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Biodiversity fields with social goals

Introduction

This case study examines the Krauß family’s sustainable project in Halmlehen in Lower Bavaria. The Krauß family’s Halmlehen farm is located above the Inn Valley and has been farmed organically according to the guidelines of the Biokreis association since 1984. The farm’s main focus is on nature conservation in VNP and KULAP and thus the concern to harmonise cultivated plants and living creatures. 

Climate and species protection affects both conventional and organic farming! And there is still plenty of room for improvement among organic farms too!

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Name of the farmer/ entrepreneur or other initiative
Felix Krauß
Year of establishment of the initiative
2021 (handover of the farm); 1984 (settlement of the parents)
Location
Lower Bavaria

Case description

The Krauß farm is located above the Inn Valley and covers an area of 113 hectares. The mixed farm, which was taken over in 2021, is characterised by the absence of mechanical weed control, intensive crops and undersown crops. This protects insects, field-breeding birds and wild herbs on these areas. The grassland areas are either used as pasture for the suckler cow herd or are extensively farmed at the time of cutting. 

The farm lies 460 metres above sea level. The region is characterised by sandy-clayey soils (average acreage 35; 20 – 48), temperate climate with an average annual precipitation of 860 mm.

Main agricultural activity and Multifunctional activities

The primary agricultural activity is mixed farming with cattle farming, arable land and grassland. The farm integrates cultivation and livestock farming, utilising the advantages of the diverse landscape. The multifunctional activities include the management of pastures and arable land under the aspects and objectives of biodiversity and soil improvement. In addition, the farm has implemented several innovative measures to improve sustainability, such as “organic direct sowing”.

Critical challenges of the farm/ the region

  • Effects of climate change (extreme weather conditions, erosion, water availability)
  • Deterioration of soil health
  • Economic pressure on farmers.
  • Generational change/ dormant companies

CSA Activity

Reason for engaging in CSA/ Triggering moment for implementation

When the farm was faced with the question of how it should be continued and developed in the future with suckler cows and arable farming in the course of the farm handover in 2020, there were several options: either intensification of arable farming with hoeing technology, GPS and an expansion of root crops, or the introduction of additional livestock farming such as laying hens or fattening pigs. Or the alternative of extensification and the associated financial compensation through subsidies. 

The farm consists of 88 hectares of arable land and 25 hectares of grassland, of which only 7 hectares are grassland. Half of the arable land has a steep slope and hardly allows for intensive maintenance measures such as hoeing due to the risk of erosion caused by heavy rainfall. Investment in large-scale animal husbandry was also ruled out due to the small amount of land owned and the dependence on leased land. 

In order to develop the farm from the settlement in 1984 and run it economically, the Krauß family decided to farm the land as extensively as possible, as capital and technology were not yet available. They therefore switched to organic farming right from the start and tried to save money by doing a lot of the building work themselves and using inexpensive second-hand technology.

Description of the innovation

The VNP programme “Extensive use of arable land for field breeders and wild herbs” could be integrated into the farm without any major changes to management, with the only downside being the need to work without undersowing in future. 

In the clover-grass-oat-spelt-field bean-winter rye crop rotation, we had already gained a lot of experience with not harrowing and were confident that we could achieve adequate field populations without sinking into “weeds” despite the many requirements. Many farmers cannot imagine a 5-year contract with such massive management requirements, but we already had a lot of experience with external requirements thanks to the Organic Farming Directive as well as long-term leases and agri-environmental programmes and could never operate as “free farmers” anyway. That’s why the decision in favour of H11 was not difficult for us. However, we “only” put 45 hectares under contract in order to remain flexible. In hindsight, we should have contracted all the land, as we farm there in exactly the same way as on the H11 land. We also have flowering areas, fallow land on fields, cutting times on meadows and orchard trees subsidised. 

  • Knowledge exchange: organisation of workshops and training for farmers on various CSA practices, including water management, improving soil health and integrated pest management (ipm).
  • Technology adoption: Promoting the use of technologies that encourage sustainable practices, such as cover crops, precision irrigation and conservation tillage, which can contribute to climate change mitigation and adaptation.

Implementation Process of the innovation & used methods of innovation management

On the one hand, Felix Krauß is embedded in his own regional and national network of farmers.

Within the existing funding framework, there are needs and opportunities based on practical experience.

In addition to the exchange of ideas and involvement in funding and research projects, open dialogue and joint further training among professional colleagues is therefore particularly important to the farmer.

An upward spiral develops via “doing”, which is already more ambitious than pure “trial and error” due to the experience available.

Todays Results of this implementation

The farm developed from dairy goats and cows with its own cheese production to suckler cow husbandry with arable farming. 

