Study Tour Report

Photo-voltaic array on dairy cow shed, Schoenberger Hof dairy, near Kolenz, Germany

View of fields, farms and countryside near Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England

Red Poll cows and calves, Uggeshall Farm, Suffolk, England

ALAN WOODS
TAFE WESTERN SYDNEY INSTITUTE
RICHMOND COLLEGE

SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES IN PERI-URBAN AREAS
What can we learn from England and Germany?

Alan Woods



2009 Premier's EnergyAustralia Environmental Education Scholarship



Background
Peri-urban agriculture can be defined as rural production on the perimeter of cities and towns. The development of urban communities requires some of the agricultural land surrounding settlements to change its land use away from farming to housing. Increasing fringe development around Sydney has seen the loss of farms that had been responsible for production of vegetables, eggs, meat and fruit for Sydney. Management of the changes in land use on city fringes has become a vexed issue as housing density increases and space for production and recreation is reduced.
My interest in peri-urban agriculture has been heightened by changing land use patterns around Richmond, NSW, where increased housing requirements and changes in farming have seen many farms cease production. Recreational agricultural pursuits such as equestrian activities have replaced fruit and vegetable farms and dairying.

The purpose of my study tour was to look at sustainable agricultural practices around cities and towns in England and Germany and explore how the methods used to teach these practices to students studying Agriculture. These countries have a long history of town and village settlement with adjacent farming, along with an industrial base. They are examples of ‘mature’ developed countries compared with Australia. The maintenance of farming activities around cities and towns seemed to require deliberate actions by planners (both at local and national) rather than through a local government-based development model such as that which currently operates in NSW.

I planned to visit farmers, agricultural colleges, researchers at universities and planners.

Farms in England
Linking Environment and Farming (LEAF) is an organisation within England that promotes sustainable farming practices and has a charter to take this message to the general public. LEAF farms hold regular ‘Farm Sundays’ where the farms are open and some explanation of farming practices is given to visitors. This scheme enables a connection between farms, food and consumers. The farms elect to join the scheme and can use the LEAF logo as part of their marketing. Farmers undertake training in presentation of information and exhibition of their farms.

Aishe Barton farm is located near Exeter in Devon. Andrew Baker, the owner and farmer, has a background in engineering and has adopted some different farming practices. The establishment of hedgerows and cropping margins within paddocks allow insects and birds to become resident pest controllers on the farm. Around half of the 267 hectares is cropped regularly; the remainder is pasture area or land set aside for habitat and species protection. Part of farm income comes from the maintenance of natural areas under a scheme to encourage stewardship of the countryside. The grain produced on the farm is used for livestock feed during winter when the cattle and sheep are housed in barns. Several photo boards are located around the farm as part of the LEAF commitment to explain farming processes or habitat for birds and insects.

Broadwell Manor Farm is another LEAF demonstration farm located near Lechlade in Gloucestershire. A mixed farm of over 526 hectares and surrounded by three villages; it combines dairy cattle, sheep, pastures and grain cropping. The farm management strategy put in place by David Jenkinson has been to retain and maintain hedgerows and wooded areas to encourage populations of birds, bugs and predators. Crop margins are preserved and an area of cleared space near hedgerows provides the owners with a game bird area each shooting season. There is a careful rotation of the different crops in order to meet nutritional needs of the cows and efficiently use the arable area. Fertilisers, including treated human sewage waste, are incorporated into the soil at regular intervals.

Till House Farm is part of the farming operation of Phil and Julie Trump. Located on the edge of Exeter Airport and an industrial area, its 100 hectares are used to fatten steers. Part of the farm was proposed for development for the industrial area but the global slowdown has delayed any changes. The family were dairy farmers at Till House, milking over 200 cows for the fresh milk market. The dairy would have needed significant investment in infrastructure to continue, so dairying was discontinued.
Another component of the operation is a 43 hectare farm, Higher Rixdale, about 20 minutes away. This location has farm-stay accommodation which provides a regular income stream for the Trumps. Devon cattle and crossbred sheep are used in grazing activities.

Uggeshall Farm produces Red Poll beef cattle on the east coast of Suffolk. Giles and June Crisp grow crops for both grain and hay to feed their herd of 38 cows. Animals are sold as breeding stock or as cartons of pasture-fed meat. The farm comprises 60 hectares of relatively shallow soil in a region of low rainfall; however it is capable of supporting the herd throughout the year. Conservation of fodder as large round bales also provides a shelter for cattle not shedded through winter. Progeny of an Australian Red Poll bull are in the Uggeshall herd and these animals have made their mark on the English scene by improving muscularity.


