The third nationwide Eco-Field Days will take place from June 28 to 30, 2022 at the Hessian state domain Gladbacherhof in Villmar. They have been extended from two to three days.
“We are looking forward to 2022 with great anticipation and confidence,” says project manager Carsten Veller from FiBL Projekte GmbH. Due to the pandemic, the Organic Field Days had to be postponed from the regularly scheduled date in 2021 to next year. In addition to completely new planning, this also brings advantages: “We assume that the new dairy barn at Gladbacherhof will be ready for the event,” says Veller. The construction work is in full swing. The new barn will provide space for up to 128 cows. “The barn makes it possible to divide the herd and thus investigate the complex effects of organic high- and low-input milk production on animals, plants and the environment,” explains Professor Andreas Gattinger, Scientific Director of Gladbacherhof. “By using digital techniques in animal husbandry and crop production, we can thus obtain valuable data for practical farm management and research under real conditions. We then present all of this live to our visitors at the Eco-Field Days,” adds the scientist.
The exhibition area has already been prepared so that the demo plots can be set up again in fall 2021. The third Eco-Field Days will take place at the Hessian State Domain Gladbacherhof, the teaching and experimental farm of Justus Liebig University Giessen. Exhibition and trial areas will be presented on an extensive site of almost 20 hectares with numerous program items such as machine demonstrations, specialist forums and research projects in plant cultivation and animal husbandry.
Re-registrations underway
“We would like to thank all exhibitors, our co-organizers and sponsors for their patience,” says project manager Veller, adding: “It takes energy and coordination to get such a major event off the ground again. But together we have managed it and are now looking at the positive aspects, such as the research barn and the progress on the agroforestry areas, with a smile on our faces.”
The registration process is currently being updated. All exhibitors must confirm their participation by the new deadline. For outdoor areas without demonstration plots and machine demonstrations, interested parties can register until December 31, 2021.
More information
The program of the Organic Field Days offers a mixture of practice and research in organic crop production and animal husbandry. In numerous demonstrations, visitors can see many machines in practical use. Innovation examples show prototypes and new developments. One of the main topics at the 2021 Organic Field Days is climate, which will be the subject of a trail with around ten stations. For example, employees from the University of Giessen will demonstrate the measurement of greenhouse gas emissions in field trials. On an agroforestry area, experts will explain how deep-rooted trees and shrubs can reduce soil erosion on steep slopes. Livestock farming: Intensity levels in organic milk production, integrated animal-plant systems and the coexistence of wolves and grazing animals.
The latest findings on challenges such as organic breeding and animal welfare will be covered in forums and discussed by scientists and practitioners. Companies, breeders and consultants will also present crops ranging from field beans to sugar beet and inputs for organic farming on numerous demo plots. Exhibitors on the subject of animal husbandry and the Animal Forum will be presenting themselves in the vicinity of the research barn. A cultural program and culinary, regional delicacies in organic quality round off the program.
Hessische Staatsdomäne Gladbacherhof: An ideal venue for events
The main focus of the 190-hectare farm is the production of seed (cereals) and milk production. 110 hectares are farmed as arable land and 75 hectares as permanent grassland. The aim in animal husbandry is to produce productive, long-lived animals instead of short-term peak performance. Research activities focus on the resilience of agricultural systems, such as the optimization of crop rotation and soil cultivation in organic farming. Climate protection and adaptation through agroforestry, humus effects of grain legumes and mulch systems, variety trials and improved milk production systems are further focal points.
Organization & organizer
The strong team of partners organizes the 2022 event in largely proven cooperation. FiBL Projekte GmbH organizes the Organic Field Days. Co-organizers are the Hessian Ministry of Agriculture and the Justus Liebig University Giessen with the Hessian State Domain Gladbacherhof as well as the Hessian State Farm and the Foundation for Ecology and Agriculture. The BÖLW is the patron of the event. The Hessian Ministry of Agriculture will once again support the event financially in 2022 as part of the Eco Action Plan. The REWE Group is a gold sponsor of the Eco-Field Days 2022.
The third Eco-Field Days take place at the Hessian state domain Gladbacherhof.
A new research barn is currently being built there.