The subsidies from agri-environmental measures and area payments always represented a large proportion of farm income and were often the only calculable source of income when prices and yields fluctuated. 

In 2020, one year before the farm was handed over, the decision was made in favour of extensive arable use for field breeders and wild herbs. The eligibility criteria roughly include the avoidance of intensive crops, weed control and undersowing. In addition, a cultivation rest period must be observed after sowing in spring until 30 June each year.

This pursues and achieves the following objectives:

  • Overcoming climate challenges: Promoting practices that increase soil biodiversity and quality, such as improving soil health to sequester carbon and reduce erosion.
  • Economic sustainability: Increasing the profitability of farms through improved extensive resource management with potential access to market advantages through sustainability certifications.
  • Consumer preferences: response to growing demand for sustainably produced food.
  • External effects: Flowering landscape, nature conservation

SWOT of the Case today

Strengths

Overcoming the critical challenges of climate change

Promotion of climate-friendly and sustainable practices

Building skills and knowledge among farmers

Potential for market differentiation through certification

Weak points

(Still) dependent on public funding framework

Ensuring the economic viability and affordability of various soil and biodiversity-friendly technologies

Possibilities

Growing consumer interest in sustainable products

Education/ Training of the decision makers/ leading persons

The extensive experience of the farm owner and his willingness to accept innovative solutions played a decisive role in the successful implementation. 

In addition to sharing practices with pioneers not only in the organic sector, collaboration with research institutions and extension services plays a role in capacity building for the farmer. These institutions can provide expertise on CSA practices and effective methods for disseminating knowledge to farmers.

In the end, knowledge will be generated from practice and in practice.

Agriculture is lifelong learning and adaptation.

Outlook/ Aims and Goals

  • In animal husbandry, near-farm slaughter has now made it possible to slaughter cattle in a herd without transport and without stress. This type of meat production is very popular with customers. The slaughtered cattle are completely utilised and sold as mixed packages from the farm. 
  • Felix Krauß could well imagine integrating social farming into the farm. This involves combining agriculture with educational and social work. Such farms offer people with special needs a home where rehabilitation, therapy and integration are emphasised. The focus is on “work that makes sense” and gives those involved confidence and self-esteem through a sense of achievement.
  • For Felix Krauß, this closes the circle with his early ideas and plans – and so he stands for a coherent and coherent understanding of agriculture, which is not only focussed on the production of food, but also on the good life and togetherness.

Lessons Learned/ Recommendations

The soil must be cultivated in such a way that the crop can develop faster than the wild herbs. 

A comprehensive stand of field herbs is a free undersowing and a rich buffet for above- and below-ground inhabitants. 

The field herbs also reveal cultivation errors and provide clues as to which plant species or nutrients the soil might need. 

It was never the idea of organic farming to keep our fields completely “weed-free” with hoeing and harrowing technology; rather, biodiversity over a large area should be our motto and not just a narrow strip of flowers at the edge of the field. 

Result, Success & Risk Factors

Actual today’s situation

Extensive cultivation and dormancy result in free working time, which the farmer can use for other activities. 

The crops oats, spelt and rye are very competitive and thus manage to suppress the weeds well. 

Fertilisation and liming are usually applied to the intercrop in the crop or before sowing in spring. 

The first cut of the clover grass is ensiled for the mother cows and all the others are mulched and left on the field to feed the soil. 

It is an essential part of the operating concept to keep the soil green at all times and to nurture soil life. Soil dormancy plays a major role in the clover-grass year. After rye comes the clover grass with ryegrass and swede clover. This is followed by the actual harvest year, with at least three cuts, until the summer oats come next spring. 

Dependence of any kind of ongoing support/ subsidy?

Public funds and subsidies make up a significant proportion of the operating result. The funds always flow as a result of operational management.

Investment grants and subsidies are always waived.

Dependence of specific regional/ personal aspects?

The focus of the project suggests that such an approach must always be tailored to the specific climatic and agricultural challenges of the respective region.

Applicability in other regions/ other situations

The CSA practices promoted by the EU and, in this case, the Free State of Bavaria via KULAP and VNP can also be applied in other regions facing similar challenges, such as the effects of climate change, water scarcity and soil degradation. However, the specific technologies and approaches must be adapted to local conditions, farming systems and the availability of resources – not least the respective funding framework.

Conclusion

The project is an exemplary step on the way to climate-friendly and sustainable agriculture and regional supply of high-quality food. 

By promoting the exchange of knowledge, the project enables farmers to overcome environmental and economic challenges, improve resource efficiency and contribute to the long-term viability of agriculture embedded in the respective region. 

Project N. 2022-1-DE02-KA220-VET-000089615

Contact email: info@innocsa.eu

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