In The Spotlight
The new LEMKEN Competence Center Crop Care has been built at the Dutch site in Dinteloord. (Image source: LEMKEN)
The new LEMKEN Competence Centre Crop Care was constructed in Dinteloord (near Rotterdam) in the Netherlands in February 2023
Within a record-breaking nine months, as early as October 2023, the largest construction phase for the production department was put into operation and the first LEMKEN blue hoeing machines were delivered to customers. With the construction of the new factory, LEMKEN has fully integrated the hoeing technology it acquired from Steketee in 2018 into its own brand world.
In the following months, everything from the offices to the cafeteria and the façades were completed and occupied. Dinteloord specialises in the development and production of crop care technology. It will also be home to the Competence Center Crop Care for farmers, experts and universities, which will form part of the global network of LEMKEN sites. For this purpose, a sophisticated technical auditorium has been built next to the AgroForum exhibition area, where events and training courses can be held in an optimal environment.
Production is divided into three areas:
- The manufacturing area: This includes the manufacturing and preparation of parts for the paint line.
- The warehouse: Pre-produced parts and components from suppliers are received and stored in the warehouse.
- Pre-assembly and assembly areas: Assembly takes place in these areas. The plant is set up for stationary assembly and currently has eight assembly stations, which can be expanded as required to accommodate larger machines. Free-floating cranes offer maximum flexibility.
The final inspection which involves two fully equipped test stations ensures the quality and functionality of each machine prior to leaving the factory.
“The new LEMKEN factory in Dinteloord stands for innovation, efficiency and sustainability in the agricultural machinery industry and will play a central role in meeting our customers’ future requirements," said partner Nicola Lemken. "We are therefore very excited about its opening."
The Thulit MF/1200 harrow which is now available in small quantities, will start its series production in March 2025. (Image source: LEMKEN)
LEMKEN presents Thulit MF/1200, its first weeder harrow with more than 12 m working width
The new model is based on the innovative properties of the Thulit MF product series launched last year. The design with four bars and eight rows of harrow tines and hydraulic tine pressure adjustment is unique on the market. The tine pressure can be continuously adjusted from 100 g to 5,000 g across the entire width during travel and remains constant at every setting – for optimum and reliable work results.
The new Thulit MF/1200 comprises five harrow sections, with various folding options available for different applications. For greater ground clearance at the headland, LEMKEN offers the option of folding the weeder harrow into a V position. To do this, the outer folding segments are angled slightly upwards to prevent the tools from coming into contact with the ground. For convenient and safe road transport, the weeder harrow can be folded in on both sides to a transport height of 3.3 m. The automatic transport locking system is active in all variants, making manual intervention a thing of the past.
For the frame, LEMKEN uses torsion-resistant support profiles that guarantees both stability and low weight. The frame design with six support wheels at the front, distributed across the entire working width, has an extremely positive effect on the smooth running of the machine and thus on the guidance of the harrow tines to the soil surface. The Thulit MF/1200 can additionally be operated as a rigid implement or with ground contour adjustment.
Customers opting for the rigid frame will not need the optional support wheels behind the side panels. If the individual working sections of the weeder harrow are to follow the soil horizon at all times, the Thulit must be equipped with additional rear support wheels. This ensures maximum flexibility and perfect working results on hilly terrain. Precisely adjustable trailing harrows on the rear support wheels eradicate wheel marks and leave loosened weeds on the soil surface to dry out.
The Thulit MF/1200 harrow which is now available in small quantities, will start its series production in March 2025.
Ambient Carbon’s mission is to develop and commercialize effective, safe, and scalable technologies that mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. (Image source: Adobe Stock)
Denmark-based company, Ambient Carbon has announced its new partnership with Benton Group Dairies to field-test a prototype of Ambient Carbon’s Methane Eradication Photochemical System (MEPS)
This first-of-a-kind non-invasive technology helps remove methane from airy barn exhaust. Ambient Carbon also has a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Danone North America which sources milk from Benton. This month, the company will install methane monitors at Benton's dairy farm in Ambia, Indiana in preparation for installing and testing a MEPS field prototype in early 2025.
On 2 October, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM) released a new report on the need and potential for atmospheric methane removal. MEPS is a point-source methane removal system which is the only scalable, cost-effective solution for eradicating low-concentration (non-flammable) methane from cattle and manure, as well as other point sources. It uses a patented gas-phase photochemical process that combines chlorine atoms and UV light in a reaction chamber, mimicking a natural process of methane destruction in the atmosphere. As dairy barn air is cycled through MEPS, it breaks down methane at its source, preventing its release into the ambient air. The chlorine atoms are generated onsite via electrolysis of saltwater, and after eradicating 80-90% of the methane, the chlorine is recycled in a closed system.
