Report about the ROPA Keiler 2 from the KWS Klostergut Wiebrechtshausen
Steffen Köhler reports about his experiences with the ROPA Keiler 2 potato harvester in the third harvest on the Klostergut of the KWS in Wilbrechtshausen.
Even during his studies of agricultural science, he worked as a trainee at the Klostergut and started working there full-time as a farmer after completing his studies.
The ROPA Keiler 2 was purchased in 2018 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, something on which this experimental farm places particular value.
You can get more impressions and see the fascination Keiler 2 in the video.
The KWS Klostergut Wiebrechtshausen GmbH is a subsidiary of KWS SAAT SE and has operated the farm of the Klosterkammer Hannover as tenant since 2002. Since the beginning, the operation has been organic according to natural land guidelines. The goal of the operation is the production of organic seeds and vegetables. Many type and performance tests are conducted on these fields, which have been cultivated organically for many years. This way, precise results about the suitability of individual types and breeds are determined under organic cultivation conditions. In addition, there are cultivation experiments, for example focusing on fertilization, biological plant protection, and weed regulation.
The farm is approximately 368 hectares; table potatoes are grown on approximately 60 hectares.
Approximately 190 hectares of good farmland can be irrigated; for two crop rotations, the focus is on these crops:
1st year: clover grass
2nd year: potatoes
3rd year: carrots
4th year: sugar beets, bush beans, red beets, etc.
5th year: grain with clover grass underseeding
Approximately half the area is too steep, too stony or too clayey to plant crops. Here, there is a combine crop sequence:
1st year: clover grass
2nd year: clover grass
3rd year: wheat or hybrid rye propagation
4th year: Triticale or barley
5th year: field beans
6th year: oats or summer barley with clover grass underseeding
Thank you very much to Steffen Köhler and operations manager Axel Altenweger and his whole team
A real looker - Keiler 2 and John Deer 6175R with a special look and tires at the Olligs family in the Rheinland
The Olligs family farms 250 hectares in the Rheinland (Bedburg-Kirchherten). The Olligs family's farm has a long tradition and is now being farmed by the third generation.
Potatoes are always grown in Kirchherten since the soil near Jülich is very fertile.
Ground points between 80 and 95, a loess soil depth between 5 and 10 meters and 750 - 900 mm of rain produce high-quality potatoes, but other crops also flourish in the profitable areas around Jülich.
In addition to sugar beets, wheat and corn, the focus is on potatoes, with approx. 100 hectares of table potatoes. The early potatoes (as seen in the video) go directly to the Netherlands for further processing. For the early potatoes, yields are between 35 and 45 tons per hectare; at the main harvest time, between 45 and 55 tons per hectare.
Both operations managers Markus and Heinz-Georg Olligs selected a Keiler 2 in 2018. The main reasons for this were the gentle harvesting and individually adjustable cleaning units thanks to the completely hydraulic drive - a big advantage, and not just for harvesting early potatoes. The potato harvest on the Olligs farm starts with the first early crops in May and continues through the late crops at the start of November.
The Keiler's cleaning settings can be adjusted easily from the tractor cabin and similarly on the terminal of the sorting platform. Here, the absolute focus is the harvest quality, which is something his customers also always confirm. Regardless of the harvest conditions and speed, the machine can be adjusted to the ideal setting.
A real looker is the team consisting of the John Deere 6175R with black high-gloss rims and the Michelin Evobib tires in the size 710/70 R42.
With the integrated PTG tire pressure control system, the tire pressure is increased to 2.0 bar when driving on roads, so that the contact area width is reduced to approximately 550 mm.
For field work, the tire pressure is reduced to 0.8 bar depending on the requirements, so that the contact area width widens to more than 780 mm.
Starting in 2018, Markus Olligs has been a practical partner to Michelin for practical tests and enhancement of the Evobib tires.
Thank you very much to the Olligs family for the beautiful pictures and the good cooperation!
