Under the umbrella of the Sachsenobst brand, apples are the main produce, grown in the scenic beauty of the Saxon land of castles and heathland – using both conventional and ecological methods. But the main agricultural business is a multi-layered mixed holding.

The apple harvest is in full swing. The dynamic 200 P series Fendt Varios drive through the narrow 3.3-metre wide paths between the rows of the apple orchard. In tow is a picking cart fully loaded with wooden boxes. These are removed at regular intervals, so that they can be painstakingly filled by hand.

A special rear forklift lifts the filled boxes. The rear hydraulics need to be sensitive; a requirement fully met by this small bundle of energy from the Allgäu. There's no 'Shake and quiver, little tree' called for here. Any small, uncontrolled movement like that can make the apples fall onto the wooden wall of the box and get bruised; the harvest can no longer be marketed as highly-prized fruit. Once the box has been lifted, the 200 model moves off smoothly, without any jolts. Like the large Varios, this narrow-gauge tractor is also equipped with the Vario gearbox, which allows for rapid acceleration without switching gears.

The load is collected, box by box. On its spring-loaded front axle, it glides through the rows of trees, over the traverses to the entrance of the orchard. This is where it transforms into the road vehicle – under the same conditions. “It's the combination of the hydraulics, spring-loaded front axle and step-less Vario gearbox that makes this narrow-gauge tractor the best purchase for box logistics,” says Jan Kalbitz, CEO of the fruit-growing business. And so apple variety upon apple variety is picked, sorted by commercial and industrial produce, sold, stored or processed onsite. How much will be left at the end of a year? Every penny counts.

If the quantity is good, the price is bad. If there are few apples, you can get a good price for quality produce, while industrial produce is processed into purée, juice, etc. The price per kilo for that is usually way down low. This is another reason why Obstland Dürrweitzschen AG has chosen Fendt. The slightly higher purchase price keeps the follow-up costs low and makes them manageable. The reliability of the tractors proves it – no breakdowns, low maintenance and low diesel consumption. And you need support during peak hours, two service partners are on hand to ensure that the harvest resumes quickly within a very short period of time.

Mid-March. The early season now starts for the fruit grower. Especially in organic apple cultivation, it's important to pick the right time for plant care and protection measures. Since you're limited in terms of the solutions and methods you're allowed to use, the system is based on three pillars: Measures to reduce diseases and pests, promote and protect functional biodiversity and provide plant protection measures. The grass growth between the rows of trees is partially mulched while weeds are removed between the trees by a cultivator. Again, precision is required. The driver must steer the attachment as close as possible to the tree trunk without injuring it. For this, lifting power is needed at the front attachment – the Adelhelm cultivation technology is heavy, so high working speed must be guaranteed for this to work. Once again, the Fendt 200 model shines in its triumph – constant traction without switching gears. Agility and dynamics combined with a unique smoothness. Ultimate comfort for the driver. Drive slowly when mulching dense weeds; for less dense weeding, drive faster and continuously, without changing gears or interrupting the traction. The TMS controls the engine rpm and gearbox ratio for the ultimate in cost efficiency.

Now the apple specialist has done everything possible for a successful harvest, thanks to these little helpers. Obstland Dürrweitzschen AG sets standards in the production of organic apples. Just like Fendt did 10 years ago, when it introduced the Vario gearbox to its specialist 200 series tractors.