The sector's profile is now secure in the long term, and European farmers generally have much better tools (plant and animal genetics, high-level technical support, access to new technologies, etc.). However, the European agricultural sector still has a way to go in terms of improving performance, contributing to the upkeep of the landscape and respecting the environment. It is also looking into developing new sites that generate electricity, synthesise chemicals or produce agro-materials while remaining economically viable and needing less support. And it is faced with the challenge of reducing pollution and its consumption of phytosanitary products, fertilisers and fuel.

The whole industry is now working together across all areas of expertise in order to create a sector that performs better and is sustainable. A vast array of solutions will be shown at the exhibition - proof of the sector’s energy and drive - with agricultural equipment being particularly well-represented.

Below are a few examples which outline some of the progress that has been made in terms of precision working, comfort and safety for both farmers and the environment.

Tractors - high-yield energy plants

The tractor is one of the most important pieces of equipment on a farm - whether it’s involved in crop or animal farming. A farm’s fleet is made up of several vehicles, at least two of which are usually involved in the more heavy-duty work. Modern-day tractors are replaced on a regular basis and are on a par with cars in terms of their levels of comfort and on-board technology.

The driver's cab is the tractor's nerve centre. It is here that he has access to all the information and controls that he needs in order to operate it. The cab is mounted on 4 pillars (as opposed to 6, which was previously the case) in order to provide maximum visibility. It is fitted with different suspension systems, some of which are active, designed to filter out vibrations of all frequencies. The seat is also fitted with an active suspension system, and now has a forced ventilation system with heating or air-conditioning. Regulated air-conditioning is increasingly common and much progress is being made in pressurising the cab and filtering the air using activated charcoal filtering systems. Noise levels inside the cab are now at record low levels: the current benchmark is 69 dB.

The controls are arranged as ergonomically as possible; it is even possible to programme a series of several successive manoeuvres so that they can be automatically repeated - at every semi-turn, for example. The transmission system is increasingly efficient and smooth. It is even almost possible to forget about it altogether - gear changes (if there are any) can be fully automated. Indeed, continuously variable transmission systems are now offered by all manufacturers. Although they used only to feature on mainstream tractors (125 to 180 hp), they are now available for a wider segment of the market, from specialist tractors of less than 100 hp up to the all-powerful monsters that come close to 400 hp.

The facility to connect and control additional tools via an ISO connection is increasingly common. The display unit is practically a computer: its touch-sensitive screen can now be used to log work as well as many other of the tractor’s operating parameters. GPS systems are being used more and more, first and foremost as a means of navigation, but also for automatically "guiding" the tractor along a straight line, curve or circle. It is now possible to perform a complete semicircle without having to manually steer the tractor.

More powerful motors... and more electricity too! Tractors nowadays can also be used to generate electricity. They can help out on the farm during power cuts, as well as powering the tools of tomorrow. This alternative to a mechanical or hydraulic drive system is being looked at in particular for fertiliser distributors. Success depends on new possibilities for controlling them and integrating them into the equipment. This is probably also paving the way for the electrically-driven tractor, which would be ideal for use in buildings that house animals, for example. But there is still a way to go - maybe the next SIMA!

Engines - ever more powerful, ever cleaner

Another development is the increasing reliance of power mechanisation on technology in order to ensure compliance with current antipollution standards, and for having overall control over the power source and the transmission system. With a limited engine capacity and therefore smaller overall dimensions, much more power can now be delivered, power which can be varied depending on what the tractor is doing... whether, for example, it is in a field or driving along the road.

As far as pollution is concerned, much work has gone into reducing nitrogen monoxide and particle emissions, as well as the levels of noise produced. This work is ongoing, with the long-term aim being to increase energy output while reducing emissions to close to zero. Techniques for reducing engine pollution that were first developed for use in cars and lorries are now being seen on farm vehicles. For example, particle filters are increasingly common, as are systems for catalytic and urea treatment of exhaust gases.

