ukrainian. The farm was founded
in its present form in 2001, I joined in
January 2003.“
Kischentzi is a farm with several sec-
tors of activity. At the moment they are
farming 15,000 hectare. In addition to
farming the other core sectors are pig
farming in a closed system, dairy farm-
ing and vegetable production.
“In the Ukraine it is not possible for
a foreigner to purchase land“, the 38-
year old farmer explains. “Thus, 100 per
cent of our fields are leased from a total
of 4,5000 owners. Our average plot size
is 140 hectare and the boundaries have
been completely realigned. This has not
always been the case. Over the years
Kischentzi developed from nine parts.
At the beginning the farm size
amounted to only 1,000 hectare.“
Black soil
Most of the fields are located in the
black soil area with a depth of up to 1.5
m. But partly the soils also are extremely
clayey. The climate in the region is ex-
treme as Kees knows: “In summer we
often have 35 degree Celsius and in win-
ter minus 20 to 25 degree. The annual
amount of rainfall is between 400 and
500 millimeter. In summer it is rather
dry. This year was an exception as there
was a little bit of rain at the end of June/
beginning of July and in September.
This did not delay winter barley harvest,
but the sowing of rape.“
Refining
Huizinga has big plans with regard to
livestock breeding. Pigs and cattle still
are mainly kept in old buildings. Dairy
equipment still comes from DeLaval so
far, but the plan is to invest in an
80-place rotary milking parlour from the
company GEA. In the cowshed there are
currently 550 dairy cows, in short there
will be about 700, in the medium term
there will be 3,500. “I am not yet com-
pletely satisfied with the output“, the
farm manager states. “We started with
a very modest quantity of 4 liter per cow
and day and in the meantime achieve an
annual quantity of 8,000 kilogramme.
But we clearly want to head for 10,000
kilogramme! The Holstein-Friesian cattle
are imported from Germany, the Czech
Republic and Estonia.
With regard to pig farming we rear
about 20 to 22 piglets per sow per year
Kees Huizinga
On a large scaleUntil very recently the Ukraine was still considered to be the promised land:
masses of available land, large structures, steady prices. But this has changed by
now. However, Kees Huizinga told us that it still is interesting to work in the
Ukraine.
35
Precision sowing with the HORSCH Pronto 12 SW
and there still is potential.”
The vegetable sector is developing
quite satisfactorily. Kees Huizinga adds:
„This year we produced carrots, onions,
white cabbage and cucumbers on 50
hectare. In 2014 we want to increase the
area to 150 hectare. In addition we
want to start growing strawberries and
asparagus.“ The vegetables are mar-
keted directly via a supermarket chain.
Social importance
The Kischentzi farm is one of the
most important employers in the re-
gion. Except for five foreigners (includ-
ing Kees) the farm exclusively employs
locals – a total of about 400 people. 40
agronomists, driver and mechanics are
responsible for farming, in the cowshed
there are 30 people employed and 40
people take care of the pigs, 60 employ-
ees alone guarantee safety. In the veg-
etable sector there are about 60 em-
ployees during the season, just under 40
people work in administration.
Machines
With regard to tractors Kees com-
pletely relies on John Deere. In Kis-
chentzi there work two articulated trac-
tors of the 9000 series, seven 8R and two
6930. For combining they use eight John
Deere S690 with 12 m MacDon cutting
units from Canada.
They are planning to purchase a
large tractor soon. In any case it will be
one with a caterpillar system and Kees
is seriously thinking about a Quadrac: “I
myself have not yet gathered any expe-
riences with this machine, but col-
leagues told me that at present it is the
best tractor with regard to tractive out-
put. But instead of a nominal output of
600 hp I would go for 100 hp more. I am
very interested in Controlled Traffic
Farming and it would be great to culti-
vate with a working width of 12 m.“
With regard to plant protection the
farm manager works with a homemade
solution: a 12,500-liter-barrel with tan-
dem chassis from Dubex was combined
with a 36-meter Goldacres boom from
Australia.
In the matter of mineral fertilisation
distribution accuracy is a problem when
it is windy because of the bad granula-
tion qualities. Therefore, Kees does no
longer use his 10-ton Bredal fertiliser
spreader that much, but mostly relies on
a Rauch AGT. Manure is distributed with
Tebbe spreaders.
Six-fold rotation
With little exception the rotation is
six-fold. The area per crop in general
remains the same. Leaf crops and cere-
als always alternate, i.e. maize after
beet, rape after winter barley or rape
after winter wheat. Only in some excep-
tional cases the rotation is maize after
maize.
In 2013 the yields were as follows:
winter wheat 6 tons/hectare, winter
barley 7 tons, rape 3 tons, soya 2.5 tons,
grain maize 11 tons and sugarbeet 57
tons. “All in all it was an average year,
but for maize, soya and wheat it could
have been a little bit more“, Kees esti-
mates.
Cultivators and seed drills come from
HORSCH. “With our Pronto and an Air-
seeder we are quite sufficiently
equipped“, Kees says and smiles. “In ad-
dition we have a 12m Terrano and two
7.5-metre Tiger. I appreciate the possi-
bility to also place fertiliser. Behind the
Tigers there is a heavy Simba roller resp.
a RollFlex packer. I am very satisfied
with our Joker – although we could use
a working width of 18 metre instead of
our 12 metre.“
What tipped the scales for HORSCH
was the excellent service of the dealer
who if necessary is supported by
HORSCH technicians.
In the future
Kees Huizinga remembers: “In the
beginning we worked a lot with direct
seed. After ten years of experience and
especially due to better prices it pays off
to work more intensively. The risk is get-
ting bigger, but I can accept it. I have
already tried StripTill, too, and it did
work quite well. But I want to use large
working widths and in my opinion the
GPS accuracy still is very poor. With the
single grain seed drill with 12 or 24 me-
tre it still ist not always perfect.“
There is no doubt that dairy produc-
tion will be extended. This pays off eco-
nomically, internally for grain maize
the market price is passed to account.
Moreover they get the liquid manure
back. “And it also is quite advanta-
geous to have lucerne in rotation“, the
farmer says. “If it is possible to increase
our farm size, we will do that. Ten years
ago the rent was 15 EUR per hectare,
today the rent amounts to 100 to 150.
The long terms, however, are positive.
90 per cent of our land is leased for
more than ten years, 65 per cent for
more than 20. We grow, but not at all
costs. My opinion is: Those who are in
the red on 10,000 hectare, will not au-
tomatically go into the black with
20,000.00. But luckily, that’s not our
problem...“
HORSCH Tiger 8 MT – cultivation and fertiliser placement at the same time
terra
36
Inside HORSCH
New structure
Gerhard Springs
Head of human resources
management
Born in 1974, married to Sonja,
one son
Has been working for HORSCH since:
2012
Professional background:
Apprenticeship as a truck mechanic,
via continuation education studies in
religious pedagogy, after graduation
studies in pedagogy with focus on job
& business, subsidiary subject: business
economics, after that employment in
the human resources sector of an au-
tomotive supplier, move back home,
new employment in the sector of in-
ternational human resources develop-
ment in a seat manufacturing com-
pany, then employment at the
HORSCH company.
