We were lucky to catch this prototype Grimme Prios 440 potato planter in action in the Netherlands. It is working together with a Grimme GF 400 rotary hook tine cultivator that prepares the seedbed for the potatoes. Notice how the planter is carried on the tractors' rear three point linkage on a special sub frame. The rotovator is hooked on this frame and moves independently from the tractor.
The Prios planter will probably be launched during the Grimme Technica event held in June this year on their own farm. This is a prototype working this spring on a farm in Holland. It is most likely that it will eventually replace the current GL 430 planting combination but that is a guess. Virtually everything is new on this machine. The planting technology remains the same and is controlled via a CCI 1200 Isobus-terminal that controls all functions and uses rtk-gps for automatic shut-off per row, VRA and making maps. Telematics will also be possible and a 4G-receiver is mounted on the drawbar. The hopper, which is styled the same as the Ventor and Rexor harvesters, holds a comfortable 4 tonne of seed and there is a small gangway between the hopper and belts. The ridging hood is also new and uses a sort of plough shares rather than a conventional hood for making the beds.
In front is a Valtra T234 fitted with Soucy tracks. A VSS Agro seedbed cultivator is used to level the ploughed land prior to the main pass. Urean liquid nitrogen is carried in the front tanks and sprayed on top of the ridge after planting. Crop protection chemicals are also applied to harbour the seed from soil born diseases.
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7 май 2022