Insights Gained from English Farms
* Sustainability in an English context relates less to soil and water conservation and more to economic sustainability. Diversification of produce across both livestock and plant activities are the key to spreading income and risk. Few farms produce a single crop and care is taken with rotation of crops and pastures.
* Farm land is integrated with housing in most areas. Many farms consist of separate blocks with houses in between the blocks.
* Reduced cultivation of cropping areas occurs more now compared to 15 years ago. While soils are generally deeper and younger than Australian soils, fewer machinery operations now occur during preparation and sowing. Modifications have been made to machinery to enable efficient soil preparation.
* There is a big emphasis on efficiency of production and energy use. On-farm consumption of grain and fodder is a more efficient system compared with selling plant products and purchasing feed for animals. The production system is more closely linked than comparable Australian systems.
* Value adding to farm produce is common and most of farms I visited provided beef for sale.

English Colleges

Bicton College offers Further Education (FE equivalent to TAFE) and Higher Education (HE University equivalent) courses in agriculture, horticulture, equine studies and countryside studies (conservation) near Exmouth, Devon. The college has agriculture students engaged in its farm (dairying, beef cattle, sheep, cropping and pastures) and undertaking up to a year of placement on a farm or in a business. There are linkages across the courses with countryside students studying units within agriculture as a lead-in to employment in conservation activities on estates. The college has recently received a grant to upgrade some facilities into an Eco Centre to demonstrate best practice in building construction, insulation and energy capture and use in the built environment on farms.

Harper Adams University College is located near Newport, Shropshire in the Midlands of England. This institute offers degrees and post-graduate studies in many areas of agriculture. It has begun to develop a system of energy production through bio-digestion of farm waste to produce power for heating buildings on the campus. Buildings on the college campus have been fitted with energy efficient components, and a new dairy has been constructed using sustainable, local materials. Student projects have been aligned with lower input agricultural practices to include studies into insect habitat protection in hedge banks in crops and industry-based variety trials for cereals with lower nutrient requirements.

The Royal Agricultural College at Cirencester in Gloucestershire has a long history of agricultural education. Along with undergraduate programs, a post-graduate course in Sustainable Agriculture links students from all over the world in a community of practice to investigate sustainable solutions to international agricultural problems. These can include natural resource development, rural tourism, climate change and organic production. Many of the students in this course are from developing countries and undertake projects that can lead to positive environmental outcomes on a global scale

Otley College is located near the city of Ipswich in Suffolk. This college has undergone many changes in the last 20 years, with Further Education students now accessing animals and facilities off-campus for their practical studies. Changes in funding have seen more specific courses replacing broader-based courses and a greater reliance on external funding. Stronger local links with schools and industry have also been developed.

Writtle College at Chelmsford, Essex offers a range of agricultural courses in both Further- and Higher Education at a similar mix of levels and options to Bicton College. With an emphasis on the delivery of practical skills, it offers study in agriculture, horticulture, equine studies and animal science. Management of animals and the association with production of feed from crops and pastures are the basis of the Further Education programs in agriculture.

Key Insights from English Colleges
* Practical competency-based agriculture programs at Further Education level are similar to those delivered in TAFE in NSW
* Funding restrictions for high cost courses have seen more reliance on external funding sources and links to industry
* Students understanding of energy production and use are now embedded within FE and HE courses of study with college campuses reflecting the wider community’s uptake of renewable energy sources
* Placement of students on a farm or in a business for up to 1 year of their study has positive outcomes for both students’ learning and their employment prospects
* Short courses, targeting skill development, have become an acceptable method of maintenance of industry credentials for people involved in crop spraying, animal management and farm consultancy.
* Short courses in aspects of sustainable agriculture are now being more frequently delivered.

Researchers and Universities in England

University of Plymouth researcher Professor Geoff Wilson has created the concept of a continuum of agricultural producers from ‘productionists’ (concerned with producing more output) through to ‘multifunctional farmers’ (managing many processes such as production, conservation, environmental stewardship and farm development). He believes that long term sustainability can be achieved with the adoption of the idea of ‘multifunctionality’ by farmers.

Dr Richard Yarwood is a Geography lecturer at Plymouth with an interest in development of communities and planning issues. He explained the conflict between the need for affordable housing and the lack of available land in a mature region such as Devon, especially around the more densely populated areas near Plymouth.

Emma Pierce-Jenkins is a lecturer in Planning at Harper Adams University College. She outlined the processes that councils undertake to identify areas for urban development and how landholders propose their land to be considered for development. The term "best and most versatile land" dominates development discussions about farming land so that very good farm land is harder to develop.