My division:
On a long-term basis I see human re-
sources management as a kind of ser-
vice provider within the company. It is
based on four parts: 1.) basic issues of
human resources like uniform wage
policy, compliance with guidelines and
labour protection law as well their ef-
fects on the company 2.) Human re-
sources administration: wage and sal-
ary administration, certification,
insurances 3.) Operational human re-
sources management: currently the fo-
cus is on recruiting, contracts and in
the future it will be on supporting the
individual departments with regard to
the operational human resources is-
sues. 4.) The sector of human resources
development is the objective for the
future.
Employees:
In human resources 4 directly at Sitzen-
hof, supported by 2 employees at HIT
in Ronneburg, 3 employees in the ap-
prenticeship sector. Facility manage-
ment, catering with 3 employees and
house service with 1 employee are af-
filiated.
What I like about my job:
In general working in the human re-
sources sector is very varied. One often
deals with extremes and has to align
Growth is positive, but it has to be
managed. This is why the HORSCH
management board decided to create
a new organisational structure.
There also were further reasons
for this measure: create long-
term provisions for business suc-
cession and especially relieve
the members of the management board
them from day-to-day business. The lat-
ter provides more time for strategical
plannings.
The management board of the HORSCH
group consists of the family members
who already have been part of the
management so far - Michael Horsch,
Philipp Horsch, Traugott Horsch, Cor-
nelia Horsch – as well as of the manag-
ing directors Horst Keller (HORSCH
Maschinen GmbH) and Theodor Leeb
(HORSCH LEEB Application Systems
GmbH).
The individual divisions within the com-
pany are directly subject to individual
members of the management. In addi-
tion, in certain companies of the
HORSCH group managing directors also
are operationally responsible for individ-
ual divisions. Moreover a new level has
been established: the level of the divi-
sion managers. They are assigned with a
high degree of personal responsibility
and authority to decide. They take over
all tasks the previous responsibility from
the management board have carried out
within their department and in the day-
to-day business so far. They report di-
rectly to the management board.
Management board of
Philipp Horsch / Theodor Leeb
Production ManagementRoland Schönleber
Horst Keller
Human Resources Management
Gerhard Springs
Administration Procurement & Supplier ManagementJohann Neidl
And these are the new division managers:
Michael Horsch / Philipp Horsch / Horst Keller / Cornelia Horsch / Traugott Horsch / Theodor Leeb
37
basic rules like the Works Council Con-
stitution Act with operational require-
ments. The other extreme is dealing
with people and social topics.
What I like about HORSCH:
I have the freedom to further extend a
division in a self-dependent way and
as a next step to develop it continu-
ously with regard to the company’s re-
quirements. For me it is an important
development, too – professionally as
well personally.
Despite the current enormous growth
in the context of which company cul-
ture, too, develops further, HORSCH
does not lose sight of the individual
employees and tries to find common
answers to the respective questions.
Objectives:
The current projects are aiming at sta-
bilising the operational human re-
sources tasks in line with the structural
development. Due to the constant
need for employees it is important to
develop a clear employer’s brand
which is unmistakable inside as well as
outside the company. HORSCH has to
be perceived as an attractive employer
beyond the agricultural sector. This
gets even more important with regard
to the demographic trends. Another
important step is to build up a sound,
professional and continuous human
resources development. This has to be
carried out in close cooperation with
the new divisions.
Special experiences at work:
My first experience, of course, was the
change from a M-DAX listed employer
to an open and employee-oriented
family business. Exactly the right thing
for someone from human resources:
not only driven by business ration, but
also by the motivation to work with all
employees on solutions for our cus-
tomers. A second important experi-
ence is the topic agriculture itself. Be-
fore I started working for HORSCH I
thought that due to my personal envi-
ronment I am quite familiar with agri-
culture. But I have to admit that when
I got my first sightseeing tour at our
Russian site I was able to broaden my
familiar impression considerably.
Dr. Johann Neidl
Head of procurement and supplier
management
Born in 1966, married to Heidi,
two children
Has been working for HORSCH as a
freelancer since spring 2012, has been
employed on a full-time basis since
September 2013
Professional background:
Apprenticeship as a motor mechanic,
via continuation education studies in
automotive engineering, postgraduate
studies in Great Britain and the US
(combination economy/engineering),
for about 10 years employment in a
company in the automotive engineer-
ing sector in the departments R&D,
product management and strategical
planning, parallel to that doctorate (in
GB). For about ten years employment
in a company that supplies interior
components for the automotive sector
in the departments technical, strategi-
cal purchasing and supplier manage-
ment. Professorship at the university in
Landshut for the subjects technical
purchasing, international procurement
and quality management. Execution of
specific projects for HORSCH in the fol-
lowing sectors: cost/quality optimisa-
tion, annual price negotiations, place-
ment of orders in the marketing
sector, human resources and transport
services.
My division:
At the moment there is a purchasing
department at HORSCH which is re-
sponsible for requirement planning,
parts supply, pricing etc. Due to the
growth and the national and interna-
tional requirements it is necessary to
adapt the structures and processes.
Some key issues are (always with re-
gard to the whole HORSCH group): or-
ganisation of strategical purchasing,
implementation of bundling and syn-
ergy effects, optimisation of the co-op-
eration with R&D with regard to pro-
ject-related purchasing, development
of a purchasing system for non-pro-
duction material.
Other important projects are the intro-
duction of necessary methods and
tools as well as supplier management
and development.
Employees:
Currently ten in Schwandorf, employ-
ees in Landau at HORSCH LEEB, at HIT
and in the US are affiliated. The de-
partment is being set up at the mo-
ment, integration activities are in full
swing.
d of the HORSCH group
Cornelia Horsch
Service & Spare partsGünter Weinmann
SalesTraugott Horsch
MarketingKurt Glück
Philipp Horsch / Theodor Leeb
Research & DevelopmentHubertus Bultmann
Michael Horsch / Philipp Horsch / Horst Keller / Cornelia Horsch / Traugott Horsch / Theodor Leeb
terra
38
Inside HORSCH
What I like about my job:
I am an automotive engineer – I am
fascinated by machines and technology
in general! I very much like working at
an interface where I can combine tech-
nical and economic know-how to make
sure that the result is the optimum so-
lution for our company.
What I like about HORSCH:
Company culture, co-operation, how
people are treated, focusing on the
subject and not on personal interests
or career – everyone works together.
The employees are granted a lot of
freedom and responsibility and they
use it carefully – the basic prerequisite
for success. The owners also live these
values!
Objectives:
Action instead of reaction. Be involved
in all processes at an early stage from
the purchasing side, especially in the
product development stage to be able
to influence costs, quality and delivery
performance in a targeted way; devel-
opment of a strategical purchasing/
supplier management as well as of a
purchasing system for non-production
material.
Special experiences at work:
Constructive and collective coopera-
tion to become better together.
Roland Schönleber
Head of production management
Born in 1967, married to Caro,
two children
Has been working for HORSCH since:
1999
Professional background:
Studies in mechanical engineering,
then in industrial engineering and
management, for one year lecturer in
adult education, then sales of con-
struction equipment, later employ-
ment in the parental metal-working
company. Employment at HORSCH as
head of production.
My division:
The production of agricultural machin-
ery at the different HORSCH sites, i.e.
Schwandorf and Ronneburg. I also sup-
port the production at HORSC LEEB, at
our subsidiary in Russia and the estab-
lishment of our production in the US. I
am authorised representative of our
supplying company HORSCH Industri-
etechnik (HIT) in Ronneburg. I am also
responsible for the logistic sector.