While the Indiana tests are underway, Ambient Carbon will also test another MEPS field prototype in Denmark as part of the AgriFoodTure PERMA Project, which includes Northern European dairy cooperative Arla, and is publicly funded by Innovation Fund Denmark and the EU’s NextGenerationEU.
“We believe that by 2030, Ambient Carbon will be eliminating well over one gigaton of CO2 equivalent annually by destroying methane from dairy barns and other low-concentration methane sources such as wastewater treatment plants and biogas plants,” said Ambient Carbon’s co-founder and COO, David S Miller, while Chris Williams, conservation lead at Benton Dairies also expressed his enthusiasm regarding their collaboration with Ambient Carbon.
CommodiTrack is a dynamic, interactive platform that allows users to track, forecast and strategise to improve supply chain resiliency. (Image source: Helios)
Helios Artificial Intelligence, Inc., the leading AI company that predicts the price and availability of agricultural commodities, recently launched CommodiTrack, a revolutionary AI platform that gives agrifood buyers and traders unprecedented access to the climate risks impacting the commodities they care about
CommodiTrack is a dynamic, interactive platform that allows users to track, forecast and strategise to improve supply chain resiliency. The platform uses Helios’ proprietary climate risk data set which includes over 500 billion unique risk signals generated by custom machine learning models specific to more than 50 crops being tracked, rather than generic weather information, giving users a unique advantage to predict where and why disruptions are likely to occur.
CommodiTrack not only transforms how users interact with and interpret agricultural commodity data, but also integrates critical elements such as climate risk factors, price forecasting, demand and supply signals and more — data that was previously scattered or inaccessible — all on one platform, providing not only comprehensive data but also actionable insights.
One of the unique features of CommodiTrack is the WA%R (Weighted Average Risk Ratio), a proprietary metric that quantifies climate risk by assessing the number of high-risk locations within the global market. The higher the WA%R, the greater the likelihood of a price shift for the commodity in question.
The CommodiTrack dashboard also offers a range of features tailored to meet the needs of commodity traders, procurement leaders and market analysts including climate risk analysis, price forecasting & trading signals, trade insights, climate change trends, supply chain visibility and expansive news coverage. While the initial release of the product focused on the top eight globally traded commodities such as corn and wheat, the platform analyses billions of signals in real time to empower organizations to be one step ahead of the market.
“The launch of CommodiTrack is our response to the urgent needs of our customers in the face of increasing climate disruptions. Agrifood buyers and traders have never seen this level of climate and price volatility before, and the tools they’ve historically relied on are no longer working,” said Francisco Martin-Rayo, co-founder and CEO of Helios. “With this new platform, we are democratising access to the world’s best climate risk information so our customers can quickly identify and react to the climate risks impacting their supply chains.”
Advanced Navigation Introduces the Certus Mini Series. (Advanced Navigation)
Advanced Navigation, a world leader in navigation and autonomous systems, has announced the expansion of its versatile Certus range, with the new Mini series
Available in three variants, the Certus Mini series includes a GNSS-aided Certus Mini D and Certus Mini N inertial navigation system (INS), while Certus Mini A functions as an attitude and heading reference system (AHRS). The series which weighs only 55 g offers impressive performance, while also being cost-efficient.
“Manufacturers and system integrators often face trade-offs between performance, size, cost and weight. The Certus Mini series is a testament these attributes do not need to conflict with one another," said Advanced Navigation CEO, Chris Shaw. "For customers deploying land-based vehicles, this value-driven breakthrough lowers their entry barrier to precise and reliable navigation. It also unlocks new possibilities for those using lightweight airborne platforms, such as drones, where every gram counts towards flight efficiency and power consumption.
Future of navigation
- Dual-antenna INS: The Certus Mini D features dual-antenna GNSS heading which allows it to deliver superior accuracy in heading, position and velocity. With a maximum weight of 55 g, it fills a critical gap in the market for a dual-antenna INS in a lightweight and compact size.
- Multiband GNSS receiver: By operating on the L1/L5 multi-constellation GNSS, the Certus Mini series offers leading capabilities in interference immunity, position accuracy and multipath resistance in urban environments, such as near tall buildings, tree canopies and canyons.
- Software-enabled hardware: The series houses Advanced Navigation’s breakthrough algorithmic technology. This software-enabled hardware delivers navigation data superior to outputs based on traditional filter methods, offering new levels of performance for miniature INS in GNSS-challenged environments.