Tractor engines nowadays can operate deploying maximum power at a relatively low engine speed, and can adjust their power curve depending on the work being carried out. This means that overall the tractor is lighter, making it more versatile and resulting in fuel savings. The power-to-weight ratio is around 35 kg/hp (or less), as opposed to 50 kg/hp for older designs.

All modern tractors have servo-controlled transmission systems for the best compromise between power and fuel efficiency. With respect to maintenance, improvements are constantly being made, with oil changes only necessary every 500 hours or so of operation. This means less oil needing to be processed, and greater operational availability for the owner.

GPS - guiding progress in farming methods

If there is one technology that is changing the agricultural industry, it's GPS. Every day, a new application for the technology is developed, and the next few years will most likely see it become an integral part of our daily lives. It was initially developed as a navigational aid (a steering bar tells the driver if he is deviating from his optimal itinerary and advises him on the corrective action he should take), but it has become so accurate (+/-2 cm) that it is now possible to operate the tractor - or other self-propelling engine - without actually having to steer it.
This results in increased comfort and less fatigue for the driver. But most importantly, this guidance system means significant savings in time and input - the overlaps from one pass to another are reduced. GPS also makes it possible to work in reduced visibility, such as in fog or during the night. This means being able to work for longer periods of time, and carry out operations at times which are more favourable and better suited for the work in question (such as spraying in appropriate temperatures and humidity conditions).

For even greater accuracy in all conditions, some manufacturers are now offering GPS systems fitted with a tilt sensor. These devices enable drivers to correct the position of the GPS antenna relative to the vehicle’s perpendicularity when it is at a slant. As part of the ongoing drive for absolute accuracy, a second antenna can be installed on the device. This is because the materials that are being towed can sometimes follow a slightly different trajectory to that followed by the tractor. With two antennae, the device can correct the misalignment thus ensuring extremely high levels of accuracy, particularly when travelling at a slant.

Global satellite positioning is also opening up new possibilities in precision agriculture. For a number of years now, it has been possible to generate a yield map. This provides farmers with information about the state of a plot of land, so that they can address any problems within it, or devise a strategy to modulate the dosage of seeds, fertilisers or processing used. Eventually, all equipment (seeders, fertiliser distributors, field crop sprayers, etc.) should be capable of modulating output in order to make full use of this information. In crop spraying, GPS is already used to control the opening and closure of sections of the spray bar in order to prevent areas from being sprayed twice, and to ensure that no part of the plot is left untreated, particularly if it is triangular in shape. All this means product gains, reduced pollution, and the assurance that the entire crop has been covered.
Farmers with personal organisers or mobile telephones with GPS functionality can log the position of a large stone, an infestation of parasites or self-propagating brambles while out touring their land. It can later be recorded with more accuracy: the right device used in the right place!

Crop sprayers: the rules are changing...

The use of phytosanitary products and crop sprays is sometimes seen in a negative light by certain groups of people, and is subject to much scrutiny. As such, it is an issue that preoccupies farmers. Nobody is more at risk from the dangers than the farmers themselves. These dangers vary depending on the products used, and growing awareness of them is forcing manufacturers to put forward solutions.
First of all, starting on 1 January 2009, all crop sprayers are going to be subject to compulsory checks. These checks are intended first and foremost to assess the device's performance in terms of flow accuracy and pressure both within the system and on the spray bar. They will be carried out every 5 years.
Alongside these checks and in compliance with certain standards, manufacturers have developed a number of solutions to make crop sprayers more accurate and more comfortable to use. For example in order to make rinsing less of a chore, automatic programmes have been developed which dilute the bottom of the spray mixture, according to several sequences, ensuring that the device is rinsed perfectly. Before these programmes, rinsing them was tedious. But now it’s a thing of the past...
It's very easy for the crop sprayers to overflow when they are being filled. More and more devices exist - either integrated into the crop sprayer or separate - which can specify the exact quantity of water to be used, or which turn off the water supply as soon as the maximum level has been reached. This means gains for the environment!
In all cases, crop sprayers that are used on large plots of land are evolving radically as people become increasingly aware of the risks that using them can pose for the environment. Automated systems and ergonomically-designed programmes mean that farmers are more productive and enjoy greater levels of comfort when carrying out crop-spraying operations.

