HOLMER sugar beet demonstration attracts farmers and contractors from all over the UK

21.02.2012

Farmers and Contractors involved in beet harvesting travelled from nearly all the beet growing areas of the UK, to the sugar beet harvesting and handling demonstration organised by Standen Reflex, importers of the Holmer product range. Many were current Holmer users, who had come to see what was new, but there were also many users of other brands keen to find out about features of the latest products in the Holmer range.

The demonstration was held in north Norfolk, in early February, during the coldest week of the winter so far, and heavy falls of snow had affected the area since the weekend before. “We were very relieved,” said Standen Reflex marketing director Alex Mathias. “We had decided that if conditions were too frosty then we would hold a static event, but luckily conditions on the morning of the demonstration were good, the frost had not penetrated the beet, the ground was soft, although covered in snow, and we were able to go ahead with the lifting. In fact conditions during the day were almost perfect and with the large number of visitors we had attending, the demonstration was a real success.”

Machines being demonstrated included the latest 2012 model Holmer Terra Dos T3 six-row self-propelled harvester, the Terra Transport beet chaser and the Terra Felis 2 self-propelled cleaner loader which was busy all day loading the beet into the fleet of lorries for delivery to the Wissington factory.

The latest Holmer Terra Dos T3 harvester has several significant improvements over earlier versions, including a more powerful MAN 520hp engine using SCR (Adblue) to meet emissions standards. The new engine responds more quickly to load changes, and makes the harvester more economical too. The move to whole beet delivery by British Sugar for this year’s campaign, in line with most of the rest of Europe, has encouraged the development of improved topping systems for harvesters. One of the most common problems experienced by growers is that in an uneven crop, the beet scalper knives often can’t cope with a wide variation in beet sizes, and a degree of over and under-topping can result. The machine being demonstrated was fitted with Holmer’s DynaCut micro-topping system, the lightweight construction of the scalpers allowing them to move up and down quickly reacting to differences in beet height. The scalpers are designed to remove more of the crown from bigger beet, to allow for the extra foliage. “We have been pleased that as well as existing Holmer users, many of those visiting today currently use other makes of machine, and have come along to see for themselves what makes the Holmer product range so popular,” said Alex.

 

Pictured; Tony Lee of AL Lee and Sons, farmers and contractors from Ely, Cambridgeshire. Farming approximately 11,000 acres of arable crops, almost 1,800 acres of sugar beet is grown on the family farm. As well as lifting its own beet, the farm provides a contract lifting service to several local farms, taking the area harvested annually to about 2,500 acres. “We take on the contract work to help justify the harvester,” said Tony, “and to keep it busy all season. We usually start lifting just a few days before the factory opens, aiming to finish by Christmas, and with the amount we do, we depend heavily on our harvester to be reliable. We have had Holmer machines since we first used tanker harvesters, and the current Terra Dos T3 2010-model is our fourth.” When asked why he selected Holmer originally from the brands available, Tony said it was an easy decision. “The Holmer is strongly made and the quality of build is easy to see. For example, the turbine tines are rugged and made to last, and there are none of the frustrating design faults that are usually found on a complex machine. We look after our machinery, and the harvester has just one regular driver. We know it will sell on easily second-hand and resale values are very good. With its 22-tonne tank, the crab-steer feature helps spread the weight across its entire width, leaving the land flat making it easier to establish following seedbeds.” Tony said that although the harvester is so reliable, his business still needs the reassurance of good back-up from the importer. “Standen Reflex is based very close to us, so it is very convenient, but even if parts have not been in stock in the UK at any time, they have almost always arrived overnight from Germany, and that service is excellent. It’s a good machine, we receive good after-sales service, and this year’s beet crop has been excellent, harvesting conditions were ideal, and all in all it has been a very good season.”

 

The demonstration machine was fitted with Holmer’s DynaCut scalpers, allowing growers to take maximum advantage of British Sugar’s new whole beet delivery standards.