Seamless integration
The Certus Mini series can be easily integrated into legacy systems and new builds, ensuring seamless upgrades, reducing installation time and minimising costs. This flexibility accelerates deployment across diverse applications including:
- Agriculture: Certus Mini can be used in purpose-built agriculture robots and equipment to assist with a diverse range of tasks, including aerial spraying, weed detection and localisation, monitoring crop health, inspecting moisture levels, creating field maps, autonomous pruning and grass-cutting, among others.
- Geospatial surveying: Certus Mini can augment drone solutions by providing accurate positioning and attitude without weighing the system down. This enables new applications for surveying environments across open-pit mines, construction sites, urban areas and critical infrastructure.
- Open-pit mining: Certus Mini is the ideal solution for surface drilling OEMs and integrators seeking precise rig alignment. Best-in-class accuracy provides precise alignment even in deep pits where multipath errors occur, and a ruggedised design delivers durability and reliability in harsh mining conditions.
- Asset tracking: Certus Mini can be used to track and monitor assets for a range of industries, including mining, facility management, manufacturing, construction, commercial fleets, automotive, oil and gas, among others.
Rapid delivery and in-house manufacturing
By manufacturing all solutions in-house, Advanced Navigation employs a vertical integration framework which streamlines development, enhances quality control, and ensures agility in responding to customer demand. Further, by utilising machine learning and advanced quality control mechanisms, only components meeting the highest standards are integrated into the navigation system.
This in-house capability guarantees exceptional product reliability, quality, and longevity, while providing complete control over production timelines, reducing lead times and ensuring swift, efficient delivery of the entire product series.
The Certus Mini series is now available for purchase in OEM and ruggedised form.
Under both programmes, USDA purchases US-grown commodities and provides them to implementing organisations, including the United Nations World Food Programme. (Image source: Adobe Stock)
In an attempt to strengthen global food security, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) would be investing US$466.5mn through its two premier international development programmes
The announcement which was made at the Clinton Global Initiative 2024 annual meeting, Vilsack explained about the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Programme which would be allocated US$248mn in fiscal year 2024 to support projects in nine countries that will provide critical school meals and boost literacy and primary education, especially for girls. On the other hand, the Food for Progress programme would be provided with US$218.5mn to help seven countries strengthen their agricultural systems, adopt climate smart technologies, sustainably increase productivity and expand international trade.
Under both programmes, USDA purchases US-grown commodities and provides them to implementing organisations, including the United Nations World Food Programme. Food for Progress implementing partners sell the commodities locally and use the proceeds to support local development projects. McGovern-Dole partners use the commodities directly in school feeding programmes.
This year, USDA will provide more than 37,000 mt of US commodities to support projects in Angola, Bangladesh, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Laos, Malawi and Rwanda, benefitting approximately 1.2 million children and their family members in more than 2,800 pre-primary and primary schools.
The Food for Progress projects funded this year will utilize 315,000 mt of US commodities and ultimately benefit nearly 200,000 farmers in Benin, Cambodia, Madagascar, Rwanda, Sri Lanka, Tanzania and Tunisia and will focus on priority topics including climate-smart agriculture, food security, sanitary and phytosanitary standards, access to capital and trade facilitation.
“The McGovern-Dole and Food for Progress programmes are the embodiment of USDA’s multi-faceted approach to combatting hunger and poverty and addressing the effects of the climate crisis worldwide,” Vilsack said. “Teaming up with both private- and public-sector partners, we’re not only providing direct food assistance, but also fostering sustainable agricultural productivity growth, promoting climate-smart agriculture and enhancing developing countries’ ability to engage in trade, which is critical to food security.”
Research has shown that Bovaer can greatly reduce methane emissions with just a quarter teaspoon of the additive per cow per day. (Image source: Adobe Stock)
dsm-firmenich has recently announced that its innovative methane-reducing feed additive Bovaer has received market approval for use with beef cattle in South Korea, making it the first product the country has approved for this purpose
Marking a significant step towards more sustainable agriculture in South Korea, this approval enables farmers to effectively and immediately reduce methane emissions, a potent greenhouse gas. The approval of Bovaer is part of dsm-firmenich’s global strategy to contribute to sustainable livestock farming, supporting the health of the planet, animals and people. It aligns with South Korea's proactive approach, which includes a comprehensive framework to support farmers in transitioning to sustainable practices and a recently launched low-methane feed programme.