The Countryside and Community Research Institute in Cheltenham, is a collaborative research centre between the Universities of Gloucestershire and the West of England. The institute plays a significant role in undertaking rural research in England and across Europe. With a team of over 20 researchers it is the largest such centre in the UK and undertakes projects covering social, economic and environmental issues in rural areas, planning issues, managing change within agricultural communities, food supply and food chains, and landscape and nature. Key issues outlined by Chris Short, Senior Research Fellow within the CCRI, concern the implementation of rural development policy and the challenges that environmental decline and climate change present to farming and rural communities.


English Farm Shops

An example of the diversification of farms in England is the phenomenon of farm shops. Multi-level businesses have developed from a concept of value-adding to produce by selling directly from the farm gate. It is hard to find an Australian equivalent as we lack the population density to sustain enterprises on this scale.
Darts Farm near Exmouth offers a supermarket, delicatessen and restaurant along with camping and kitchen sales. The original vegetable farm still surrounds the retail outlet.

Taverner’s Orange Elephant farm shop is located on a dairy farm near Exeter. Ice cream and dairy products are a mainstay, along with a butchery and fruit and vegetables. Retention of the customer was linked to high quality produce, fresh, seasonal fruit and vegetables and the expectation that some items were not available outside the season as opposed to importations by supermarkets.
Occombe Organic farm shop is ten minutes drive from Torquay in Devon. This farm offers activities such as walking amongst woodlands as well as interaction with farm animals and a well stocked shop and cafe.

Farms in Germany

Farming in southern Germany is conducted on relatively small holdings with sizes of tens of hectares rather than the larger scale farms typical of the north of the country. Of the two large states in the south, Bavaria is noted for cattle herds and cropping and Baden-Württemberg is noted for vegetables, wine grapes and dairying.
The Bavarian government has a number of facilities to support agriculture. The Poing-Grub Research centre is only five train stops outside of Munich in a suburb of the city. The centre researches the nutritional and management requirements of livestock, principally cattle, and is responsible for the dissemination of information to the farming community. The use of lucerne in diets for cattle is being studied and, as a deep-rooted perennial legume, it has benefits over annual cereal crops. Investigations into facilities for dairy cattle have covered the use of recycled components for coating concrete to provide better comfort.

‘Haldenhof’ is a mixed farm 20 minutes from the city of Stuttgart. The Schnerring family produces un-pasteurised milk, eggs, pasta and crops on 90 hectares in a combination of activities not seen in Australia. A farm shop and a direct selling system ensure value-adding of all farm produce. Recycling of nutrients by spreading manure back onto paddocks minimises the use of chemical fertilisers or sprays. ‘Haldenhof’ leases one 15 hectare block from some 85 individual owners, a situation not often encountered in Australia. The farm grows flower crops in amongst fruit trees and tulips and sunflowers are picked by customers. A small bar is open under the farmhouse for locals on selected nights in spring and summer.

Martinsburg Winery is located on the River Rhine at Dienheim near the city of Mainz. Achim Martin is a winemaker who produces white wines from grapes grown in amongst villages adjacent to the river. Attention to detail is required for managing the grapes within this closely-settled region, and a reduction has been achieved in the use of chemical insecticides.
A desire to produce smaller quantities of high quality wine has seen some changes to the varieties grown, but Riesling and Gewürztraminer are two of the mainstays. Achim Martin processes almost three quarters of his grapes, with the remainder sold to another processor. Direct marketing to individual clients enables Achim to limit his reliance upon outlets, and tastings held in northern cities are a component of the marketing plan.

‘Pferdeland’ is a farm of 80 hectares near the village of Grenzau, about 20 minutes from the city of Koblenz. Previously a pig farm and then a dairy, the farm has always produced grain and hay for its animals. Reflecting a change to German society in the last 20 years, it now operates principally as an agistment facility for horse owners in the city nearby. The Meyer family still grow grain and fodder on the farm but mixed feed is formulated for the horses. An indoor exercise arena provides support for a large photovoltaic array to provide power for the farm and alternative fuel sources such as rapeseed oil have been used in machinery.

The Shoenberger Hof dairy is an efficient and impressive animal production unit designed to operate with minimal environmental impact. It is located near Koblenz. A newly built cow barn with capacity for 250 milking cows and a high tech milking parlour (120 cows milked per hour) are powered by photovoltaic cells on the barn and an anaerobic digester (bio-gas production). The excess power returned to the grid provides a long term income for the family. Modifications to machinery mean fewer cultivation passes are required, and the cropping operations can now be completed in one-sixth of the time previously needed.