Employees:
about 500 (including temporary em-
ployees)
What I like about my job:
I have a lot of contact with people, I
need a basic understanding of business
economics, but I still am in close touch
with technology. My work is very var-
ied. Our enormous growth is a special
challenge. I like to develop respectively
support restructuring processes and
new sites.
What I like about HORSCH:
HORSCH places a lot of confidence in
the employees and grants freedom to
perform. For me, these are basic pre-
requisites that motivate me.
Objectives:
It is my objective to make use of the
freedom I am granted by HORSCH also
to generate free resources for myself
to be able to go along with the
growth in the future, too. It is my task
not to get lost in the trivia of day-to-
day-business, but to train good em-
ployees who can take over the day-to-
day business in a self-dependent way.
And although the growth makes it
more and more difficult: For me it is
very important that my employees
identify with HORSCH and that they
enjoy working for HORSCH. By no
means do I want to lose the basic idea
of valuing my employees – on the con-
trary: I want to intensify it.
Special experiences at work:
When I started working as head of
production with at that time about 40
employees, people first were very criti-
cal with regard to restructuring pro-
cesses, which was what we desired, but
they nevertheless supported me right
from the start. This experience re-
peated itself with all sites I built up
and worked with. When in addition to
my actual tasks I also became responsi-
ble for building up the production of
HORSCH Ronneburg and HIT, it was
important for me to learn to let go
and to assign responsibility to other
people. Without this insight I would
not have been able to keep up with
the company’s development.
Hubertus Bultmann
Head of research & development
Born in: 1982
Has been working for HORSCH since:
2010
Professional background:
Raised on a farm in Westphalia, studies
in agriculture at the university in Göt-
tingen as well as studies in mechanical
engineering with focus on agricultural
engineering at the technical college in
Cologne. During this time various ac-
tivities like internships and holiday
jobs in the sectors agriculture, con-
tracting and agricultural engineering.
In the agricultural engineering sector
product management and later techni-
cal field tests at home and abroad. Af-
ter the studies first employment in a
company that produces tractors and
harvesters. 2010 employment at
HORSCH as a product manager with
the task to develop a technical product
management department.
My division:
Our team from R & D is responsible for
product development There are design
teams for the different product lines.
The teams consist of 3 to 10 people in-
cluding a team leader. In addition,
there are teams like the product man-
39
agement and the test team that work
on all products.
Employees:
approx. 60
What I like about my job:
In R & D I can be creative. I can design
practical products that offer agro-
nomic benefits to our customers. What
I enjoy most is the constant contact to
practical farming – directly at the ma-
chine, in the field.
What I like about HORSCH:
The focus of the whole company is on
the practical use of the machines. And
product development is consistently
aimed at this objective. A lot of em-
ployees are not only engineers, but en-
thusiastic farmers themselves. We
know what we are talking about!
Objectives:
The three basic principles of our design
teams are: safe, simple, fast – and this
is what our machines have to be like.
Special experiences at work:
My first contact with HORSCH. I had
been expecting a formal interview, but
we talked in a rather informal and cas-
ual way. At first it was about the re-
spective farms and agricultural engi-
neering in general. It was only later,
shortly before the end of the inter-
view, that we talked about the job. It
quickly was clear that we were on the
same wavelength.
Günter Weinmann
Head of service & spare parts
Born in 1967, married to Monica,
one son
Has been working for HORSCH since:
March 2013
Professional background:
Apprenticeship as a technician in me-
chanical engineering, studies via con-
tinuation education, graduation as a
MSc (technical college) in automotive
engineering with focus on expertise,
then employment as a project and
sales engineer in the construction ma-
chinery sector. During this activity a lot
of stays abroad, e.g. in India and
China. Employment at a large manu-
facturer of construction machinery,
various tasks, again working abroad.
In the end COO (= Chief Operating Of-
ficer) of four divisions in China. When
the company was sold, employment at
HORSCH.
My division:
Service and spare parts sector as well
as technical documentation and tech-
nical training.
Employees: approx.
50
What I like about my job:
You either love or hate service. I love
it!
What I like about HORSCH:
I was very well received. It was my ad-
vantage that I was not employed to
take away someone’s job, but to facili-
tate the workload by creating new
structures. And the support for my
work is considerable. What is striking
is the enormous loyalty of the employ-
ees towards the company.
Objectives:
My activities are to increase compe-
tences and skills among employees and
dealers, especially in mechatronics. The
main objective is to align the structure
of my division with the growth of the
company.
Special experiences at work:
During my professional career I trav-
elled to a lot of countries – also to
those that were not easy from a cul-
tural point of view. My wife always ac-
companied me and, thus, gave me the
necessary backing. And I sincerely
thank her for that.
Traugott Horsch
Interim head of sales, head of export
Born in: 1958, married to Martha Lor-
ena, three children
Has been working for HORSCH since:
1998
Professional background:
Agricultural apprenticeship, studies in
sociology and economics, graduation
as a qualified sociologist, development
aid worker in Nicaragua, mainly works
on promoting small farmers (basic and
further training, project management),
foundation and management of a
farm, after 10 years return home and
employment at HORSCH as an assistant
of the management board, various
tasks mainly in developing and sup-
porting new markets together with
Martin Kramer (also head of export).
My division:
As head of sales I am the sales respon-
sible on the divisional level. In addition
to continuously developing the
HORSCH sales strategy it is also about
coordinating the sales sector and the
other sectors of the company: align
the products with R&D, development
marketing measures with the market-
ing department, align the sales plan
with the production, human resources
issues etc…
As head of export I intensify the co-op-
eration with the sales partners in the
existing markets and I keep contact
with practical agriculture. I also have
to develop a feeling for the market
and, if necessary, initiate product de-
velopments. In new markets we have
to establish structures. Aligning the
sales figures with the assembly depart-
ment is an extremely important issue.
Employees:
125
What I like about my job:
I really enjoy to get things moving to-
gether with my employees. Moreover, I
like travelling and I enjoy the privilege
to work at eye level with entrepre-
neurs in foreign countries.
terra
40
Inside HORSCH
What I like about HORSCH:
Being a family member I might be a
little bit biased, but my impression is
that the relations of the employees
among each other are very good.
There is no negative competition and
no reckless striving for higher things.
Objectives:
With regard to sales it is my objective
to sustainably implement the HORSCH
brand. And, of course, to increase
sales. Moreover I want to gain ground
in markets where we have not yet
been present. These are for example
South Africa, northern Africa, the Mid-
dle East and South America.
Special experiences at work:
If you want to find the right partner
for a new market, intuition plays a ma-
jor role. I still remember the meeting
with a Danish contractor at an Agr-
itechnica quite some time ago who
wanted to sell our products. You al-
ways assume that someone like that is
only interested in buying machines at
a low price, but not in developing a
market. We took the risk and started a
partnership: previously Denmark was
entirely in the hands of a competitor,
today HORSCH is the market leader.
Kurt Glück
Head of marketing
Born in 1961, married to Ilona,
five children
Has been working for HORSCH since:
1984
Professional background:
Apprenticeship as a mechanic for agri-
cultural machinery, employment in the
HORSCH service department, then
head of service, for some time project
manager for Trac technology, changes
into marketing, head of marketing for
seven years.