Bovaer offers an effective solution to 3.6 million beef cattle, including the renowned Hanwoo breed, that could greatly advance South Korea's sustainability goals. As a signatory of the Global Methane Pledge, South Korea is committed to significantly reducing methane emissions by 2030.
Research has shown that Bovaer can greatly reduce methane emissions with just a quarter teaspoon of the additive per cow per day. This innovation not only supports South Korea’s environmental commitments but also enhances the sustainability of its beef production, benefiting the entire supply chain from farmers to consumers.
Read more about Bovaer's contributions to boosting dairy sustainability.
Under both programmes, USDA purchases US-grown commodities and provides them to implementing organisations, including the United Nations World Food Programme. (Image source: Adobe Stock)
In an attempt to strengthen global food security, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) would be investing US$466.5mn through its two premier international development programmes
The announcement which was made at the Clinton Global Initiative 2024 annual meeting, Vilsack explained about the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Programme which would be allocated US$248mn in fiscal year 2024 to support projects in nine countries that will provide critical school meals and boost literacy and primary education, especially for girls. On the other hand, the Food for Progress programme would be provided with US$218.5mn to help seven countries strengthen their agricultural systems, adopt climate smart technologies, sustainably increase productivity and expand international trade.
Under both programmes, USDA purchases US-grown commodities and provides them to implementing organisations, including the United Nations World Food Programme. Food for Progress implementing partners sell the commodities locally and use the proceeds to support local development projects. McGovern-Dole partners use the commodities directly in school feeding programmes.
This year, USDA will provide more than 37,000 mt of US commodities to support projects in Angola, Bangladesh, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Laos, Malawi and Rwanda, benefitting approximately 1.2 million children and their family members in more than 2,800 pre-primary and primary schools.
The Food for Progress projects funded this year will utilize 315,000 mt of US commodities and ultimately benefit nearly 200,000 farmers in Benin, Cambodia, Madagascar, Rwanda, Sri Lanka, Tanzania and Tunisia and will focus on priority topics including climate-smart agriculture, food security, sanitary and phytosanitary standards, access to capital and trade facilitation.
“The McGovern-Dole and Food for Progress programmes are the embodiment of USDA’s multi-faceted approach to combatting hunger and poverty and addressing the effects of the climate crisis worldwide,” Vilsack said. “Teaming up with both private- and public-sector partners, we’re not only providing direct food assistance, but also fostering sustainable agricultural productivity growth, promoting climate-smart agriculture and enhancing developing countries’ ability to engage in trade, which is critical to food security.”
The YSB and FAW pests are among the most destructive pests in agriculture. (Adobe Stock)
To achieve economic sustainability, specific technical challenges should be addressed. (Image source: Adobe Stock)
Ambient Carbon’s mission is to develop and commercialize effective, safe, and scalable technologies that mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. (Image source: Adobe Stock)
Denmark-based company, Ambient Carbon has announced its new partnership with Benton Group Dairies to field-test a prototype of Ambient Carbon’s Methane Eradication Photochemical System (MEPS)
This first-of-a-kind non-invasive technology helps remove methane from airy barn exhaust. Ambient Carbon also has a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Danone North America which sources milk from Benton. This month, the company will install methane monitors at Benton's dairy farm in Ambia, Indiana in preparation for installing and testing a MEPS field prototype in early 2025.
On 2 October, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM) released a new report on the need and potential for atmospheric methane removal. MEPS is a point-source methane removal system which is the only scalable, cost-effective solution for eradicating low-concentration (non-flammable) methane from cattle and manure, as well as other point sources. It uses a patented gas-phase photochemical process that combines chlorine atoms and UV light in a reaction chamber, mimicking a natural process of methane destruction in the atmosphere. As dairy barn air is cycled through MEPS, it breaks down methane at its source, preventing its release into the ambient air. The chlorine atoms are generated onsite via electrolysis of saltwater, and after eradicating 80-90% of the methane, the chlorine is recycled in a closed system.
While the Indiana tests are underway, Ambient Carbon will also test another MEPS field prototype in Denmark as part of the AgriFoodTure PERMA Project, which includes Northern European dairy cooperative Arla, and is publicly funded by Innovation Fund Denmark and the EU’s NextGenerationEU.
“We believe that by 2030, Ambient Carbon will be eliminating well over one gigaton of CO2 equivalent annually by destroying methane from dairy barns and other low-concentration methane sources such as wastewater treatment plants and biogas plants,” said Ambient Carbon’s co-founder and COO, David S Miller, while Chris Williams, conservation lead at Benton Dairies also expressed his enthusiasm regarding their collaboration with Ambient Carbon.
