A pioneering idea

The new “DLG-Agrifuture Concept Winner” award recognises developments that will change the world of farming not tomorrow but after tomorrow. At Agritechnica 2025, ZÜRN HARVESTING received the award for developing a brand new approach to preventive crop protection together with Technical University of Dresden and EXAgT GmbH.

The intelligent solution for weed seed control

ZÜRN’s innovative SEED SELECT is a compact unit that separates weed seeds and lost grains from chaff and straw as the crop passes through the combine. Positioned behind the sieves, the unit comprises two drum screens that allow straw and chaff to pass through while seeds fall through the mesh.

SEED SELECT collects a significant volume of weed seeds as early as the threshing stage. Tests carried out over consecutive years have shown that the weed pressure diminishes in the subsequent seasons. At the same time, field trials provided evidence that the new system results in statistically significant yield increases.

Thanks to is compact size, low power requirement and modular design, SEED SELECT can be adapted easily to fit a wide range of combine makes and models without affecting the cleaning system or the grain loss sensors.

The project was supported by funds of the German Government’s Special Purpose Fund held at Landwirtschaftliche Rentenbank.

About the DLG-Agrifuture Concept Winner award

With the “Agrifuture Concept Winner” award, the DLG’s international expert panel of judges recognises visionary and pioneering agricultural technology that is expected to go to market in the following five or ten years.