Swedish-based cultivation and seeding equipment manufacturer Väderstad is celebrating 60 years in business this year.

We travelled to northern Germany to the company’s newly acquired 52ha farm to look at its latest kit. This is the manufacturer’s second farm, in addition to the one at its base in Sweden. The farms are used to meet customers, perform field trials and try out new machine concepts.

Building 7,000 machines annually with 2,000 employees, Väderstad is present in over 40 countries worldwide. At the event, we spoke to the firm’s CEO Mats Båverud and key senior directors.

Over the past 12 months, Väderstad has increased its turnover by 25%, to over €500m. Key contributors to this include growth of over 40% in North America, Canada and in eastern Europe.

Despite this growth, the company spoke about the ongoing war in Ukraine. It explained that Russia and the Ukraine accounted for 15% of its total sales. The company made the decision to stop supplying new machines into Russia, but to continue to supply parts for products working in the market.

It added that sales are continuing in Ukraine, albeit on a smaller scale. However, Väderstad claims sales of new machines for next season are looking very promising in Ukraine.

In terms of component shortages, the firm said the situation is improving – but it is worse in Canada and North America than it is in Europe. It now manufactures the majority of components in-house, but said electronic-related shortages still remain an issue. According to the CEO, the order book for the year ahead is strong, with 50% of production already accounted for.

Vaderstad say its new Proceed precision drill can place the smallest of seed at the perfect depth with millimetre precision.

New Proceed drill

Describing the Proceed as a machine which can increase the yield potential of a range of crops, Väderstad says its new precision drill can place the smallest of seed at the perfect depth with millimetre precision.

It is capable of sowing cereals, oilseed rape, sugar beet, peas, maize and more. Attached via a two-point linkage, the semi-mounted drill shares several key components from the Tempo range, including the hopper and coulter assembly.

Prior to seed placement, individual pre-seeding wheels consolidates the soil to ensure the same conditions for each seed.

The drill features row units mounted on two beams, with the position capable of being adjusted to suit crop type. For sowing cereals, the Proceed has a row spacing of either 225mm or 250mm. By changing the seed discs and hole spacings, the machine can switch to 450mm or 500mm for crops such as sugar beet or oilseed rape, and then switch to plant crops such as maize at 750mm spacings.

“Trials of winter wheat at a seed rate of 150 seeds/m2 show an increase of 102% in plant biomass, 72% in root biomass and 62% more shots per plant, compared to a modern seed drill,” said Lars Thylén, director of product management and business development at Väderstad.

The drill features row units mounted on two beams, with the position capable of being adjusted to suit the crop type.

He said this is down to more uniform and reliable establishment and less competition for nutrients between plants as a result of more accurate seed placement.

The manufacturer says the heart of Proceed is its high-precision row units. Prior to seed placement, individual pre-seeding wheels consolidate the soil to ensure the same conditions for each seed. Each row features pre-seeding wheels which are individually mounted, using hydraulic down-force. This means the drill should be able to slot into any establishment system, from min-till to conventional.

When the seeds reach the row units from the central hopper, an adapted version of Väderstad’s PowerShoot singulation system (from the Tempo) takes control of each single seed down to the soil. Leaving the short seed tube, each seed makes contact with a stop wheel for seed-to-soil contact at selected depth across the working width. Downward pressure of up to 350kg can be applied to each seeding unit.

Each row unit is electrically driven and controlled through the iPad-based Väderstad E-Control. Functions include row-by-row shut-off, variable rate, dynamic tramlining, individual calibration, and real-time precision monitoring and control.

Väderstad ran field trials in 2022 with researchers, seed companies and farmers. No final release date has been set.

The new Carrier XT is available in three different working widths; 4.25m, 5.25m or 6.25m.

New Carrier XT 425-625

Väderstad took the wraps off its new Carrier XT 425–625-disc cultivators. Used for high-speed primary tillage and seedbed preparation, it can be used from ultra-shallow tillage to deep incorporation according to the manufacturer.