RJ Stevenson and Son Ltd of Sutton Bridge, Lincolnshire is a farm and contracting business, most of its contract work being based around the area’s sugar beet crop. Contract operations for beet growers include beet drilling and harvesting, and the company uses a Holmer Terra Dos T2 which has just completed its fifth season. “We have lifted up to 2,600 acres in a season, although this year we will do about 1,000,” said Jed Stevenson. “We have owned most makes over the years but feel the Holmer’s build-quality and reliability is superior. I have come along today with our harvester operator, Neil Hubbard, to see what has been altered and improved on the latest machines and to look at the new Holmer beet chaser. We are very pleased with the Holmer products and the service. The back-up is very good and if parts are not in stock in this country they arrive overnight. Our current machine has recorded approximately 5,000 hours harvesting time, and  the total operating hours are almost 6,000 and we have had no major problems at all, just routine maintenance really.” Neil Hubbard says he is impressed with the Holmer; “The harvester is easy to operate and I like the cab. I rarely have to leave it during the day as there are few problems and I am able to just get on with the harvesting. In my opinion, having driven most other makes I do prefer the Holmer. We keep our harvesters for quite a while, and we get plenty of time to get used to them and find their good and bad points.” One feature Neil particularly likes is the opening front window. “When the sun is low, there can be times when looking through the windscreen at the crop being lifted is quite difficult due to the glare. With the Holmer, I can just open the front screen, and look straight down at the lifters, and that is a really useful feature.” Asked which improvements he had noticed particularly on the latest model, Neil said the ability to adjust the depth wheels hydraulically would be a benefit over his present machine. We lift beet planted at 18 and 20-inch row spacing, and although the lifting shears are adjusted hydraulically from the cab, the depth wheels are adjusted manually. This can be difficult if they have not been moved for a while, but the hydraulic adjustment on the latest model looks very useful.”

The Holmer Terra Felis 2 cleaner loader has a 10m header and an MAN 340hp power unit. With a 900mmm web running right through the machine, maximum throughput is 560 tonnes per hour, and the discharge elevator has a 15m reach from the centre of the machine. The demonstration machine was fitted with Holmer’s patented Vario-web cleaning system which allows the operator to select the degree of cleaning required to suit the amount of dirt. “The cleaning rollers can be covered by a variable length of conveyor trace. If beet are very dirty, the trace is withdrawn and the beet run the full length of the rollers, but if they are clean and dry the trace is extended, covering more of the rollers, saving unnecessary crop damage,” said Alex.

The Terra Felis 2 being demonstrated is owned by haulier D and J Transport Ltd of March, Cambridgeshire. Marianne Tibbett is a company director and relief driver of the cleaner loader.  “We were considering investing in a mouse for several years and requests for one from customers were increasing, so we purchased the Holmer for this campaign. Advantages include the ability to clamp beet anywhere convenient for loading, without the need for a concrete pad, better cleaning action and better dirt tares, and being able to load and transport beet quickly. From our point of view, it is more efficient providing much faster loading and keeping lorries moving, and it’s safer for our drivers too. They don’t have to keep climbing up and down the trailers to check the loading, and to move the lorry a few yards at a time as they do with our cleaner loaders. We can load the lorries more evenly too, maintaining the correct weight distribution on the axles. We have loaded up to 75 lorries in one day, but we did finish early, and if we had kept going we would easily have loaded 100. We carry out all sorts of haulage, but have up to 25 lorries hauling beet during the campaign, and this year will haul approximately 170,000 tonnes, most loaded with the mouse, and most of which will be to the Wissington factory. The customer reaction to the mouse has been very positive, to the extent that since purchasing it, we have gained new customers who prefer that method of loading. For next year, we are considering purchasing a second mouse, and offering a cleaning and loading service to growers and other hauliers. The concept is good and it has worked well. Pictured with Marianne is Andrew Johnson, the machine’s main operator. “I prefer it to the loading shovels, it’s comfortable, easy to move about and the cab is very comfortable,” he said. “It is definitely the way forward.”

 

The new Holmer Terra Transport sugar beet chaser was being demonstrated for the first time. This is designed to carry beet from the harvester to the headland clamp, or for loading directly into lorries or trailers. The machine being demonstrated had been purchased for the 2011/12 campaign by a beet growing group from Suffolk, which Alex said is delighted with its performance and the benefits provided. “It is built from a recycled 1999 harvester, with the topper, lifters and cleaning system removed, which has reduced its weight by approximately six tonnes. The transmission is beefed up and a movable side panel fitted to the tank to increase capacity and reduce loading height. Most interest has come from contractors keen to reduce the amount of mud on the roads, by using the beet chaser for the on-field carting, allowing tractors and trailers to be loaded in the field gateways. The four-wheel steering system provides crab steering, just as on the harvesters, and this allows the weight to be spread evenly, eliminating ruts, and reducing compaction. It suits both mouse and tractor and trailer systems.

Alex Mathias was delighted with the demonstration day. “The car parking area was full, lots of food and hot drinks were supplied by the caterers and the attendance was very pleasing. Most attending were contractors, but there were some large farmers too, and people had come along to see all three Holmer products. We expect to be busy now following up the many enquiries.”