This year, FarmCon 22 is back in face-to-face format (entrance fee) on the weekend of July 23-24 at the John Deere Forum in Mannheim, Germany. As the dematerialized format is still in place, we were able to attend the launch plenary this Thursday, July 21, where Giants was able to present the new features to come for the rest of the year.
A preview of future Platinum DLC and the Silverrun Forest map
The brands MPEX, John Deere, Koller, Komatsu, Pfanzelt, Schwarzmüller and obviously Volvo are confirmed for this DLC which will contain more than 40 new vehicles and equipment. New production chains will be available (metallurgy, mining, shipyard) and will be an opportunity to discover the factories in their environment. The use of the train will be honored to facilitate the transport of logs over long distances.
The DLC will be available from November 15, 2022 at the recommended price of €19.99.
Update of the July 24:
- The map is inspired by the landscapes of the American Northwest and Canada. There will also be fields, not just factories and forest. We will find on the map new types of trees (including the gigantic Sequoia) as well as a large lake. The map being typed forest there will be more than 20 trees arranged in hilly reliefs. This will be the map with the most relief and rocks ever produced by Giants.
- The presence of the old Volvo BM2654 tractor from the 60s is confirmed (among the 40 vehicles and tools that will be contained in the DLC).
- Some factories will benefit from animations of their production (we can attend the assembly of the different stages of manufacture of the boat for example).
- There will be the appearance of "dead tree" missions where marked trees can be cut down for money even if the land does not belong to the player.
- We can transport the logs on the lake (in addition to the railway and road transport).
- The forestry gameplay will be improved with the presence of tools allowing to better fix the logs and to block them (we think in particular of the skidder). Similarly, a winch will also be available to facilitate logging on steep slopes where vehicles cannot pass. This winch will be mobile along a cable stretched between a pylon and any high point on a tree.
- The new IMPEX HANIBAL T50 vehicle cuts and holds trees vertically to place them on the ground with great precision. Effective on small trees. Automatically grabs trees when the marker appears if you are well aligned (O key). It can pull out a trunk without a branch.
- New more realistic track sounds. Similarly, the vehicle will be able to turn on the spot thanks to its tracks.
The new Creative Mesh pack: Pumps N' Hoses
The collaboration between Giants and Creative Mesh (originally the free pack Straw Harvest under FS19) is stepping up a gear with the announcement this time of a paid DLC called "Pumps N' Hoses" which will allow for the first time in Farming Simulatorspread slurry without a ton thanks to an umbilical pipe directly connected to the burying tool.
The DLC will be released on September 27 for a recommended retail price of €17.99. It will not be included in the season pass because it is a Third Party DLC. Like any DLC, it will be compatible with all platforms (and therefore consoles).
More than 30 pieces of equipment from Dutch manufacturer Schouten, German steel storage specialist Stallkamp and biogas technology manufacturer BvL will be included in Pumps N' Hoses. The pack basically consists of three items to introduce new gameplay features
umbilical cord management
Pumps N' Hoses will make it possible to implement so-called umbilical systems: by attaching pipes of different lengths to your tractor and static pumps which will remain at the edge of the fields to supply them. The idea is to avoid towing heavy slurry tankers and reduce soil compaction.
You can combine pipes of several hundred meters to cover your fields and ensure effective fertilization. To improve pumping conditions, additional water tanks and compressors will also be available.
Digestate phase separation
The separation of the solid and liquid phases of the raw digestate will make it possible to further enhance the production of methanizers. You can use the dry parts as bedding for the animals on your dairy farm, sell them or use them to fertilize your fields. The liquid part being digestate with a high nitrogen content for the fertilization of the fields.
A new BGA with multiple configurations
Biogas pros will finally be able to personalize their BGA by configuring the installations according to their needs and preferences. Various modules can be placed dynamically: reception areas, fermentation tanks, gas tanks, power plants and other components such as excess gas burners (overpressure).
Update of the July 24:
- Slurry extraction can be done directly from the farm from a slurry pit or via a transfer tank that will be left at the edge of the fields. In all cases, a pump will be necessary and its power will have to be adapted according to the lengths of the pipes.
- The hoses will be positioned via a reel/reel mounted on the 3 point of a tractor. If the hose is not long enough, another hose can be connected/disconnected using a coupler wrench. Once connected, the pump can be activated directly from the tractor.
- There is a pump pressure management. For example, a small pump will not be able to propel the slurry too far.
The 3rd DLC: Vermeer Pack
This DLC promised to perform certain tasks more efficiently and quickly and it seems that this is part of the motto of the manufacturer Vermeer, originally from Iowa in the United States. Thus you will find 5 new equipment of the brand:
- The 605N round baler (diameter from 91 to 183 cm)
- The TM1410 trailed mower (6.3m working width)
- The R2800 double rake windrower (8.5m working width)
- The BPX9010 straw blower (capacity 2 bales)
- The ZR5-1200 self-propelled press (diameter from 91 to 183 cm)
The DLC will be available from August 23, 2022 for €7.99.
Update of the July 24:
- There will be a bullet counter (total equipment counter and custom counter with reset). This counter will be added to all presses in the game but will not appear if you do not have the Vermeer DLC. There will be no wrapping possible with Vermeer equipment from the DLC.
- The mowing unit will have a double articulation in order to be able to maneuver in good conditions in the angles and avoiding obstacles. The working speed will be 20 km/h.
- The straw blower will have a bale lift at the rear to load the bale directly without the need for external tools.
The Mod Testing Process Explained
In a short video, Ken Burgges, the head of the quality control department, had the opportunity to detail the progress of a mod once it is submitted by its creator.
- The mod first passes automated checks to detect errors or non-compliance with the standards required by the guide provided by Giants to modders. At this stage, Marcel also takes care of validating the description and the images provided.
- Then, the mod is tested on PC for its gameplay once in game in order to validate its use and its compatibility with the base game.
- Finally, if the mod does not contain a script, it is submitted to the console testing team.
- At the very end of the stage, it is scheduled for availability on the modhub.
The retrospective of Precision Farming, precision agriculture
The Precision Farming Mod was introduced on FS19 and made 1.9 Million downloads for players who want to experience precision farming. Under FS22, the mod has been further improved with new additions such as the ability to control soil analyzes or the use of selective spraying, as well as the precise dosage of slurry via the addition of a specific module on tons.
To learn more about Precision Farming, do not hesitate to consult our complete guide as well as our full video on the subject.
The Swiss Future Farm card is back
On the occasion of this FarmCon, the famous mapper OxygenDavid transposed the map of the future agriculture project "Swiss Future Farm" on FS22 and it is available on the Modhub at the same time as the FarmCon.
New John Deere tractors on the modhub
Fans of the manufacturer will be happy to learn that two new tractors are available on the modhub to celebrate this FarmCon: the 5M series and the 710 collector tractor.