The Herbst dairy is located in the same area. Milking 120 cows on 180 hectares of pasture land the family uses a photovoltaic array to provide power to the dairy. No bio-gas system is in place as the slurry and wastes from the dairy are used as fertiliser on the pasture and crop areas. An annual herd average of over 10,000 litres of milk per cow is proof of a successful grazing and feeding regime.

The Weinig family run ‘Hof Hahlgarten’ a mixed organic farm 15 minutes from Koblenz. Fresh milk, cheeses and yoghurt are produced and manufactured on the farm as well as a range of meat products. Vegetables, fruit and flowers are produced and sold utilising the labour of a band of dedicated farm helpers. Proximity to a city and an awareness of the link between good diet and health have seen demand for their products grow in the last ten years. The production system on this farm is driven by composted manure being used as the key fertiliser, with strong emphasis also placed on natural pest control methods.

Insights from German Farms
* The use of renewable energy sources is more widespread than in Australia. Not only farms but private houses utilise p-v arrays for power and income.
* There are few processes on German farms that do not have an end product used by another component or activity. Crops provide grain for animals, straw for bedding and for consumption in bio-gas production. Animals provide a saleable product (milk, meat) and their wastes are used for fertiliser or fuel.
* Government support for farmers comes through the provision of income from EU money as well as from contracts for installation and purchase of power from renewable sources (wind, p-v and bio-gas).
* Density of population allows for enough consumers to support on-farm marketing. A connection between consumers, food and its source of production has been the object of the German Farmers Association in the south, where regular Farm Days are held.


Conclusions and Outcomes from the Study Tour

Following my study tour I hope to be able to achieve the outcomes listed below

* Production of a series of ‘digital stories’ or case studies of some of the farms and colleges I visited. These short stories will be able to give students an insight into production of agricultural produce under a different system in a different country

* Developing a network of teaching contacts from the colleges visited to share resources and teaching ideas in an informal community of practice.

* Developing contacts between some of my students and students in England studying at a similar level. The use of a class ‘blog’ from each college can help to establish contact between student groups.

* Developing teaching materials reflecting methods of production and use of resources such as renewable energy in farming systems in England and Germany.

* A broader use of internet-based technologies to share resources and ideas amongst Agriculture teachers within NSW.

* Developing techniques for integrating video footage and digital photography into classroom presentations.


Links for Report

· My blog of the study tour http://alanwoodseurope2010.blogspot.com/

· Linking Environment and Farming (LEAF) http://www.leafuk.org/

· Aishe Barton farm, Silverton, Devon http://www.aishebarton.co.uk/

· Higher Rixdale Farm, Newton Abbot, Devon
http://www.higher-rixdale-farm.com/

· Countryside and Community Research Institute University of Gloucestershire http://www.ccri.ac.uk/

· University of Plymouth http://www.plymouth.ac.uk/

· Harper Adams University College http://www.harper-adams.ac.uk/

· Royal Agricultural College http://rac.ac.uk/

· Bicton College http://www.bicton.ac.uk/

· Otley College http://www.otleycollege.ac.uk/

· Writtle College http://www.writtle.ac.uk/

· UK Red Poll Society http://www.redpoll.org/

The Last Post ; Home again, wiser perhaps?

Frost on fences and grass up to about 1 metre high: a Richmond morning at -4.8 degrees
Thick frost carpeting the yard area at Richmond TAFE
The bleak outlook on the -4.8 degree morning at Richmond

Returning home to a colder than expected mid-winter with temperatures at Richmond at an all-time record low of -4.8 degrees has been quite an adjustment, especially after making a point of telling Europeans that we have 20 degree days in winter. Weather aside, I have been asked by many people to describe what I had seen and learnt during my study trip. Unfortunately most expect you to tell them in 25 words or less (unlikely for me) and glazing of their eyes generally indicates a drop in listening intensity shortly afterwards.

