Carrot harvesting on a giant scale

In the case of the latter, front and centre was taken up by the Grimme Varitron 270 Terratrac harvester, an impressive piece of heavy metal tipping the scales at 28 tonnes, with the ability to carry a further 7 tonnes of harvested crop.

The machine on show was set up to harvest six rows of carrots grown in 1.8 metre beds. Equipped up front with a Crowner unit that features ground following gauge wheels, 3D adaptability and electronic control to remove the crown and around 25mm of soil, before the crop starts its journey along the 13 metre machine.

Destined for a juicing plant in Timaru, after topping, the crop is “lifted” onto the intake web by the terradisc assembly. Using hydraulically driven disc coulters, that feature infinite depth control. That intake web features a large square section profile, with the main task of removing as much dirt as possible without losing any crop.

The crop moves to the multi-stage cleaning section of the machine.

“This is the only Varitron in the world of this configuration,” explained product specialist Nigel Prattley. “With a 900mm cleaning extension to improve crop cleanliness, that ensures that the harvested crop needs very little on-farm cleaning before it is sent for processing.”

After the initial cleaning process, the crop moves to the rear separator to remove any ‘fines’ before it moves to the top of the harvester to a 7 tonne capacity bunker.

Typically, the machine works in non-stop mode, unloading directly to trucks or tractors hauling bulker trailers. That process is achieved via a wide discharge elevator on the machine’s offside, with the chassis featuring a 1050 section tyre that can be hydraulically offset by up to 550mm to create a safe and stable platform.

Elsewhere around the machine, impressive stats include a straight-six engine of 360hp, quadruple hydraulic pumps to power the multiple elements and a large cooling package. This is all accessed via wide opening hatches along the offside of the machine.

Up top, the Ergo Drive cabin, supplied by harvesting specialist Claas, gives the operator a panoramic view of the harvesting operation. This allows fingertip adjustment of the multiple elements, without the need for any further on-board staff, aided by 13 monitoring cameras.

In addition, the machine’s impressive bulk is complemented by a single Claas TerraTrac unit under the nearside, with a 1.6 square metre footprint, to ensure the total weight is spread over a larger area to improve ground pressure, alongside improving traction and safety in difficult conditions.

Big Is Beautiful

Interestingly, restaurant-style baby carrots won’t be at home with this Goliath.

Much like the machine, carrots for juicing are very much plus-sized, favoured for their high juice content.

“Despite their size and the appearance of a thick core, these carrots are high in sugar content, meaning they are juicy,” explains Prattley. “So, once cooked and mashed with some butter, they are a delight to eat.”