My division:
Due to the new structure the market-
ing sector has been divided into four
teams: 1.) Sales promotion: this team
deals with shows, demonstrations,
practical work in the field. These em-
ployees always are in close contact
with the customer. 2.) Product market-
ing: They analyse markets and technol-
ogies, introduce new technology and
develop argumentations. Moreover,
they are responsible for the sales-re-
lated product management – the tech-
nical product management is part of
R&D. 3.) Communication: They are re-
sponsible for any communication
about HORSCH to the outside: adverts
in magazines, videos, press relations,
internet and of course social media
like facebook. 4.) Organisation: This is
the back-up team for the others. For
example they see to it that there are
machines for the shows, that hotel
rooms are booked and they organise
demonstrations and field days. This
team is also responsible for promo-
tional articles and the fan shop. The
two ladies at the reception desk of the
FIT training centre are also part of the
marketing.
Employees:
approx. 30
What I like about my job:
My job definitely is the best job in the
whole company. I really enjoy inspiring
people and this is exactly what I can do
in my job.
What I like about HORSCH:
I have a lot of freedom with regard to
my work. I can develop ideas, can be
creative, but I do not have to make my
name. The same is true for the rela-
tionship to Cornelia Horsch, my direct
superior, as well as to every single mar-
keting employee.
Objectives:
There is a quick pace at HORSCH.
Therefore, today’s objectives might al-
ready be outdated tomorrow… No, se-
riously: I want to take an active part in
the positive development of the com-
pany. For me that means to notice, ac-
tively create and implement necessary
changes at an early stage. Being a divi-
sion manager I am not only responsi-
ble for a department, but for the
whole company. This is a quite differ-
ent dimension.
Special experiences at work:
My personal highlight was that I was
allowed to present the celebration of
our 25th company anniversary. The
about 700 guests were the who’s who
of agricultural engineering.
Here are the comments of the mem-
bers of the management board who
are responsible for a division:
Philipp Horsch
“For me the most important main ob-
jective we pursue with the new divi-
sional structure is to put all sectors of
our company on solid ground for the
future in the long run. The divisional
managers are the operational manage-
ment team of the whole company –
thus, the tasks are clearly defined.
The transfer of the operational respon-
sibility in the technical sectors (R&D
and production) that so far myself and
also Theodor Leeb have been responsi-
ble for has already started quite some
time ago and thus we both are able to
concentrate even more on strategical
issues in the future.“
Horst Keller
“Due to the creation of the division
manager level and the new assign-
ment of the divisions I am able to con-
centrate more intensively on strategi-
cal commercial issues – for all
companies of the HORSCH group.
It is my objective to organise and struc-
ture the commercial and financial
frame conditions in such a way that
even if we continue to grow we can
41
protect our profit, maintain or even
improve the equity ratio and thus to
remain mostly independent from the
banks. However, I do not only focus on
costs, as beside optimised procurement
costs in all sectors of the company it
especially is a profitable sales depart-
ment that guarantees a sound, long-
term growth as well as a solid com-
pany and the corresponding jobs.
Improving our sales controlling and or-
ganising the sales department with re-
gard to commercial and financial issues
is my central task for the future.
In the human resources sector we want
to increase HORSCH’s image as an at-
tractive employer in the long run.
Guidelines and frame conditions which
are indispensable for a growing com-
pany must not lead to regulatory over-
kill, must not replace common sense
and have to be drafted in such a way
that they provide clarity for every em-
ployee, but also are guidelines that
provide each employee - within in the
scope of his job - with enough space
for entrepreneurial decisions and for
the creation of processes.“
Cornelia Horsch
“The objective for my divisions sales,
marketing and service is to align the
communication and to establish to-
gether internal structures, dealer net-
work structures and a uniform and
concerted HORSCH sales, marketing
and service image – inside the com-
pany and outside. My task is to encour-
age and support communication be-
tween the three sectors as well as to
align the tasks and to have more time
for strategical issues.“
Germany’s best production mechanic
works for HORSCHFlorian Reil excelled with an outstand-
ing mark of 1.1 and was honoured in
Berlin by the German Chamber of In-
dustry and Commerce (DIHK).
The best production mechanic
does not work for a car manu-
facturer (in this sector produc-
tion mechanic is one of the
standard apprenticed professions), but
for HORSCH, manufacturer of agricul-
tural engineering. But that he even is
the best one in Germany is something
that Florian Reil could not believe at
first. “I simply was overjoyed that I had
achieved such a good mark. When they
told me in Regensburg that I am not
only the best one in the district of Low-
er Bavaria/Upper Palatinate, but also in
the whole of Bavaria and perhaps even
in Germany, I was speechless”, Reil says.
After his apprenticeship he has, of
course, been employed by HORSCH and
is now working in the service depart-
ment. As an acknowledgement of his
excellent performance he and his par-
ents received two overnight stays in Ber-
lin as a gift from HORSCH so that they
all could participate in the celebration
of the DIHK and also do some sightsee-
ing in Berlin. Why did Florian opt for an
apprenticeship at the HORSCH compa-
ny? “At home we have a farm with
about 150 hectare – what is quite a lot
for our region. But I absolutely wanted
to train as a production mechanic. And
I did not want to work at an assembly
line later, but work individually and self-
dependently - with HORSCH this was
and still is possible”, Reil continues. An-
ton Grauvogl, head of training for all
German sites, is happy, too. “This shows
that the considerable sums which in the
past years were invested in the appren-
ticeship sector are paying off! At all sites
we bought state-of-the-art machines
and PCs/iPads, not only to guarantee a
high-quality apprenticeship, but also to
make sure that apprenticeship is fun,
too”, Grauvogl says.
In total HORSCH currently trains 47 ap-
prentices.
terra
42
Siegfried Mayer, BayWa, head of the technology sector
Service & Sales
Successful togetherThe BayWa is one of HORSCH’s big-
gest sales partners in Germany. In the
beginning there was a small family
business with unusual ideas and a big
concern. terraHORSCH talked to the
BayWa responsibles Siegfried Mayer,
head of the technology sector, and
Markus Leinfelder, head of product
management, as well as with the
HORSCH sales “veteran” Gerhard Sut-
tor and his successor Michael Meier
about yesterday’s and today’s co-op-
eration.
Munich, Arabellastreet. This is
where the BayWa head-
quarters is located. Their
business is varied. The tech-
nology sector consists of 149 sites in Ba-
varia – each of it sells a different prod-
uct range. The BayWa is the sole
distributor in Bavaria for HORSCH ma-
chines and tools of the cultivator and
seed drill sector.
terraHORSCH: Mr Mayer, do you still
remember the beginnings of the co-
operation?
Siegfried Mayer: The actual impetus
came from our customers. Due to
Michael Horsch’s speeches they learned
about no-till farming and then they
approached us and wanted to buy such
products. HORSCH became interesting
for us as a dealer when they extended
their product range for the smaller
structures in Bavaria.
terraHORSCH: How does the BayWa
place the HORSCH products on the mar-
ket?
Markus Leinfelder: The HORSCH pre-
mium products – especially the cultiva-
tors – complete our sales range perfect-
ly. In our customers’ opinion HORSCH
particularly stands for no-till farming.
terraHORSCH: At which sites does the
BayWa sell HORSCH machines?
Markus Leinfelder: The BayWa is very
present in the individual regions and
very close to the customer. In Bavaria we
have 149 technology sites and they all
sell HORSCH. In addition, there are core
sites that have a larger spare part stock
and are a sort of headquarters for the
other sites with regard to sales and ser-
vice.
terraHORSCH: Which products are
your customers most interested in?
Markus Leinfelder: This can be
answered with the top-selling working
width: 3 metre. This is surely due to the
structures in Bavaria.
terraHORSCH: What is the ratio
between cultivators and seed drills with
regard to sales?
