Duisen Agrar chooses Imants - Imants

Duisen Agrar relies on a system: spading machine combination & Culter seeding with Imants B.V.


“It’s not just one operation you’ve changed. It’s an entire system.” That’s exactly how Duisen Agrar (Lower Saxony, Germany) describes the step many farms are currently facing: less labour, tighter time windows and changing conditions. And still, the work has to be done.

Farm & starting point

Ralf Düsen manages around 380 hectares (approx. 940 acres) of arable land together with his brother, including approximately 230 ha (568 acres) of potatoes, the rest of the arable land is good for corn, cereals and sugarbeets. In addition, there is pig farming and a biogas installation. In short: a farm with high workload intensity and clear seasonal peaks.

Why combinations? Due to time windows, moisture, labour

The aim is clear: combination of operations to cover more hectares efficiently with fewer people. Ralf Duisen puts it very openly: labour availability and operational costs are becoming a constant topic. And why work 12 hours if others can finish in 8?

In addition, focus is essential during the season. During planting, multiple systems now run simultaneously: ridge forming, seed treatment, fertilizer placement and additional spreaders (APV). “Seven operations in one” is no exaggeration.

Combine instead of waiting: “Otherwise you also lose moisture”

One point that repeatedly comes up in the interview: when working in separate operations, equipment stands still, tractors have to finish other tasks first, and in that time soil moisture is quickly lost in springtime.

Ralf Duisen puts it clearly: first finish one job, then rebuild or switch. And just like that, one or two days are gone.

The two combinations in use

1. Imants spading machine + planter (potatoes)

For potato cultivation, Duisen Agrar uses a spading machine combination: Imants spading machine + planter. On sandy soils, the setup is designed so that often no additional use of a power harrow is required, although this may vary depending on region and soil type.

Important topics to keep in mind:

  • the system must be road-safe
  • coupling must function reliably
  • proper preparation is essential (e.g. shredding cover crops)

This ensures a stable workflow without blockages or wrapping.

This solution hits the core of many farms: planting potatoes with a spading machine combination means fewer passes, fewer changes and higher working speed within short time windows.


2. Imants Culter + seeder (cereals/maize)

The second pillar is the Imants Culter for deep loosening (or subsoiling) ahead of the seeder. Duisen Agrar uses the Culter specifically for deep loosening (e.g. 40–45 cm (16–18 inches)) to improve soil structure and give crops an advantage, especially in dry periods when moisture is available deeper in the soil.

The Culter fits perfectly into such systems because it can be used both solo and in combination. For farms aiming to prepare the seedbed in one pass, this is key: loosen, create structure and seed directly without losing days between operations.

Technical aspects:

  • adjustable tine spacing (4 or 6 tines at 3 m (10 ft) working width)
  • robust construction (including Hardox components)
  • maximum working depth of 60 cm (24 inches)

“Everything is possible.”

Results from daily reality

The result is not a “show effect,” but daily reality; fewer machines, fewer adjustments, less downtime which results in more capacity when it matters .

What used to be a full machinery fleet (plough, packer, cultivators, etc.) has now been significantly reduced:

“Nowadays, it’s just the one spading machine with planter and the one Culter with seeder… everything else is gone.”

That’s exactly the point: system thinking instead of collecting machines.

Because downtime during tight windows is costly, Ralf Duisen also focuses on reliability: three identical tractors to quickly switch in case of failure.

The result: a clear setup, a streamlined machinery fleet and more predictable workflows.

Results on the farm

At the end of the day the aim of Duisen Agrar is not "a machine"but more power in a small time window with less switching en less passes.

  • Fewer operations, less adjustment: spading machine + planter and Culter + seeder reduce switching time and passes.
  • Immediate start when conditions allow: as soon as the first acre is able to work on, we can start in stead of having to "free up" some machines first.
  • Better use of soil moisture: especially in spring time, every hour counts. Who is able to combine more quickly, looses less soil moisture.
  • Improved soil structure at depth: when you subsoil on purpose (for example 40-45 cm or 16-18 inch), the roots get more air and more access to the waterreserves.
  • More predictable seasonal workflow: fewer machines in the fleet, clearer processes. That makes operations more efficient when things get tight.

From idea to the right combination

Combination technology works best when it fits your farm: soil, moisture, time window and capacity. That’s why we don’t work with standard solutions, but focus on practical, tailored setups.


Interested? Contact us and discover the right combination for your farm.


Translated from German