To briefly summarise my thoughts I will note what took my interest as being different, better, useful or noteworthy

• Awareness of alternative energy sources is much greater in both the farming community and general community in the places I visited. Wind and solar power systems are more widespread and more generally accepted that they are here. Government action to subsidise the purchase and installation of these systems has been needed, but it comes at a benefit to the country, not at a cost.
• The intensity of grain farming in the places I visited was greater than that practised here. The level of inputs (fertiliser, seed, sprays) is much higher, even in areas where nitrate loss into waterways is critical, but yields of over 8 tonnes per hectare in wheat are achieved. A less inconsistent climate helps, and lower evaporation rates and more effective rainfall contribute to the outcome.
• Animal production is quite similar to that practised here, allowing for the winter management of grazing animals. Growth rates are probably higher under their conditions in Europe as the provision of a balanced, grain-based diet is guaranteed under shedding in winter. Higher feed conversion ratios are expected under cooler European climates than in Australian conditions.
• There seems to be a greater value placed on the business of farming by the general community in England and Germany than perhaps is exhibited in Australia. Tradition has something to do with this attitude as well as the historical threats of starvation during times of major upheaval. The acceptance of living near a farm (if you are a villager or a town inhabitant) or of farming near a village or town (if you are a farmer) is at a higher level than that I see during my travels in Australia.
  
• Education of agriculture students at college and university level in England is relatively consistent with that in Australia. Greater emphasis on practical activities can be seen in some of the institutions I visited (Bicton College, Writtle College, Harper Adams) than in others (Royal Ag College, Otley College) but my deepest memory is of a comment made to me that agricultural education is "in a period of great churn at present". I would say that this reflects directly the position we are in at the TAFE level and the university level in our area.
• The system of planning for urban development in England is considerably different to that in NSW. An offer of land for development is made by a landholder in response to an expression of interest from the council. Resumption of land for development is a practice not often undertaken.
• How much of the differences I noted are due simply to the reason that England and Germany are mature societies rather than a still-growing society such as Australia I cannot determine. I'm sure if you live in a house next to a farmer's field, and your family has lived there for generations, then you are accepting of the situation.
• The presence of allotments in both England and Germany are intriguing and amusing. The English allotments were established on public land (near railways and parks) as part of the 'Dig for Victory' campaign during WW2. It is reasonable to suggest that the German versions were established at the same time for a similar (if differently named) purpose. People erect sheds and flagpoles and establish a home away from home as an escape from life, work and family members. I might suggest that there will be fewer English and German flags fluttering in the breeze now than during my visit in May and June. In Australia our housing generally allowed for a garden of some sort (flowers, vegetables) in our yard rather than seeking another place to dig and scratch. Newer trends in housing might indicate a need for the provision of allotments in Australian subdivisions in the future.
• My final report on my study tour will be made from a close edit of the words included in this blog. Distilling 3000 words for the report from more than 12000 already written will be a task of Herculean proportions. I would appreciate any hints, help or advice that anyone might suggest, that is if anyone is still reading or listening. Anyone, anyone......??!
  

Hof Hahlgarten organic farm, Fruecht

The view southwards from the farm and the reed beds used to 'polish' household waste water

The key implement for weed control in maize crops without using chemicals

A re-locatable hen house

An acknowledgement of the role of Rudolf Steiner in organic agriculture in this area

An area for wildflowers and herbs

A crop of cereal rye that was over 1.6 metres tall, which allows more straw bedding to be made after the grain is harvested

Part of the 10 hectares of potatoes with the milkers in the background

The organic vegetable production area

Frau Margret Weinig, owner and manager of Hof Hahlgarten organic farm, with Lucia and Albert Zinndorf

Beef bulls destined for the on-farm processing centre

The real driver of the production system on this farm: composting manure

Hof Hahlgarten is a family-run organic farm located at Fruecht, near Lahnstein in the southern Westerwald region. The Weinig family produce a wide range of organic farm products and sell them direct from the farm shop or through a growing network of customers.

The farm is located on land that had been used by Rudolf Steiner and his farming followers in the development of bio dynamic agriculture in the early part of last century. A plaque (see photo) notes the contribution of the Steiner methods to the production of wholesome produce. The Weinig family continue the chemical-free methods on the 180 hectare property.

There is a planned rotation of crops and pasture on the property that follows the traditional method of cereal, maize, legumes, wheat then oats. Potatoes are included in the rotation as well as triticale. Vegetables, herbs and flowers are grown in a 1 hectare plot. Grain is used for animal feed as well as some being processed for flour.

The farm produces bio-milch as its primary product, some being sold through a major organic distributor Uplaender. Milk is retained at the farm and processed into cheese and yoghurt. Beef animals and pigs are fed and slaughtered and the farm has a butchery and meat processing factory which is used for production of sausages, salami and other meat products. Eggs are produced by free-range chickens housed in re-locatable sheds. These products are sold through the farm shop or by subscription to an organic box of produce.

Hof Hahlgarten utilises the volunteer work of a group of organic farming followers who 'donate' their time and work efforts to maintaining the farm. Frau Weinig indicated that chipping weeds in the flower and herb gardens was a much sought after task as opposed to working in the larger vegetable garden.