Markus Leinfelder: Cultivators
amount to almost 90 per cent. In this
sector HORSCH offers a complete range.
With regard to seed drills our customers
still think that HORSCH’s focus is on
larger working widths.
terraHORSCH: Only well-trained
salesmen and service technicians can do
a good job for the customers. Are you
co-operating with HORSCH in the train-
ing sector?
Markus Leinfelder: Of course. We
plan the trainings together. It is a con-
structive co-operation where sugges-
tions from both sides are discussed and
implemented. All in all the HORSCH
training concepts are very sound and
sophisticated.
The newly established service sites for HORSCH machines
43
terraHORSCH: Field days and demon-
strations still are a popular marketing
tool. Do you also work together in this
sector?
Markus Leinfelder: We get a lot of
support from the HORSCH marketing
team. The customer is informed in a
competent way and you can always
sense the team‘s genuine enthusiasm
for farming. Trainings for customers are
always planned and carried out by
HORSCH, we are responsible for the
support of the customer on site. This co-
operation also works perfectly at shows.
By the way, our customers regularly
compliment us on the HORSCH events.
terraHORSCH: HORSCH does not only
sell technology made of steel and iron,
but also represents a certain philosophy
and a direct relation to farming. How
does the BayWa reflect this?
Siegfried Mayer: This is also true for
us: 90 years of BayWa speak for them-
selves. We, too, stand for a very close
and co-operative partnership with our
customers. Thus, HORSCH and BayWa
complement each other perfectly.
„Technology that inspires. Service that
hits home.“ that is the BayWa’s credo.
And the HORSCH products help us to be
true to our word. Due to our regional
network we are able to provide full ser-
vice.
terraHORSCH: Which perspectives do
you see for the future cooperation?
Siegfried Mayer: We want to grow
together in all product sectors. The
advantage is that the machines are
made by practical experts for practical
experts. They work extremely efficiently
and are very innovative. You can always
sense that experiences from all over the
world influence the development of the
machines. What we ask from HORSCH
is: Go on developing innovative prod-
ucts and live our partnership. For the
BayWa enjoys this cooperation very
much. Markus Leinfelder, BayWa, head of product management
Schwandorf,
Gut Sitzenhof, HORSCH headquarters:
Gerhard Suttor has been working for
HORSCH for 25 years.
He looks back on the beginnings of the
cooperation with the BayWa:
To tell the truth I don’t remem-
ber when exactly we started
the partnership with the Bay-
Wa. But it surely was almost
25 years ago. At that time HORSCH
actually only sold the machines direct-
ly. A few machines, however, were
sold via the BayWa even at that time,
primarily our self-propelled machines.
It was the BayWa that initiated the
sales partnership, we only excluded
some regions where HORSCH ma-
chines were already sold by another
dealer. The BayWa soon employed
their own salesmen, Mr Bauernfeind,
especially for the self-propelled liquid
manure tractors – a fact that put a spe-
cial emphasis on the business relation.
There were, of course, some initial dif-
ficulties. It was a clash of big and
small. Moreover it was completely
unusual for the BayWa salesmen that
HORSCH did not grant any discounts!
But nevertheless we both benefitted
from the partnership: For the BayWa
we were a reliable partner who did
not co-operate with another sales
partner and we had a region-wide
sales network. Our mutual confidence
grew, so did the sales figures.”
With regard to sales there was a
change on the HORSCH side about one
year ago: As Gerhard Suttor mean-
while has retired from the sales area
Bavaria, Michael Meier took over his
tasks. And as about 50 per cent of the
turnover is generated in Frankonia,
HORSCH has employed Florian Ermer
as an additional HORSCH sales con-
tact.
Michael Meier describes today’s
sales situation: “Whereas previously
the branch managers were allowed to
decide whether they want to sell
HORSCH – or not – the structures to-
day are more stable. With regard to
the sites the BayWa concentrates more
and more tasks under one roof. This is
not necessarily a disadvantage as due
to electronics and ISOBUS the repair
shops have to dispose of a much wider
know-how than before. At the mo-
ment we are establishing seven large
service sites pus 17 service repair shops
that will be provided with the neces-
sary training and the corresponding
tools. They are supported by two
HORSCH service technicians in the
field service and one HORSCH techni-
cian in the office at Sitzenhof.“
Gerhard Suttor (left) and his successor Michael Meier (right)
44
terra
Agritechnica silver medal:
FITZ Training centre
III. 1: Drift depending on wind speed and target area spacingSource: A. Seiler, AUS Triesdorf; diploma thesis 2009 supervised by Prof. Groß and Leeb Maschinen GmbH
The novel boom
control system offers
new possibilities to guide the boom
closer than 40 centimetres to the
target area.
During the first tests the reduc-
tion of the target area spacing
resulted in a significant drift
reduction as the results in ill. 1
clearly show. To guarantee comparabil-
ity constant pressure was kept up dur-
ing the whole test. First the flat jet noz-
zles LU 04 with a target area spacing of
50 centimetre were compared with LU
02 nozzles (considerably smaller drop-
lets) with a target area spacing of only
25 centimetre. Wind speed was in-
creased from 0 to 5 m/s in steps of 0.5.
In the wind channel test the version
with the small-droplet LU 02 nozzle, the
lower spacing of 25 centimetre and an
increasing wind speed resulted in less
drift losses. The same tests were carried
out with injection nozzles. For a target
spacing of 25 centimetre an only half as
large Airmix 015 nozzle was used com-
pared to a spacing of 50 centimetre
with Airmix 03. In this case, too, the re-
sult showed considerable advantages of
the lower target area spacing with in-
creasing wind.
Previous test results from the Eighties
also showed an important reduction of
drift losses when reducing the spacing
between boom and target area. At that
time, however, there were hardly any
technical possibilities to control the full
width of the boom – which today is 36
metre – with a target area spacing of
below 40 centimetres.
In the test they always used half-as-
large nozzles for the lower target area
spacing. The reason for this decision is
that when reducing the target area
spacing the nozzle spacing on the noz-
zle bar has to be reduced, too. This is
Absorbed water quantity “Flat jet nozzle” Absorbed water quantity “Injection nozzle”
Wind force m/s Wind force m/s
–b– Airmix 015; 25 cm spacing –W– Airmix 03; 50 cm spacing–b– LU 02; 25 cm spacing –W– LU 04; 50 cm spacing
45
the only way to guarantee sufficient
overlapping and thus lateral distribu-
tion (see ill. 2). For practical use a nozzle
spacing of 25 centimetre was chosen
that has already been used in practice
for the application of liquid fertiliser.
Thus, we do not use two nozzles per
metre working width as usual, but four.
To be able to apply the same water
quantity with the same pressure with
four nozzles as with 2 nozzles per me-
tre, we have to use half-as-large noz-
zles. The advantage of the lower nozzle
calibre is an important component
when optimising plant protection. A lot
of agents benefit from smaller nozzles.
An application with smaller droplets is
particularly advantageous for contact-
ing agents like for example contacting
fungicides or leaf-active herbicides. A
nozzle spacing of 25 centimetre com-
bined with a lower target area spacing
and adapted nozzles allows for optimis-
ing not only the attachment but also
the depth effect. Nozzles with lower
spraying range angles, e.g. 80-90° in-
stead of 110-120°, allow for optimising
the depth effect. The topic attachment
and wetting may also be reconsidered
from the loss point of view. Optimising
wetting and attachment is the prereq-
uisite for a safe agent and resistance
management.
