(DLG). Visitors to PotatoEurope at the Bockerode Estate in Springe-Mittelrode near Hanover on 8 and 9 September 2010 can expect a unique programme of information “all about the potato”. This top international event will give potato specialists key pointers covering all areas of breeding, machinery and equipment for production and processing, fertilising, plant protection and potato crop management. One special highlight at PotatoEurope 2010 will be the machinery demonstrations being held on both days of the event. These will offer visitors an excellent overview of the mode of operation of the various machines and systems. This year the focus will be on planting, lifting and loading. Demonstrations of all the registered machines will take place on the two event days between 10.00 h and 12.00 h, accompanied by running commentaries given by Dr. Rolf Peters from the Dethlingen Experimental Station in Munster. Exhibitors will then have an opportunity to demonstrate their machinery and equipment individually on separate plots in the afternoon from 14.00 h to 16.30 h. The manufacturers will have technical advisors on hand here for an intensive exchange of opinions and experience and to provide product-specific information.

The following demonstrations are planned:

Lifting

Larger, faster, wider - and as gentle on the tuber as possible. This describes the development trend displayed by modern lifting machinery and equipment. The 17 lifters taking part in the demonstrations at PotatoEurope 2010, comprising eleven trailed and six self-propelled machines, will include a “lifter with water cleaning unit” for the first time. The lifter demonstrations with commentary will take place between 10.00 h and 11.15 h on each of the two event days. The exhibitors will also be demonstrating this machinery and equipment individually between 14.00 h and 16.30 h on both days. The following companies have registered potato lifters for demonstration:

• AVR, Roeselare (Belgium)
• DEWULF NV, Roeselare (Belgium)
• Euro Jabelmann, Itterbeck (Germany)
• GRIMME, Damme (Germany)
• KJK, Buxtehude (Germany)
• PLOEGER, Oud Gastel (Netherlands)
• tks / UNDERHAUG, Naerbo (Norway)
• WM Kartoffeltechnik, Willich (Germany)

Loading

How cleanly, gently and fast the potatoes can be loaded and taken into storage in many areas depends greatly on the machinery and equipment used for loading and storage intake. Five different loading lines have been registered for demonstration at PotatoEurope 2010. Visitors will be able to see how they work directly after the lifting demonstrations on the two days of the exhibition, starting at 11.15 h. The demonstrations will be accompanied by an explanatory commentary. The exhibitors will also be demonstrating their machinery and equipment individually from 14.00 h to 16.30 h each day. The following firms have each registered a loading line for the demonstrations:

• BIJLSMA HERCULES, Franeker (Netherlands)
• Climax, La Veendam (Netherlands)
• GRIMME, Damme (Germany)
• MIEDEMA, Winsum (Netherlands)
• Oldenhuis & Prinsen, Emmeloord (Netherlands)

Planting

In wide areas of potato farming too, larger working widths in conjunction with the demand for greater throughput on the one hand and growing requirements concerning soil protection on the other are driving continuous further development of machinery and equipment. The focus is shifting increasingly to combinations of field work passes during planting. The demonstrations will show directly just what new system solutions the manufacturers of planting machinery and equipment have to offer. The spectrum ranges from two-row planters to eight-row machines. Altogether eight planting machines will be presented. They can be seen in action starting at 11.45 h on both days, showing how they master the demands made of them in daily work. The demonstrations will be accompanied by running commentaries. In addition, the companies will be demonstrating their machinery and equipment individually each day from 14.00 h to 16.30 h. The following companies have registered for this:

• ALL IN ONE, Pförring (Germany)
• GRIMME, Damme (Germany)
• MIEDEMA, Winsum (Netherlands)
• Schmidbauer, Mintraching-Moosham (Germany)
• tks / UNDERHAUG, Nærbø (Norway)

Planned time schedule for demonstrations with commentary at a glance:

Daily from 10.00 h:  Lifting
Daily from 11.15 h:  Loading
Daily from 11.45 h:  Planting
 

Individual demonstrations by manufacturers will be held daily from 14.00 h to 16.30 h.

The final lifting will take place on Thursday, 9 September 2010, between 17.00 h and 18.00 h.