The real nutrient driver of the farming system at the farm is composted manure and straw. Regular removal of manure from the sheds and replacement of straw is practised, with an impressive pile of composted manure being readied for incorporation into the soil for the next crop planting. If insufficient straw is produced on the farm then it has to be sourced from other organic producers. The crop of cereal rye photographed above is over 1.6 metres tall, much taller than similar crops grown under conventional methods. The extra height gives a greater harvest of straw and reduces the need to buy in extra from other farms. This reflects the general ethos of the farm in one product also providing inputs for other parts of the system.

Farming without chemicals requires greater manipulation of farming techniques than conventional farming. The control of weeds in a maize crop is essential to ensure good establishment and early growth. The family plants the maize seed deeper than would be done on a conventional farm and uses a spring tyne cultivator to remove weeds up until the plants are 15-20 cm tall. Better root development allows the maize seedling to withstand the abrasive effects of the cultivator. Other allowable inputs under the organic production codes are used at the farm including neem oil sprays to control pest problems in potatoes.

Frau Weinig indicated that the desire to produce top class organic produce came from the necessity to eat the best food available. She spoke of the difference that natural sources of food made to all people and animals, and pointed out some nearby health institutes that promoted healthy lifestyles. She has presided over a growing business that is capable of providing high class natural food products for a health-conscious community. A simple measure of food quality was shown by her observation that the cheese produced by the cows during the summer months was better tasting and lasted longer on the shelf. The cows have unrestricted access to pasture during the warm season but are housed during winter.

The sign indicating Bio-milch (organic milk)

The Herbst dairy farm

Solar power panels on the cow barn at the Herbst dairy in Breitenau, Westerwald, Germany

Nadine Schwind (an Agriculture student on farm placement) and Denise Herbst

Inside the cow barn

A maize silage clamp

The farm produces milk for the 'Hochwald' dairy company

The Herbst family operates a dairy near the village of Breitenau, not far from Koblenz in Germany. The farm covers 180 hectares on a number of sites apart from the main farm, and there are 120 ha of pasture and grassland as well as 30 ha of wheat and 30 ha of maize.

Holstein-Friesian cows are used in the milking herd and a small number of Limousin beef cattle are fed. Artificial insemination is used for the older dairy cows after they are mated as heifers to H-F bulls. The herd of heifers is grazed at a section of the property about 2 kilometres from the main farm.

The cows in the dairy herd are allowed access to pasture land in the warmer months and are otherwise housed in a large, high-ceiling barn. The sheds on this farm mirror the changes in animal housing over the last 20 years with the older sheds having low ceilings and dark interiors and the newer sheds being more light and airy. The remaining beef cattle are housed in the oldest shed and it was much less pleasant to visit than the new sheds (see photograph of new shed).

Cows calve for the first time at 24-26 months and calving takes place all year round. The average cow in the herd will have around 6 lactations but the oldest resident cow at present is 15 years old, an outstanding individual. The herd production average is just above 10000 L. The diet for the cows includes silage (whole plant maize and pasture), wheat, soybean meal, spent brewers' grains and fresh pasture. The herd is milked in a 4-a-side parallel parlour which, according to Frau Herbst, needs replacing. The family is considering a system utilising 2 robotic milking stations.

The current Herbsts are the second generation to run the farm, with the original dairy commencing with 20 cows in the older sheds over 25 years ago. Any increase in herd size now is limited by the old-style milking parlour.

The mother cow beef cattle operation is being discontinued as returns from beef do not justify the labour and feed inputs.

No bio gas production is undertaken on this farm as the slurry is applied to the extensive pasture area as well as the composted straw and manure solid wastes. As is usual on farms in this area, a large photovoltaic array was in place on the roof of the cow barn.

My thanks to my guides to the farm, Denise Herbst and Nadine Schwind, a student of Agriculture at a university near Berlin, who spoke perfect English with a lilting Irish accent.

Schoenberger Hof : Dairy farming in the modern day

A view of the Schoenberger-Hof dairy farm, Heilberscheid, southern Westerwald, Germany

The new high-capacity milking parlour

Maize in the foreground and winter wheat in the background

The biogas unit used to ferment slurry and wastes and maize silage

Cows feeding inside the new dairy barn

Andreas Schoenberger, Albert Zinndorf and Gerhard Schoenberger outside the new dairy barn

Inside an older dairy barn, now an area for heifers

A disc seeder capable of sowing crop or pasture seed at 6 hectares per hour

The Schoenberger family have run a dairy farm at Heilberscheid in the southern Westerwald region since 1966. Farming 260 hectares, they are currently milking 200 Holstein-Friesian cows. Having started in 1968 with 40 cows the family has improved their facilities about every 9 years building more sheds and providing better conditions for the cows. New buildings constructed in 2009 include a cow barn with 250 cow capacity and a state of the art milking parlour capable of milking 120 cows per hour.

