b'This is critical data for both the grower and the buyer. Imagine, for example, a company that divides potatoes into small, medium and large categories for packaging and sale. Knowing exactly what is coming out of the ground means a grower can best categorize and prepare the crop for sale according to those product categories. Too, the buyer can use the data to adjust to best fill bags: if data shows that seasons crop tends just a little larger, the packager might adjust the categories size divisions to accommodate and optimize that crop. We started in 2020 focusing on general yield data. Now more and more its about identification of the potatoes. Its a very big andThe AVR Puma offers the perfect combination of low fuel consumption and high capacity.important innovation, Trifin says. The marketplace is very, very excitedtalking to farmers, then made multipleThey contain a lot of technology but about it. This is definitely the future foradjustments based on that feedback.theyre not unnecessarily complicated, crop management. Compared to its competitors, AVRso it makes them easy to work with Enhanced harvest data trackingboasts an engine that runs cooler,and easy to work on, he says. Fuel offers another key benefit:so doesnt overheat in hot and dryeconomy is another big thing: the next traceability. conditions. It also offers auto-steer:closest [competitor] is probably 20 Being able to say, The potatoes ina big benefit in dusty fields whereper cent higher in fuel use. That really this box in this storage come from thatmanual guidance is sometimes nearlysets it apart in my mind.part of the field is huge, he says.impossible. At least as importantly,Mathieu Ricard, president and Even if a farmer doesnt analyzethis is a small machine with the powerowner at Riego in Lavaltrie, Quebec, the data right as it comes out of theCanadian farmers need. represents AVR for Quebec and the ground, they can go back some monthsIn Canada, the [varieties] have aMaritimes. He says his reason for later with the data in hand to developlot tougher green vines. So it can bechoosing AVR is its customer-first a yield map of the field, allowing themchallenging for a light harvester toperspective. to adjust agronomy and managementget through. We developed optionsIts about selling the product that more precisely in future years.to make it easier to harvest those kindthe customer really needs, not just Trifin says AVR has one Canadianof potatoes, Trifin says. The engineselling the product that Im selling. customer, for example, who uses yieldis over-dimensioned. We use 50-60In Eastern Canada, farmers are maps to make fertilizing decisionsper cent capacity, so theres low RPM.looking for smaller but really efficient based on knowing one part of the fieldThats also why the fuel consumptionequipment: thats what we offer. And has more potential than another partis lower, but its got that power.we have big quality but a smaller name of the field. Another farmer uses thatso our price is lower. harvest data at planting to adjust seedServing Canadas PotatoAs for me, Im proud to be part spacing based on that portion of theProducers of AVR because I believe it truly has fields productivity.AVR has several active dealers infarmers best interests in mind, Its coming. The new generation isCanada. Tom Janssen, CEO at Metricsays Trifin. Our oldest AVR Puma excited about managing with data,Farm Solutions in Edmonton, servesoperating in Canadian potato fields he says. the western Canadian market. He wasis from 2006. It successfully helped first introduced to the Puma line ofharvest in 2023, and I expect itll be Uniquely suited to Canadianharvestersand became convincedout in the fields again in 2024. Thats productionof their benefitswhile working on aPuma: leadership and innovation, but Though designed and built in Europe,seed potato farm. Today, he says itslongevity too.AVRs equipment suits Canadianan honour to be an AVR dealer. production. AVR engineers haveI always enjoyed working withAVR: Passion. Power. Potatoes. spent significant time in Canada[Pumas] because of their simplicity.www.avr.beSPUDSMART.COMSpring 202421'