To be as flexible as possible when
choosing the nozzles, multiselect nozzle
control offers a lot of possibilities to
control the nozzles manually or even
automatically according to the opti-
mum pressure range and advancement
speed. The arrangement of the nozzles
at the nozzle bodies is crucial. Up to 6
nozzles per 0.5 metre working width
are possible (see ill. 3). In the picture a
4-piece nozzle fitting has been mounted
every 50 centimetre and in between
there is a double nozzle fitting with a
spacing of 25 cm. Therefore, this system
is called a 4-2 system. The previously
usual arrange with 1 nozzle every 50
centimetre was called 1-0. Due to the
various possibilities it is possible to react
very quickly and efficiently to the re-
spective environmental conditions and
the requirements of the plant protec-
tive agents with regard to distribution
and wetting.
Summary:
The new boom control system
HORSCH Leeb BoomControl Pro opens
up a lot of new potential with regard to
optimising efficient plant protection
management!
Agritechnica silver medal: HORSCH Leeb BoomControl Pro
Ill. 4: Multiselect with 4-2 nozzle system
Combining a small-droplet applica-
tion with a low target area spacing
and reduced drift losses is our
approach to optimise efficient plant
protection management!
Ill. 2: When reducing the target area spacing, the nozzle spacing has to be reduced, too, to keep up the same overlapping.
Ill. 3: Possible nozzle positions for a 2-1 system with a nozzle spacing of 25 cm
5 25 cm 4
46
terra
Agritechnica silver medal – Singling technology for rape and cereals and its agricultural background
In times of high corn prices and heavi-
ly increased production and acreage
costs it is more important than ever to
max out the yield potential of the site.
Beside tillage sowing technology is
the fundament of high yields. A lot of
farmers are working on optimum seed
size and placement depth. The seed
drills that are available in the market
may contribute significantly with re-
gard to exact placement depth.
During the past years the focus
has more and more been on
the longitudinal distribution of
seed in the seed row. With a
variation coefficient (VC) of 90 to 120
per cent longitudinal distribution is the
weak point of mechanic or also pneu-
matic seed drills. In practical use this
results in double or missing spots of the
seed in the row. If several grains are
placed in one spot, there may be plant
losses because of the increased competi-
tion. The plants compete for root area,
light and water. The plants often do not
tiller and only form a thin, unstable
stem.
Especially for wheat there is a grow-
ing demand in crop farming for an indi-
vidual plant which consists of 3 strong
sprouts plus 2 to 3 lateral sprouts and
which has a strong root system to be
able to take up sufficient water and nu-
trients.
Thus, from a crop farming point of
view an optimum longitudinal distribu-
tion of the seed in the row allowing for
an appropriate and safe management
of wheat or barley hybrid population
with a low number of plants and a re-
sulting low seed size of 80 to 180 grains/
m² is the fundament of profitable farm-
ing. The progress in hybrid develop-
ment can already been seen in barley,
for some years there have been consid-
erable investments in the development
of wheat hybrids. But longitudinal dis-
tribution in a row also plays a major role
with regard to line respectively popula-
tion varieties. Regularly tillered popula-
tions can be managed quite easily with
regard to fertilising, the use of growth
regulators and fungicides.
FITZ Training centre
III. 1: Yields on loess soil with 92 points, variety: Cubus, previous crop: rape, date of sowing 12.09.2007. Source: TopAgrar 10/2008
Method Seed size Yield [t/ha]
Single grain seed(test)
90110
11.911.1
Average 11.5
Row seeding(HORSCH Pronto DC)
120140
11.710.2
Average 10.9
Higher wheat yield due to single grain seed
Winter wheat single grain seed with 100 seed/m²Winter wheat single grain seed with 25 seed/m²
47
First tests show that significant yield
increases can be achieved due to the
single grain placement of cereals (cf. ill.
1 and 2).
Illustration 1 shows a practical test
that was carried out in Saxonia-Anhalt.
Winter wheat was sown with two differ-
ent seed methods with in two seed sizes
respectively. The test was laid out as a
strip test. The test period was three
years. The result of the test not only was
a yield increase, but also a significant
reduction of diseases of the stem base.
This can be attributed to a better aera-
tion of the population and the consider-
ably more robust and vital plants. In
total, the experiences in the sector sin-
gle grain seed for cereals are extremely
positive: potential savings with regard
to seed, fertilising, fungicides and
growth regulators with at the same
time increasing yields. For winter wheat
there was a yield advantage of 0.6 to 0.8
t/ha.
Illustration 2 shows first results from
the Humboldt University in Berlin. They
tested winter rye with single grain seed
and row seeding. Here, too, there is a
tendency that shows the advantages of
single grain seed.
Single grain seed of cereals and rape
is the key to achieve maximum yields for
the respective site.
Again and again, farmers emphati-
cally call for a significant improvement
of placement accuracy.
Agritechnica silver medal – Singling technology for rape and cereals and its agricultural background
III. 2: Source: Michael Baumecker (MSc in agriculture), Humboldt University in Berlin, Faculty of Agriculture and Horticulture
Comparison: grain yield of single grain placement and row seeding
0,83
0,54
1,00
0,68 0,68
1,10 1,08
0,72
1,12
0,74
50 100 150 200 250
1,50
1,00
0,50
0,00
Gra
in y
ield
kg
/m2
Seed density grains/m2
Average grain yield from 2010 to 2012 depending on the seed density
W Single grain placement W Row seeding
Winter wheat single grain seed with 150 seed/m²
48
terra
HORSCH France Field Days
Every two years HORSCH France or-
ganises the traditional field days in
La Lucine. This year, too, they were an
enormous success – despite the unset-
tled weather.
On 11th and 12th of September
2013 HORSCH France received
about 700 farmers, entrepre-
neurs and dealers in La Lucine
(Haute-Marne). As usual the 2 day pro-
gramme was divided in two parts: a
seminar about current agricultural top-
ics and the presentation of technical in-
novations.
Robert Dorsemagen, the sales man-
ager of HORSCH France, summarised:
“The Field Days are a perfect opportu-
nity to exchange experiences and ideas
with our customers and dealers. It is a
very important event for HORSCH
France. The first day is more about
macro-economic topics, the second day
rather deals with more specific topics
like population management.“
The programme, thus, was very com-
plex with speeches of different experts:
Philippe Chalmin, founder of the Cy-
clOpe Institute (the most important Eu-
ropean research centre for commodity
markets), Dominique Dutartre, vice
president of Vivescia (agricultural con-
sortium for the production and process-
ing of plant material), Michael Horsch,
founder and managing director of the
HORSCH Maschinen GmbH. Moreover
there were further speakers from Ger-
many: Dr. Hansgeorg Schönberger, crop
farming expert and agricultural consult-
ant, and Prof. Dr. Dr. Franz-Josef Rader-
macher, professor at the university in
Ulm.
Producing and preparing efficiently
The first day started with a speech
from Franz Josef Radermacher, profes-
sor and computer science expert at the
university in Ulm. He particularly works
on the concept of an „eco-social“ mar-
ket economy. Being a specialist in glo-
balisation, he supports the worldwide
introduction of a “Global Marshall
Plan“ to reduce the tensions and the
imbalance in the world. He is inspired by
what happened after World War II.