Half of the farming land is used for cropping with rape, maize, wheat, oats and barley in the rotation. Silage and hay are cut from the remaining land area. Machinery on this farm is up with the big end of town: 2 tractors in excess of 200 hp, high capacity sowing and harvesting implements and now non-inversion tillage equipment. Andreas Schoenberger indicated that previously cultivation had been carried out fairly often and at depth with a mouldboard plough but now most paddocks are cultivated with power harrows. The topsoil across the farm is about 350 mm deep and well drained but layers below this include many smooth rocks.

The dairy cows are housed all year round, and currently production averages 9500 L per cow over a 310 day lactation. Cows are fed soybean meal, corn silage, grass silage, wheat and barley. Spent brewers' grains and rapeseed pellets also form part of the diet. Forty hectares of maize are grown each year as well as 30 ha of oilseed rape, 70 ha of wheat and 10 hectares of winter barley. Fertiliser rates are high to ensure reasonable yields in crops and pastures.

The farm has a high capacity anaerobic digestor which uses substrates such as dried manure, slurry and maize silage to produce methane which is then converted to electricity and fed into the power grid. The new cow barn is covered on the southern side with an enormous photovoltaic array which is capable of returning in excess of 9000 Euros to the farm per month in the sunny months.

The Shoenberger Hof dairy is an efficient and impressive animal production unit designed to operate efficiently and with minimal environmental impact.

Pferdeland: Meyer Family farm, Westerwald, Germany

The half-timbered farm house at the Meyer family's "Pferdeland" near Grenzau

Sowing machinery (with a detachable power harrow front), hay mowers and silage choppers

Part of the mother cow crossbred herd in shedding. Note the silage and hay stored behind the pens.

Solar panels cover an area of 60 metres by 25 metres on the arena shed

An impressive equestrian arena with dust-settling fogger line in operation

The symbol of quality assurance in farm production in Rheinland-Pfalz

Pferdeland: Meyer Family farm

The Westerwald is a picturesque region of farms, villages and forests in central western Germany. It was the northern limit of Roman settlement due in part to the distance from Rome and the climatic conditions. It was the centre of my interest for a number of days, and its proximity to a number of cities such as Koblenz and an abundance of towns and villages qualifies it as a peri-urban area. The farm enterprises undertaken in the area are broad and varied, and the scale of farm investment and size differs greatly within the region.

The Meyer family farm 80 hectares of land near the town of Grenzau. Willi Meyer and two of his sons form the operational team at the farm, with the younger son Tobias getting ready to go to university to study management in agriculture. Thirty hectares are used to grow cereals with 50 hectares of grassland and pasture. Cereals grown in rotation are oilseed rape, wheat, oats, barley and occasionally peas. Ryegrass forms the perennial base of pastures.

Formerly a farm principally producing grain and pigs, the farm was a dairy for a number of years. Pig production was limited by small facilities by modern standards, and an increase in the number of privately owned pleasure horses prompted a change to an agistment facility 20 years ago. Now providing accommodation for 60 horses on a permanent basis, the farm offers a range of options for owners including various scales of care (full board, feed only, boxes or yards). Most of the owners live in towns within 10 kilometres but the density of population means most have no room for a horse at home.

Cereal grain produced on the farm is consumed by the horses and a herd of mother cows (vealer mothers). Hay and silage is produced from the grassland with a special silage product being produced for the horses. It has a lower moisture content and a different bacterial inoculant to the silage produced for the cattle. The family has a number of tractors with capacity of more than 130 hp as although small paddocks are used sometimes jobs have to be done in a short period of time due to the likelihood of poor weather. All animals on the farm are shedded during winter.

In an area that receives 750-800 mm of rainfall, soils on this farm are not as productive as others in less hilly areas. There is a scale used in German agriculture to rate the productivity potential of soil out of a possible 100 points. The farm has soils in the range of 50 to 70 points. Fertiliser is used at sowing and again in crops when they reach 100-150 mm when urea is applied. Up to 6 tonnes of wheat per hectare can be expected at this farm, and up to 8 tonnes per hectare in flatter areas with better soils.

