PotatoEurope and the former BeetEurope merged into a single event held 9 and 10 September in Springe, Germany, drawing 300 exhibitors and 10,000 visitors against a moderately positive trade mood. The consolidation cuts duplicated logistics for organisers and stand holders, and gives visitors a single pass to compare potato and beet kit side by side.

How big are machines actually getting?

They are not, for the moment. Potato harvesting still tops out at the 4-row bunker machine. Beet harvesters push to a 30-tonne bunker, with a 12-row topper likely the practical ceiling. Exhibitor focus has shifted from raw capacity to autonomy, camera control and labour-saving add-ons that fit existing frames.

What did AgXeed bring to the field?

AgXeed ran the AgBot W4, its smaller wheeled platform, in front of a windrow harvester. The set-up lifted two rows into a windrow and then harvested four rows with a trailing two-row unit.

The demonstration targets one persistent objection in potato work: the need for a second driver. Autonomy now removes that seat, making the commercial pitch credible.

What is the Beinlich RainRover?

German irrigator specialist Beinlich showed a prototype robotised hose-reel irrigator, the RainRover, with an indicative price of €190,000. The unit follows tramlines on its own, irrigates on both passes, turns at the headland and selects the next run without operator input.

Constructor Hans Beinlich said: "The vehicle is ready; software development is the biggest challenge." Designs are in place for a multi-pass routine that removes any manual repositioning.

What changed at Holmer?

Holmer moved to direct sales this year, appointing Govert Pegels as factory representative and routing service through Kamps de Wild across four dealerships.

The Terra Dos 5 HD flagship now ships with an 18.1-litre Caterpillar C18 Acert engine producing 812 hp. The Caterpillar unit meets Stage V emissions using only a diesel oxidation catalyst, so no diesel particulate filter or AdBlue tank is required.

The Mercedes OM 473 Stage V at 652 hp remains the standard fit. Cleaning rollers behind the lifting shares, plus bunker floor sections, are now Hardox for longer service life. Work lights are out; LED strips are in.

What else deserves attention?

• Ropa Keiler trailed bunker harvesters now offer automatic follow-steering. The harvester wheels track the tractor's rear-wheel line through headlands and transport; the system takes over manual corrections at roundabouts and tight bends. Hydraulic wheel drive is now available on both harvester wheels; previously, only the right side had it.
• AVR Falcon receiving hopper: a €7,120 presentation belt sits between the elevator belt and the cleaning rollers, spreading the crop evenly before pre-sorting. Most competitors already offered similar belts.
• Dewulf Kwatro Generation 3: a 4-row self-propelled tracked potato harvester. Flexyclean 2.0 cleaning adjusts steplessly from 0 to 100% from the cab. The Claas X11 cab replaces the X10. Level X Gold AI trims settings automatically. A Scania DC13 Stage V engine delivers 550 hp, a 10% bump. Cooling capacity is up.
• AVR Ceres 440 cup planter: a Maschio rotary harrow option joins the MultiForce and Compact bed-prep modules. Independent depth control suits stony ground, wide tractor tyres and growers preferring a rotary harrow over a rotary tiller. The combination lists at €108,000. Dewulf is working on its own version but did not have it ready in time.
• Wifo implement carrier for telehandlers: a folding-linkage frame with K80 coupling rated to 5 tonnes. The yellow unit on show is built for JCB loaders; Merlo and Manitou variants are in development. Price: €3,250.
• Krone GX 520 Agroliner: a 510 hp 4x4 Mercedes-Benz Actros adapted for farm work via dealers trading as AgriTruck. Hydraulics deliver 240 l/min; the body holds 52 m³ and is rated to 32 tonnes gross. The push-off trailer gives the driver a clear view through the headboard.

What should farmers watch next?

Camera-controlled sorting during store loading keeps spreading, but no live demonstration took place in Springe. Operators weighing autonomous irrigation should put the RainRover's €190,000 ticket against the open question of multi-pass autonomy and field-by-field reliability once the software lands.

Order books on Holmer's 812 hp Caterpillar option, Dewulf Generation 3 builds and AVR's €108,000 planter-harrow combination will be the next concrete test of how quickly the Springe launches translate into 2027 working metal.