The French company Novag SAS, a specialist in no-till technology, recently established its first sales and service branch in Germany. “We began as a start-up 11 years ago and are now so successful that we want to further expand our sales activities and intensify them on the German market in particular,” says Ramzi Frikha, CEO and Export Manager at Novag.
While development and production will continue to take place at the main site in Fressines, western France, Novag is now gradually transferring sales and customer service to the new Novag GmbH based in Hanover. In future, all customers and partners worldwide will be served from there. Novag is currently active in 15 countries.
Sales partner wanted in Germany
So far, Novag has been serving the French and German markets through direct sales from its factory in Fressines; in all other countries, the company is already represented by sales partners. Novag now wants to build on this in Germany and is actively looking for dealers for sales and service. From the summer, more than 25 Novag machines will be running in the German market and orders in the double-digit range have already been placed for the coming year. “In discussions with customers, we have developed a better understanding of the strengths of our technology for German farms and their needs. We also see potential for contractors and machinery rings,” says Lucas Zickermann, Sales and Product Manager Novag GmbH.
Improved service
Together with four employees, he currently organizes sales, marketing and customer service from Hanover. The next step will be the supply of spare parts. “We will shorten our service and delivery times from the strategically preferred location in Hanover. Offering the best possible customer service is our top priority,” explains Zickermann. There are also plans to bring some of the research and development activities to Germany in order to test and further develop prototypes and technical options together with customers. In addition, Novag plans to train customers and sales partners on its own no-till technology from Hanover and to impart agronomic and agronomic know-how on the “Conservation Agriculture” production system. “This places particularly high demands on sowing technology. This is exactly what our no-till implements are designed for,” explains Lucas Zickermann.
Growing interest in conservation agriculture in Germany
While no-till simply refers to the sowing method, conservation agriculture (CA) stands for an entire production system in which no-till is practiced. Conservation agriculture is based on three main principles (FAO definition): minimal mechanical tillage of the soil within defined limits, organic mulch cover of at least 30% immediately after direct seeding and a diversity of crops that includes at least three species in the crop rotation. Conservation agriculture should not be confused with the German term “konservierende Bodenbearbeitung”. While the latter merely means not plowing the soil, conservation agriculture involves virtually no tillage at all.
“The consequences of climate change for agriculture, such as drought or heavy rainfall events and the associated soil erosion, speak in favor of conservation agriculture. We are seeing increasing interest and potential for this cultivation system, especially in Germany, and are offering new sales partners a future-oriented package of agronomic know-how development and the best no-till technology,” says Ramzi Frikha.
Novag T-SlotPlus system
Novag offers no-till machines in working widths from 1.5 m to 9 m. The Novag T-SlotPlus functional principle is unique. At its heart is the specially shaped openers. Instead of a V or U shape, it cuts an inverted T into the soil. A serrated disc in front cuts growth or stubble and opens up the soil. Behind it are two separate openers that clear a seed groove. They each have an outlet through which either seed or fertilizer can be placed at the optimum distance from each other.
Thanks to the high coulter pressure of up to 500 kg per openers, the T-SlotPlus system guarantees optimum placement even in difficult no-till conditions with heavy biomass growth and works the soil only minimally. This protects it from drying out and significantly reduces weed pressure. In combination with trailing angled press wheels and the IntelliForcePlus automatic coulter pressure control, the T-shape of the openers also guarantees a well-closed slot, whether on light or heavy soils. This means that the seed always has optimum soil contact, even in dry conditions, and is also protected from slugs and birds.
Row spacings of 16.67 cm, 18.75 cm and 25 cm are available ex works and the sowing depth can be individually adjusted from 1 cm to 8 cm. For the simultaneous metering of several seeds or fertilizers, all Novag no-till machines can be equipped with up to 4 hoppers.
Demo tour 2022
Novag is currently inviting farmers, contractors, machinery rings and dealers to the 2022 demo tour. A four-person demonstration team from Novag GmbH will be on the road with two no-till drills (4 and 1.5 m) throughout Germany, Austria and Switzerland until November, visiting more than 50 farms. Trade fair appearances at Soil Evolution (31.5.-2.6.) and the DLG Field Days (14.-16.6.) are an integral part of the demo tour.
Anyone interested in no-till farming is invited to find out more about the company, its technology and the cultivation method of conservation agriculture. Novag communicates dates and locations via its website and social media profiles on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