New information and communication technologies used in decision-support

Mobile telephones, text-messaging, e-mail, the Internet, PDAs, etc. are all being increasingly used by farmers. So how are these new technologies changing the agricultural industry?

•  A few years ago, the mobile telephone revolutionised the way we organised our work... but not all possibilities were covered. SMS messaging can be used to automate the transfer of information between a partner and the farmer. The first main benefit that this provides is the ability to react quickly and effectively to a particular event, such as a change in the weather, a change in the price of a product or production component, or a piece of business information. Secondly, farmers can stay informed. By subscribing to various different services, farmers can be up-to-date wherever they are: out in the field!

• The Internet has also revolutionised the countryside. Despite the difficulties in getting broadband access, on average, more farmers have Internet access than other sectors of the population. They have access to a huge selection of both public and private forums within which to share information. There are more and more online services available, giving them access to highly accurate weather forecasts, highly detailed information about rates and markets, complete with analysis... and opportunities to sell their harvest. Cooperatives are now hosting intranet areas where farmers can find all the information they need to run their farms.

• Satellite images of farms are only a click away! A recent development in decision-support has revolutionised the ways in which farmers can manage crops. Through simply subscribing to a service, farmers can receive satellite images of their land, together with manuring advice. Based on an analysis of the image using different wavelengths, this system helps farmers adjust the levels of nitrogen manure they are using with personalised advice specific to the development of their crops, together with observations that have been made in the field. Each new image shows him how his crops are developing right up until harvest. This means that his crops are managed more precisely and exactly the right amount of fertiliser is used.

• WEB TV is booming! Even the agricultural industry is affected by the development of new television platforms. Video is being used more and more, dealing with a large number of themes, all designed to increase the value of information, and make it both easier to receive and more complete with the help of the presenter. SIMA will make extensive use of this media platform with ‘SIMA Web-TV’, which will be covering the event.

• Your office in your pocket! Mini-computers are evolving fast and now integrate both telephony and GPS positioning. These tools make it easier to acquire data. Throughout the day, the farmer, breeder or cereal grower can easily gather information (product stocks, details of operations carried out on a plot of land or on an animal) and then synchronise them with his desktop PC. This saves a huge amount of time and also results in better management of the farm. These tools can also be used to help with product traceability - vital for securing certain contracts.

Saving water with a more accurate irrigation management system

We need water to make plants grow and for irrigation purposes so as to ensure that the harvest is good even in times of drought. Irrigators - who are often seen in a negative light - are doubling their efforts to avoid levies, making the best use of the water they use, i.e. by irrigating at the right time of day, and using the right quantity. A number of techniques have been developed - and are still being developed - designed to save this resource:

• more accurate equipment with the water sprayed being better distributed,
• the use of automatic systems to make sure that certain areas (such as roads) are not sprayed needlessly,
• the possibility to start or to stop the sprinkler from the farm or by mobile telephone,
• more accurate weather forecasting, with rainfall being directly monitored by radar,
• software applications (or web-based services) that calculate the water requirements of plants, taking into account weather conditions and the amount of water already sprayed,
• the installation of monitoring posts in the fields with torsion balance sensors (for measuring drying rates) and electronic precipitation gauges,etc.
   

An exhibition like SIMA is a veritable intersection of expertise and innovation, creating a strong spirit of competition among manufacturers, from which farmers can only benefit.
Better production... but also better living. Replacing equipment makes for greater comfort and security while working. Increasing equipment output while at the same time keeping energy consumption down enhances the farm's productivity.