For twenty years, Valtrac, the leading supplier of agricultural equipment, has been making a significant impact on the bean industry and agriculture in South Africa. Through continuous innovation and dedication to improving farming practices in the bean industry, Valtrac has played a leading role in the sector.
Valtrac’s journey in the bean industry
Since entering the bean industry, Valtrac has tirelessly worked to support farmers with highly specialised equipment covering the entire production cycle, from planting to harvesting. Their equipment includes the latest technology and offers solutions that help farmers maximise their yields and reduce costs.
The equipment Valtrac provides to farmers includes Valtra tractors equipped with GPS systems to work with Pickett bean pullers, the Colombo range of implements, harvesters, bean-pullers, planters, tillage equipment, balers, rakes, mowing machines, and sprayers.
Attie de Villiers, Valtrac’s National Sales Manager, says: “The very first Colombo Double Master peanut combine started working here in 2003, and it is still running today. The first machine was for peanuts, but in 2004, machines for both peanuts and dry beans were introduced. Roughly estimated, there are currently around 500 of these machines in the country.”
World-class technology that changes farmers’ lives
“Colombo Double Master is well-known in the bean industry and the most chosen pickers for farmers and seed growers due to the gentle handling, clean samples, and reduced skin damage,” explains Attie.
Colombo pickers are ideal for peanuts, dry beans, and small white beans. Colombo also has peanut diggers and various sugar bean cutters. Attie adds: “Models imported are the Colombo Double Master 2, Double Master 6, Twinmaster, and Avanti self-propelled pickers, as well as Colombo C200 and C400 peanut diggers.
“During wet seasons, up to two years ago, farmers still pulled soya beans by hand, packed them in windrows where the ground was too wet, and threshed the soya beans with the Double Master. Large harvesters were too heavy and got stuck.
“The latest addition to our bean series is the Avanti C400 self-propelled harvester (which can harvest peanuts, maize, soya beans, wheat, and dry beans). This harvester can be equipped with an 8-row peanut pickup table with an independent row picker. This harvester is also accessible for maize headers, “flex headers” for harvesting soya beans and wheat, and a dry bean table can also be fitted,” elaborates Attie. One of the great advantages of Valtrac’s Pickett bean digger is that it reduces labour, and fewer seasonal workers are needed to pull the beans.
Prospects in the bean industry
“Currently, there is a significant surge in peanut production, attracting new farmers and benefiting crop rotation practices,” says Attie.
“In wet years, especially in the Eastern Free State, farmers took heavy losses, and many left the bean industry. However, this created opportunities for farmers in the northern regions to enter the market. There is a lot of potential for peanut and dry bean production; farmers only need to approach it correctly and seize the opportunities,” Attie concludes.
Over the past two decades, Valtrac has evolved from being a supplier of agricultural equipment to becoming an integral part of the South African agricultural landscape. Valtrac is also one of the main sponsors of the Dry Bean Producers’ Organisation. Their unwavering commitment to innovation and support has helped transform farmers’ lives and production practices, ultimately having a positive impact on the country’s food security and economy.
For more information about Valtrac’s world-class equipment, contact one of Valtrac’s experts at (+27)56-817-7308, send an e-mail to Attie de Villiers at attiedev@valtrac.co.za, or visit www.valtrac.co.za.