The Carrier XT is available in 4.25m, 5.25m or 6.25m working widths. It’s available in trailed or mounted and painted or galvanised versions. All models can be equipped with a range of both single and double packer options.

The XT can either be fitted with the 450mm disc, 470mm True Cut disc or the ultra-shallow Cross Cutter Disc, all of which are built in house using Swedish V-55 steel.

A main feature of Carrier XT is its hydraulically rotating disc axles. According to the company, this means the XT is able to optimise the cutout performance at shallow depth, while increasing the depth precision at deeper working depths. By increasing the disc angle, the disc will increase its penetration ability. By changing the tilting angle of the disc, the cutout surface is shifted.

The XT can either be fitted with the 450mm disc, 470mm True Cut disc or the ultra-shallow CrossCutter Disc, all of which are built in house using Swedish V-55 steel. The new XT 425-625 is now available to order.

Väderstad has introduced the new 7.25m Carrier XL 725 to its XL range of disc cultivators.

Carrier XL range

Väderstad has introduced the new 7.25m Carrier XL 725 to its XL range of disc cultivators. The XL 725 joins the range which span from 4.25m up to 12.25m in working width.

The unit is available with 510mm True Cut discs, CrossCutter Disc or the new CrossCutter Disc Aggressive options. It can be equipped with a full range of front tools, packer options as well as the BioDrill 360 small seeder for cover crops.

The unit is available with 510mm True Cut discs, Cross Cutter Disc or the new Cross Cutter Disc Aggressive options.

In addition, the Carrier XL 425-725 family is now updated with frame enhancements, including strengthened packer parallel linkage.

To guide the operator, all models are now fitted with new visible scales for the working depth and the front tool depth.

The new Carrier XL 725 will also come with a new transport height position scale for road transport. The XL 625 and XL 725 can now be equipped with a new wheel axle as well as 560/45 R22.5 wheels for 40km/h road transport.

Deliveries of the XL 725 will start in the spring of 2023.

Väderstad has added the ‘CrossCutter Disc Aggressive’ disc option to act more aggressively in heavy residues such as maize and heavy oilseed rape stalks.

New aggressive disc for ultra-shallow tillage

Väderstad has added the ‘CrossCutter Disc Aggressive’ disc option to its range to extend its ultra-shallow offering. The manufacturer says the new disc excels in heavy land and hard soil conditions. It has been designed to act more aggressively in heavy residues such as maize and heavy oilseed rape stalks.

The new disc comes in two sizes: 450mm intended for a working depth of 2-3cm, as well as 510mm for a working depth of 3-5cm.

The new disc comes in two options, 450mm intended for a working depth of 2-3cm, and 510mm, for a working depth of 3-5cm. Both can be operated at working speeds of up to 20km/h. Each CrossCutter Disc is individually mounted to its own rubber suspended disc arm to follow the ground contours.

A new machine from the ground up, the Cultus HD mounted tine cultivator is available in 4.25m and 5.25m models.

Cultus HD tine cultivator

Described as a new machine from the ground up, the Cultus HD mounted tine cultivator was unveiled at the event. Available in 4.25m and 5.25m mounted models, the cultivator can work down to a depth of 30cm. It is equipped with three tine axles and up to 19 tines, which results in a tine spacing of 27cm. Väderstad says the heart of the machine is the new heavy-duty HD tines, which feature a release force up to 680kg.

While working at full depth and meeting an obstacle, the manufacturer says the Cultus HD tine is able to fully release out of the soil to pass the obstacle. It adds that when re-entering the soil, it will keep its full power to quickly return to working position.

The depth is set from the cab. The unit is equipped with a hydraulic wing lock and a new leveller adjustment system known as Dynamic Control. This automatic adjustment system ensures the levellers are always working in optimal position, taking away the need for manual adjustment. The machine is set to go into production this quarter.