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Experience report - ROPA Keiler 2 at KWS Klostergut Wiebrechtshausen

Steffen Köhler talks about his experiences with the potato harvester ROPA Keiler 2 during the third harvest at the Klostergut of KWS in Wilbrechtshausen.

As a student of agricultural science, he worked as a trainee at the Klostergut and started working there full-time as a farmer after completing his studies. 

In 2018, the ROPA Keiler 2 was purchased and put into operation. With its individually adjustable cleaning units thanks to the completely hydraulic drive, the Keiler 2 is especially gentle on the potatoes, which is particularly valued by this experimental farm.

See the complete article - KWS Klostergut Wiebrechtshausen GmbH

ROPA team accompanied the next new machine during its first harvest. This time we were out and about with a Keiler 2 DoubleSelect. Despite good soil conditions, one can already see how wet the past year was. The ground is very poorly compacted and therefore has relatively little fine soil structure. Thanks to the DoubleSelect, despite these conditions we were still able to harvest very clean tubers. Many thanks to the Krapp family from Elsdorf and best wishes for a successful harvest with the new machine.

Area performance as the main focus:
Harvesting with RK21 with an overloading bunker and Fendt Vario 722 at Schmidt's farm. The pickup of the Keiler is equipped with the half ridge drums and central share allowing harvesting of potatoes in combination with a swather. A weather protection canopy provides more comfort at the sorting platform. The harvester is also equipped with a stone collection box.
In order to harvest without any interruptions, a Brettmeister loading trailer accompanies the harvester in the field. 

Even high weed content poses no problem for our Keilers. The leaf chain reliably transports the oilseed rape and orache out of the machine. 
Potatoes are filled into trays directly in the field.

Keiler 2 and Fendt Vario 722 at Tolle Knolle GbR in Tundersleben. The RK21 is equipped with deflector rollers instead of a rotating finger comb above the pintle belt 4. The deflector roller package offers a product-friendly and high-throughput alternative to the UFK, especially on loose soils with low clod or stone content. In addition, it is equipped with plastic ridge drums. Thanks to them, less ridge pressure can be applied if required, compared to normal drums. They also handle particularly sticky soil conditions more effectively.

Chicory harvesting with a Keiler 2 Classic and John Deere 8360 R at SL Gartenbau GmbH in Oberkrämer. The chicory roots are harvested in autumn and then stored in a very cool place. Later they are moved to a dark greenhouse to grow shoots from the roots. 
The roots are harvested by a pickup without ridge drums. The depth and lateral guide of this pickup is performed by means of special skids. 

One of the largest organic farms in Bavaria, Grossmann‘s Feldfrüchte, chooses ROPA

The potato harvest is in full swing at the two-generation farm of Peter Grossmann-Neuhäusler. This is already routine for the well-rehearsed team – but new this season are two ROPA Keilers, which harvest the organic potatoes. The operation is completely mechanized for the planting, care, and harvest of the fields and, thanks to new investments, offers storage capacities for approx. 8,000 t of potatoes. In total, between 40 and 60 seasonal workers are employed at peak times for harvest, care, and storage work.

See the complete article - Großmann's Feldfrüchte relies on ROPA

Double bunker for gentle separation and sorting

BüSta resulted from the merger of the businesses of Johannes Büsch and Kevin Stanau. In order to optimise their farms and increase efficiency, the young farmers rely on the joint use of staff and machinery. The farm of Johannes Büsch is managed according to organic farming guidelines (Bioland), and the farm of Kevin Stanau follows Naturland guidelines.

Today, they cultivate around 500 ha of arable land, of which about 100 ha is given to potatoes and 50 ha to onions.

The Keiler 2 Classic with double bunker allows to separate baby potatoes directly on the harvester in order to sell it later.

See the complete article - Büsta Dienstleistungs und Handels GmbH & Co. KGBüSta

On the ‘Bulldog’ with the Batz customer

At the beginning of September 2021, we visited Thomas Batz and his family during the potato harvesting campaign. The family-run farm is located in the Eichstätt district, Bavaria. Besides grain and sugar beet, the main crops grown at the farm are table potatoes and potatoes for seed propagation. In total, the potato cultivation area is about 60 hectares.
For the sale of table potatoes, a careful harvesting is of the utmost importance. “Our table potatoes mainly go to washing and to various packing companies, for which our potatoes may not have any quality defects, especially any damage,” explained Thomas Batz. The same applies for the seed potatoes since damaged tubers can introduce pathogens and viruses.
In order to meet these high demands on each potato crop kind, Thomas Batz chose the ROPA Keiler 2 Classic last year in 2020. Another reason for the farmer to buy a ROPA machine was the proximity to the company or to the trusted dealer. “The ROPA company and its dealer, with whom I have had only good experiences so far, are practically right on my doorstep, so the decision to buy a ROPA Keiler was an easy one.”
This year, the ROPA Keiler is completing its second harvest season at the farm of Thomas Batz. The farmer says that, he is satisfied with the technology, durability and quality of the ROPA machine. He has not yet required much customer service which actually was crucial to his choice. “The harvester has not caused any problems so far,“ explained Thomas Batz.

Trecker babes - potato harvesting with Theresa: How does the new boss do it?

For the first time, Theresa is the boss and has to prove herself right away during the potato harvest. How is she doing in the leadership position and how is the potato harvest going?