Research has shown that Bovaer can greatly reduce methane emissions with just a quarter teaspoon of the additive per cow per day. (Image source: Adobe Stock)
The new FeedMixer App makes feed mixing easier by calculating whether the feed mixtures farmers use contain the right balance of key nutrients, by age, type of chickens, and available ingredients. (Image source: World Poultry Foundation)
Monarch MK-V tractor demonstrating V2G through Borg Warner DCFC and Gridtractor CMS. (Image source: Gridtractor)
Gridtractor, Monarch Tractor, and Borg Warner have achieved a significant milestone by successfully demonstrating Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) capabilities utilising a Monarch MK-V tractor, a Borg Warner 60 kW DC fast charger, and Gridtractor’s cloud-based charge management system employing the Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP)
The platform is slated for launch later this year and focuses on both domestic and international markets. (Image source: Adobe Stock)
The LightWeeder is an agri-robot that can kill weeds using a unique concentrated light method. (Image source: Adobe Stock)
The new LEMKEN Competence Center Crop Care has been built at the Dutch site in Dinteloord. (Image source: LEMKEN)
The new LEMKEN Competence Centre Crop Care was constructed in Dinteloord (near Rotterdam) in the Netherlands in February 2023
Within a record-breaking nine months, as early as October 2023, the largest construction phase for the production department was put into operation and the first LEMKEN blue hoeing machines were delivered to customers. With the construction of the new factory, LEMKEN has fully integrated the hoeing technology it acquired from Steketee in 2018 into its own brand world.
In the following months, everything from the offices to the cafeteria and the façades were completed and occupied. Dinteloord specialises in the development and production of crop care technology. It will also be home to the Competence Center Crop Care for farmers, experts and universities, which will form part of the global network of LEMKEN sites. For this purpose, a sophisticated technical auditorium has been built next to the AgroForum exhibition area, where events and training courses can be held in an optimal environment.
Production is divided into three areas:
- The manufacturing area: This includes the manufacturing and preparation of parts for the paint line.
- The warehouse: Pre-produced parts and components from suppliers are received and stored in the warehouse.
- Pre-assembly and assembly areas: Assembly takes place in these areas. The plant is set up for stationary assembly and currently has eight assembly stations, which can be expanded as required to accommodate larger machines. Free-floating cranes offer maximum flexibility.
The final inspection which involves two fully equipped test stations ensures the quality and functionality of each machine prior to leaving the factory.
“The new LEMKEN factory in Dinteloord stands for innovation, efficiency and sustainability in the agricultural machinery industry and will play a central role in meeting our customers’ future requirements," said partner Nicola Lemken. "We are therefore very excited about its opening."
The Thulit MF/1200 harrow which is now available in small quantities, will start its series production in March 2025. (Image source: LEMKEN)
CommodiTrack is a dynamic, interactive platform that allows users to track, forecast and strategise to improve supply chain resiliency. (Image source: Helios)
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Latest news
The new LEMKEN Competence Center Crop Care has been built at the Dutch site in Dinteloord. (Image source: LEMKEN)
The Thulit MF/1200 harrow which is now available in small quantities, will start its series production in March 2025. (Image source: LEMKEN)
Ambient Carbon’s mission is to develop and commercialize effective, safe, and scalable technologies that mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. (Image source: Adobe Stock)
CommodiTrack is a dynamic, interactive platform that allows users to track, forecast and strategise to improve supply chain resiliency. (Image source: Helios)
Advanced Navigation Introduces the Certus Mini Series. (Advanced Navigation)
Under both programmes, USDA purchases US-grown commodities and provides them to implementing organisations, including the United Nations World Food Programme. (Image source: Adobe Stock)
Research has shown that Bovaer can greatly reduce methane emissions with just a quarter teaspoon of the additive per cow per day. (Image source: Adobe Stock)
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The new LEMKEN Competence Center Crop Care has been built at the Dutch site in Dinteloord. (Image source: LEMKEN)
The Thulit MF/1200 harrow which is now available in small quantities, will start its series production in March 2025. (Image source: LEMKEN)
CommodiTrack is a dynamic, interactive platform that allows users to track, forecast and strategise to improve supply chain resiliency. (Image source: Helios)
Advanced Navigation Introduces the Certus Mini Series. (Advanced Navigation)
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Staff can monitor soil temperature and humidity as well as pest and disease conditions in real-time through computers or smartphones, greatly improving the comprehensive agricultural production capacity. (Image source: Adobe Stock)
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Fully automated cherry truss tomato harvesting robot 'Artemy.' (Image source: DENSO)