DLG Feldtage highlights supply chain priorities
Held from 16 to 18 June at the International DLG Crop Production Center in Bernburg-Strenzfeld, Germany, the event brought together around 13,400 trade visitors from 48 countries and 341 exhibitors from 21 nations. While the show is rooted in crop production, its strongest message for machinery suppliers was clear: farmers are looking for integrated, practical technologies that reduce cost, improve timeliness and help businesses manage risk.
For UK dealers, importers and manufacturers, the event offered a timely snapshot of demand in a market shaped by cautious farm investment, higher finance costs, labour shortages and growing interest in precision technology. Across seed, crop protection, fertiliser, robotics and machinery displays, visitors repeatedly focused on solutions with a clear operational return rather than technology for its own sake.
The live machinery programme was one of the event’s major draws. With 66 machine combinations working in the field, DLG Feldtage claimed Europe’s largest field machinery demonstration. Drone and webcam footage relayed to large screens gave visitors a close view of performance, set-up and field operation — a format that reinforced the value of practical demonstration at a time when purchasing decisions are increasingly scrutinised.
Visitor feedback also pointed to a professionally engaged audience. Some 96 percent of surveyed trade visitors said they were very satisfied or satisfied with the technical content, while exhibitor offerings achieved approval ratings above 98 percent. The average farm size among surveyed agricultural visitors was 684 hectares, and 71 percent were decision-makers for purchasing and procurement.
That profile matters for the UK supply chain. Dealers are being asked not only to supply equipment, but also to advise on machine utilisation, compatibility with farm management software, parts availability and service back-up. Manufacturers, meanwhile, face pressure to deliver machines that support lower input use, better data capture and improved reliability during tight operating windows.
Tobias Eichberg, Managing Director of DLG Markets GmbH, said the event showed that future-ready crop production is shaped by the interaction of breeding, cropping systems, technology and management. Andreas Steul, Project Manager of DLG Feldtage, added that visitors were able to assess innovations directly in the field, from new breeding approaches and precise cultivation strategies to robotics and AI-supported solutions.
Exhibitors echoed that message. CLAAS said discussions highlighted demand for solutions that increase efficiency and make everyday work easier, while automation specialist digital workbench reported growing interest in technologies that improve labour productivity and operational resilience.
For UK agricultural machinery businesses, the takeaway is that supply chain resilience is no longer simply about stock holding. It increasingly depends on technical advice, rapid parts support, data capability and the ability to connect machinery decisions with wider agronomic and environmental goals.
With UK farm confidence under pressure, suppliers able to demonstrate measurable savings, practical reliability and strong aftersales support are likely to be best placed. DLG Feldtage suggested that the next phase of machinery supply will be won less by individual products and more by joined-up solutions across the crop production value chain.
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