The 2022 Organic Field Days at the Gladbacherhof will focus on topics such as the climate crisis and climate adaptation. As part of a climate trail, various stations will show the challenges facing agriculture and possible solutions. As a teaching and experimental farm of the University of Giessen, what is Gladbacherhof already doing to take the issue of climate into account in its day-to-day farming and research operations? Johannes Eisert, farm manager at Gladbacherhof, explains the measures in an interview.
As a mixed farm in a typical low mountain region, are you already suffering from the consequences of the climate crisis?
Johannes Eisert: We clearly notice that the climate is changing. The last few years have also become drier and hotter at our location. ur weather station shows that the average precipitation values of 650 mm have not been reached in recent years, with the exception of 2021. We are particularly affected by the spring drought. Added to this are the more frequent heavy rainfall events, which have occurred three to four times in the last eight years to an extent that we have never experienced before.
What countermeasures are you already taking?
Eisert: As a mixed farm, we have the opportunity to compensate for losses in cash crops with income from dairy cattle, laying hens or direct marketing. We also spread the risk by having a diverse, long crop rotation. If the grain legumes fail due to a spring drought, for example, other crops take up the slack.
As a dairy farm, we build up large stocks of feed. Fortunately, we didn’t have to buy any additional feed in the dry years of 2019 and 2020. In crop production, we then look to use heat- and drought-tolerant varieties and rely more on winter grain legumes to make better use of the water available in the winter months. We also irrigate in the field trials, but not yet in the practice fields. On the one hand, this is due to the lack of technology, and on the other hand, we are located in a region with sufficient rainfall so far. In addition, there is the need for water-conserving soil cultivation, which, as a seed farm, is countered by the use of the plow for field hygiene.
Which research projects on your farm deal with the topic of climate?
Eisert: We are currently focusing on four areas. One is mulch vegetables: here we plant vegetables through a layer of mulch to minimize evaporation and save water.
On the new agroforestry areas, we are investigating the influence on the water balance of the soil and on the crops between the rows of trees. The third focus is the large LOEWE project Green Diary, in which we are investigating the influence of an extensively or intensively fed dairy herd on greenhouse gas emissions. And last but not least, of course, the national variety trials to filter out the characteristics with regard to drought and heat tolerance.
You have planted two agroforestry areas with the support of the Hesse state eco-action plan. What do they look like and could they also play a bigger role on the Gladbacherhof in the future?
Eisert: We have created two different systems: On the one hand, there are rows of trees every 18 meters across the slope, and in between we cultivate arable land with different crops in the crop rotation.
In the second system with permanent grassland, the effects on the grazing area and on the animals are being investigated. For example, do the rows of trees grown here in a herringbone pattern provide enough shade for the animals when grazing and can the trees also help to supplement the feed? Both areas are used for fruit, value and energy trees. Priority is given to the use of fruit trees. Now we have to wait and see the results of the individual research questions, but from the point of view of risk diversification and the positive environmental benefits, I can well imagine that agroforestry areas will also play a greater role here in the future.