Traditional soil cultivation, as catered for by Lemken and others, has centred around the disruption of the soil structure to create a seedbed and hamper seed growth.
This form of farming has proved a great success over the years, yet with the demands for less chemical inputs becoming ever louder and a greater understanding of how the soil works, new methods are called for, and Lemken is one that is starting to adapt.
It was in 2018 that the company acquired the Dutch company Steketee and its expertise in mechanical weeding, and since then it has strived to integrate the two approaches into one one all embracing brand.
Lemken invests €30 million
The latest step in the plan has just been completed with the official opening of what Lemken has termed its Competence Centre at Dinteloord in the Netherlands, after an investment of €30 million in the project.
Building the centre commenced in February 2023 and it took only nine months for the major part of the construction to be finished and the first hoes, painted in Lemken blue, rather than the old red of Steketee, to be delivered.
This marked the final stage of merger of the the two companies and the broadening of the Lemken range to encompass both traditional cultivation and the more recent mechanical crop care methods.
Focus on mechanical crop care
The new facility at Dinteloord now specialises in the development and production of crop care technology.
It will also be home to the Competence Centre Crop Care for farmers, advisors and universities, which will form part of the global network of Lemken sites.
For this purpose, an up to date technical auditorium has been built next to an 800m2 exhibition area, where events and training courses can be held in an optimal environment.
In designing these new buildings particular emphasis was placed on sustainability. The installed solar panels generate an output of 300 kWp and make a significant contribution to the energy supply for production.
The office furniture was designed with recyclability and recycled materials in mind. Wooden beams were used for the entire building structure, creating a bright, natural working environment throughout the facility.