“North and South have to learn to co-
operate in a much better way“, he ex-
plains. “We have to use science, technol-
ogy and money to offer new chances to
the nations at risk. Hunger leads to
revolution“, Radermacher adds. „France
is one of the most productive countries
of the world and, thus, has to contrib-
ute. For to feed more than nine million
FITZ Training centre
Philippe Chalmin, founder of the CyclOpe Institute
49
people all over the world, we need all
productive efficiency of the French and
the European agricultural sector.“
Then Dominique Dutartre, assisstant
managing director of the Vivescia group
and responsible for innovations, chair-
man of Agroindustry Research & Devel-
opment in Reims and of the competence
centre Industry and Agro Resources,
talked about phytochemistry. „Green
chemistry is a real alternative to fossil
energies. First of all the biggest chal-
lenge is communication. The world has
not yet understood that green chemis-
try can complement food production.
The second challenge is the competi-
tiveness of the procedures, as a bio-
based procedure is expensive and will
only develop if the price is the same as
for traditional chemical procedures.“
The development of this green chemis-
try has to find markets and become re-
ally more important, in contrast to the
bio-fuels of the first generation which
so far have only opened up an addi-
tional market with extremely low im-
portance.
While this first day was about eco-
nomic prospects, the next day dealt
with the agricultural aspects. Reduce
yield losses during the production pro-
cess (adapted cultivation methods, tar-
geted placement of fertiliser, exact dis-
tribution of the seed in the furrow, …)
and avoid waste by using the whole
plant – this is what Hansgeorg Schön-
berger talked about. The crop farming
expert concentrates on the mainte-
nance and improvement of soil fertility.
In his opinion rotation and fertiliser
strategies have to be adjusted, always
taking the most important climatic and
economic tendencies into account.
Moreover, it is important to guarantee
an optimum farm management. He
used the example of the HORSCH Focus
to make his position clear: „One of the
agronomic advantages of the machine
is the possibility to open the area below
the seed row for plants with tap-roots
so that the lateral roots can grow freely
in the soil. The second advantage is the
precise placement of fertiliser – espe-
cially for soils that have not been culti-
vated and ploughed for a long time.
They are low in nutrients and this is
where the Focus starts. Depending on
the setting it can work at depths of 20,
25, 30 centimetre to apply fertiliser to-
gether with nutrients like phosphor.“
According to Schönberger „Catch crops
are a temporary fashion. Of course, the
soil gradually loses degradable organic
matter. In this case, catch crops are quite
advantageous for soil fertility, in case
the population concerned is able to
generate nitrogen in winter. So all de-
pends on the condition of the soil.“
Philippe Chalmin, graduate of the
HEC (university of economics) Paris, lec-
turer in History, doctor of arts, is the
founder of the CyclOpe Institute that
deals with the international commodity
markets. “The fluctuations on the world
market affect the agricultural structures
in France. One will have to get accus-
tomed to the fact that instead of an in-
tervention price which every year anew
guarantees a price there will be prices
that vary between 120 and 280 Euro per
tons!“ He referred to China’s develop-
ment to one of the leading importers of
wheat, maize and also soya – a fact that
guarantees Europe a permanent place
Prof. Dr. Dr. Franz-Josef Radermacher (left) supports the worldwide in-troduction of a „Global Marshall Plan“.
A total of about 700 guests took part in the HORSCH France Field Days.
Michael Horsch (left) talked about Controlled Traffic Farming and single grain seed.
terra FITZ Training centre
50
among the producers on the world
market. „The biggest challenge, how-
ever, is Africa. An essential part of the
worldwide population development
will take place there. The African coun-
tries have to build up what we built up
in the Sixties: a common market organ-
isation.“
Innovative technology for future culti-
vation methods...
After the speeches the presentation
of the machines was a preview of the
Agritechnica 2013.
In his speech Michael Horsch had al-
ready given a taste of the innovations
of the HORSCH group. He gave his views
about the big trends with regard to pro-
duction systems worldwide and he drew
the audience’s attention to Controlled
Traffic Farming and single grain seed.
He talked in detail about single grain
seed for wheat. “We have already been
working on this for six years and we
have been testing our solutions at high-
yielding sites.“ A single grain meterer
that is positioned between the normal
distribution head and the seed element
TurboDisc was mounted on a standard
HORSCH seed drill. „This system will be
a huge success as it allows for variation
coefficients between 35 and 40 per cent
at an operational speed of ten km/h.“
Of course, he also talked about test ma-
chines which are not yet available on
the French market – like the self-pro-
pelled HORSCH Leeb sprayer. „The op-
erational speed in the field is 35 km/h
and on the road it is 60 km/h. The im-
portant innovation is the boom control.
I am convinced that this will revolution-
ise the sprayer market.“
After that the following novelties
were presented:
Joker 6 HD with six and 7.5 metre
working width: the compact rotary har-
row with a disc diameter of 62 centime-
tre can work at a depth of up to 15 cen-
timetre and is ideal for high amounts of
organic matter.
The Terrano FM, the big brother of
the Terrano FX, with five, six and seven
metre working width, with a four-row
tine system and a tine spacing of 28 cen-
timetre is extremely versatile and can be
used to work at depths between 5 to 35
centimetre, consolidation included. The
roller can be disassembled to work with-
out consolidation.
Pronto DC: The universal seed drill
for operational speeds between 12 and
15 km/h is ideal after plough, after a
disc or tine cultivator or, if the condi-
tions allow for it, to sow directly into
the stubble.
Joker 12 RT – new version: The com-
pact rotary harrow with a working
width of 12 metre has a disc diametre of
52 centimetre. Its characteristic: the ma-
chine folds easily and quickly to a trans-
port width of three metre.
The important innovation of the
Field Days was the Focus 4 TD. This Strip-
Till seed drill allows for exactly defining
the area for the root development of a
plant with tap-roots by means of two
tine bars (tine spacing 30 centimetre).
The distinctive feature of this tine sys-
tem is that a fertiliser depot can be
placed at a depth of 30 to 35 centimetre
to re-enrich depleted soil with nutri-
ents.
The successful event was finished
with a short outlook on the Agritech-
nica and on the next Field Days in two
years.
PREPARE FOR THE FUTURE
www.horsch.com
• The top-selling mulch seed drill in Europe
• Cultivation, consolidation, sowing and pressing
in one pass
• PPF fertiliser system is optional
• Precise seed placement with the TurboDisc seed
coulters that have proven themselves
a thousand times
Contact your dealer to arrange a demonstration!
Buy a Pronto now and retrofi t it with the medalled grain singling system later. DLG Silver Medal Agritechnica 2013
www.horsch.com
More information in the new HORSCH spare parts catalogue from your dealer or in the internet.
Ask your dealer for current offers for original
HORSCH parts of uncompromising quality.
Wearing parts
Prepare yourself for
the season NOW and think
about wearing parts in time.
