Holmer sells its first Terra Variant beet chaser
The cost and complexity of top-end sugar beet kit means it’s pretty much off the radar of most growers.
But those that can justify it are choosing to splash their cash on bigger, heavier chasers to move beet across sticky fields without getting bogged down. A few months ago we saw Vervaet’s five-wheeled chaser in action in the UK, and now Holmer has sold its first Terra Variant chaser to Suffolk-based Wickham Beet Group.
Interest in alternatives to tractor and trailer carting has been growing because of the predictably unreliable winter weather of recent sugar beet campaigns, and that has prompted Holmer to introduce the new chaser to replace its existing Terra Transport – a converted harvester.
The new model brings plenty of advantages over its predecessor, including a top speed of 40kph, better manoeuvrability and improved operator comfort.
Underneath, mechanical axles with diff-locks turn four equal-sized wheels on flotation tyres.
Grunt comes from a beefy Mercedes-Benz V6 428hp engine that drives though a twin-disc gearbox offering 12 forward and four reverse gears.
The purpose-built Holmer carries a 35cu m tank, which meets the discharge elevator from both sides for speedy unloading.
There are also demountable bodies available for slurry injection and cultivations to help make use of it outside the harvesting window.
New and factory-refurbished Holmer Terra Variant chasers are available from £170,000, with sales, service and parts provided by Ely-based Standen-Reflex.
Holmer had been bought by the Exel Group earlier this year.