The shedding on the farm allows for changes in the size of the cattle herd. While currently 20 cows and their offspring are in the pens, over 80 cows and followers were on the farm last year. Price changes led to a reduction in numbers, but an increase can be accommodated quickly. Calves are grown out to 700 kg plus on a diet of milled grain and silage. The herd uses a Limousin bull over Fleckvieh and crossbred cows.

Willi Meyer expressed the regrets of farmers worldwide as he discussed rising prices of fertilisers, chemicals and fuel while noting the accompanying drop in commodity prices. He also wondered at the various state and Federal German agriculture departments' responses to diseases such as Bluetongue, where a vaccine had become available for use but no one department would sanction its use. Farmers were acting to ensure correct action was being taken to control the problem but felt little support. He also regretted the position of a farmer as a price taker and compared this to the ability of others to speculate as opposed to being a producer.

The family has moved to take advantage of rebates and contracts by establishing a major photovoltaic array on the dressage arena shed. The family has also converted one of the tractors to run on rapeseed oil when tax inducements made this action economically favourable. The tax advantage in this sector has been reducing and in 2011 there will be no difference between diesel and rapeseed oil and therefore no incentive to continue the practice.

The family has contracts with a number of local villages to clear roads of snowfall during winter. It is an onerous task with starts in the colder months before 3 am. The continual spraying of salt onto cleared road surfaces behind the tractor has led to extensive surface rust on components of the tractor.

Oppenheim: A small city with some big ideas on sustainablility

A view of the River Rhine and assorted transport methods from Nierstein, a village close to the city of Oppenheim
Solar panels on numerous houses in this nearby village

An impressive photovoltaic array in a field on a farm near Oppenheim

Wind power generators on the hills near Oppenheim

Green waste is mixed with this composted sewerage solid waste to provide farm fertiliser

Oppenheim on the River Rhine: Recycling and Renewables

Oppenheim is a small city on the River Rhine near Mainz, not far from Frankfurt in Germany. It boasts an impressive cathedral, the construction having started before the Reformation as a Catholic cathedral but its completion many centuries later now sees it as a Protestant cathedral, noted also for its stained glass windows. The ruins of a castle can be seen above the city and an impressive series of tunnels from the Middle Ages were unearthed immediately under the city’s marketplace sometime in the 1980s.

The most impressive feature to Oppenheim is how it recycles the products of modern living. A modern water treatment plant is located at the edge of the city’s houses near the Rhine. Liquid and solid sewerage waste is removed and the residual water treated and returned to the river. Solid wastes undergo further treatment and are then mixed with composted green waste from the nearby collection centre and further composted then sold as fertiliser for farms. The liquid wastes are anaerobically digested and the resulting methane is used to heat the city swimming pool.

Houses and buildings of all shapes, sizes and locations have been fitted with photovoltaic arrays. Private houses, some public buildings and many farm buildings, new and old, display the solar panels. The German Federal government has encouraged owners to take advantage of purchase and installation cost reductions and owners sign a contract with the government to be reimbursed for power going back to the grid for a 10 year period. The payback period for the costs of purchase and installation seems to be towards the end of the 10 years, so after that any power produced is effectively income. Some owners have invested in solar power as a form of superannuation. The biggest installation in the area is a farmer’s field of around 10 hectares which is probably the only crop that will have a guaranteed return over the next 10 years completely independent of rain or temperature.

The hills to the south of Oppenheim are dotted with many wind power generators. Erected over the last 7 years, there are over 100 windmills. Some of the older ones are already being replaced by new, more efficient generators, and like the solar panels, there is a contracted arrangement to sell power back to suppliers at a guaranteed price. The Federal government has set a target of 35% of base power from renewable sources within 5 years. While this seems large by Australian standards, it is some way behind other countries in northern Europe especially Denmark. It is possible to stand on some of these hills and have, within the one view, sight of windmills, photovoltaic arrays and a nuclear power plant. It is one of the oldest plants in this region and there has already been much debate about its intended lifespan and decommissioning. It really is the new among the formerly new.

The hills within the vineyards and cropping areas are relatively steep and inter-row cultivation in grapes and general cultivation practices for crops still take place. The grape inter-rows are cultivated on a year-about basis to allow incorporation of nutrients and also allow machinery to travel along the rows. Peas are also grown as a green manure crop between the rows. There are deep silt traps strategically placed around the hilly areas to catch any eroded soil before it has a chance to enter drains or waterways. These are regularly cleaned out and the soil is returned to farmers up the hill.

All of these features within, near to and surrounding the city add to the sustainability of the community, rural and urban.