003101012324560023240001
23247400
00310954
23246300
00311174 24145600
23010201
23010200
Scheiben-
sätechnik
Disc drilling
technologyTechnique de
semis à disque
Дисковая посев-
ная техника
Terrano
Tiger
Joker
Cruiser
Focus
Pronto
Sprinter
Airseeder
Express
Maestro
Verwendung
Use
Utilisation
Применение
10
Terrano
Tiger
Joker
Cruiser
Focus
Pronto
Sprinter
Airseeder
Express
Maestro
DoubleDisc
00310081 00430507
Striegelzinken doppelt d 12 mm)
row tine double d 12 mm)
Double dent de herse d 12 mm)
Зубья сетчатой бороны (стандарт 12 мм)
34217503
23487405
Striegelzinken Dammstriegel rechts
row tines dam harrow right
Dent de herse pour billon droite
Зубья сетчатой бороны, гребне-вая борона, справа
23487402
23250303
Striegelzinken TurboDisc
row tines TurboDisc
Double dent de herse TurboDisc
Зубья сетчатой бороны TurboDisc
23487404
34217502
Striegel Harrow Herse Бороны
Verwendung
Use
Utilisation
Применение
11
Hier "nden Sie schnell
die meistverwendeten
Verschleißteile.
Umgehend wieder einsatzbereit:
Bestellung 24 Stunden, 7 Tage über
www.horsch.com oder Ihren Händler.
Here you will quickly
"nd the most used
wearing parts.
Immediately back in operation:
Order 24 hours, 7 days through
www.horsch.com or your dealer.
Ici, vous trouverez
rapidement les pièces
d’usure les plus utilisées.
Remise en marche dans les plus
brefs délais :
commande 24 heures sur 24 et 7 jours
sur 7 via www.horsch.com ou votre
concessionnaire.
Здесь можно быстро
найти наиболее
используемые запас-
ные детали и узлы.
Быстрое восстановление
готовности к работе:
круглосуточный заказ, 7 дней в
неделю через сайт www.horsch.com
или через Вашего дилера.
Scheiben .............
........ 8
Discs
Disques
Диски
Packer .............
............ 9
Packer
Packers
Почвоуплотнители
Striegel ............
......... 11
Harrow
Herse
Бороны
Übersicht
Overview
Aperçu
Краткое
описание
Schare / Zinken .......... 5
Points / tines
Socs / dents
Сошники / лапы
Scheibensätechnik ... 10
Disc drilling
technology
Technique de semis à
disques
Дисковая посевная
техника
4
00350084
Bundmutter M12
Collar nut M12
Ecrou à embase M12
Гайка с буртиком M12
34182600 (li/l/g/прав.)
34182700 (re/r/d/лев.)
34060862 (li/l/g/прав.)
34060863 (re/r/d/лев.)
34060852 (li/l/g/прав.)
34060853 (re/r/d/лев.)
34060858 (li/l/g/прав.)
34060859 (re/r/d/лев.)
34060854 (li/l/g/прав.)
34060855 (re/r/d/лев.)
00310985 (li/l/g/прав.)
00310986 (re/r/d/лев.)
34060856 (li/l/g/прав.)
34060857 (re/r/d/лев.)
MulchMix Flügel breit Standard 172,5 mm
MulchMix wing wide standard 172.5 mm
Aileron MulchMix large standard 172,5 mm
Боковые крылышки лапы MulchMix
широкие стандарт 172,5 мм
34060850
00311069
MulchMix Spitze HM PLUS
MulchMix point carbide PLUS
Pointe MulchMix carbure PLUS
Литой наконечник лапы MulchMix
с твёрдоспл. наконечн. PLUS
34060851
MulchMix Spitze 120 mm
MulchMix point 120 mm
Pointe MulchMix 120 mm
Наконечник лапы MulchMix 120 мм
00310915
MulchMix Spitze schmal HM 80 mm
MulchMix carbide point narrow 80 mm
Pointe MulchMix étroite carbure 80 mm
Наконечник лапы MulchMix с
твёрдоспл. наконечн. узкий 80 мм
00310808
Scharschraube M12 x 85
Coulter screw M12 x 85
Vis de soc M12 x 85
Болт сошника M12 x 85
00360037
MulchMix
Schare
MulchMix
Socs
MulchMix
Сошники
Terrano
Tiger
Joker
Cruiser
Focus
Pronto
Sprinter
Airseeder
Express
Maestro
Verwendung
Use
Utilisation
Применение MulchMix
Points
5
Original Verschleißteile
, auf
die Sie sich verlassen können.
Genuine Wear Parts you can
rely on.
Willkommen beim
HORSCH Verschleißteilkatalog!
Die maximale Leistung Ihrer HORSCH Maschi-
ne gewährleisten nur o
riginale Verschleiß- u
nd
Ersatzteile, die Sie über
Ihren HORSCH Ver-
triebspartn
er beziehen.
Gerne beraten wir S
ie bei der A
uswahl der ri
chti-
gen Teile, g
enauso wie w
ir Sie auch beim
stand-
ortspezi%schen Einsatz Ih
rer Maschine beraten.
Wir haben garantie
rt genau das Ersatzteil
für
Ihre Anforderungen bei einem optim
alen Preis-
Leistungs-Verhältnis.
Gehen Sie keine Kompromisse ein - auch nicht
bei Verschleiß- u
nd Ersatzteilen. D
enn diese tra-
gen maßgeblich zur L
anglebigkeit Ihrer H
ORSCH
Maschine bei.
Welcome to th
e HORSCH Wear P
arts Catalogue!
Only genuine wear a
nd spare parts you can pur-
chase from your HORSCH sales partn
er ensure
maximum perfo
rmance of your H
ORSCH machine.
We will also be glad to
advise you when choosing
the right p
arts, ju
st as w
e advise you in th
e loca-
tion speci%c applicatio
n of your machine. W
e de%-
nitely have th
e right spare part a
vailable to exactly
match your require
ments, and th
is at an optim
al
price-perfo
rmance ra
tio.
Do not make any compromises - a
lso not when
wear and spare parts are concerned. Because
these essentially
contribute to
the lo
ngevity of
your HORSCH m
achine.
2
Les pièces d’usure d’origine,
la meille
ure preuve de #abilité.
Оригинальные запасные
части, на которые Вы
можете рассчитывать.
Bienvenue dans le catalogue de pièces d’usure
HORSCH !
Un débit maxim
al de votre machine HORSCH
n’est garanti q
u’avec des pièces d’usure et de re
-
change d’origine fo
urnies par votre
concession-
naire HORSCH.
Nous sommes à votre entiè
re disposition pour
vous conseiller dans la sélectio
n des bonnes
pièces et quant à
l’utili
sation de votre
machine
en fonctio
n des conditions sur s
ite. N
ous avons
à coup sûr la pièce de re
change qu’il vous fa
ut,
dans un rapport q
ualité-prix
optimal.
N’acceptez aucun compromis - même quand il
s’agit de pièces d’usure et d
e rechange. C
ar elle
s
contribuent g
randement à la
longévité
de votre
machine HORSCH.
Добро пожаловать на страницы каталога зап-
частей для машин фирмы HORSCH!
Максимальную отдачу от машины фирмы
HORSCH можно получить только при использо-
вании оригинальных быстроизнашивающихся
и запасных частей, которые можно приобрести
у торгового партнёра фирмы HORSCH.
Мы охотно проконсультируем Вас по выбо-
ру надлежащих деталей и узлов, а также по
использованию Вашей машины с учётом спе-
цифики места её работы. Мы гарантирован-
но имеем запасные детали и узлы точно под
Ваши требования при оптимальном соотно-
шении цена-результат.
При приобретении быстроизнашивающихся и
запасных частей не позволяйте себе идти на
компромиссы. Только оригинальные детали и
узлы от HORSCH способны существенно уве-
личить срок службы Вашей машины.
3
Original Verschleißteile Original Wear Parts Pièces d‘usure d‘origine Оригинальные запчасти
Farming with passion