INFORM GRASSLAND CARE
INFORM GRASSLAND CARE LOBBY FOR THE GREEN Cows grazing contentedly in lush green meadows. A once common scene on the continent, now making a comeback as yearround housing for dairy herds gives way to more summer grazing again. Scientific support for this year-long trend in Germany comes from the Centre for Grassland, Lower Saxony/Bremen. The reasons for the move to more green are diverse and include animal welfare, added-value dairy products and climate protection. 12
c ows out at grass are part of the traditional farm landscape – an idyll especially attractive to urbanites. But cows spending most of their life out on the fields became less common on the continent due to so-called “process-optimisation” honouring the economic efficiencies of year-round housing with zero grazing and silage. Now though, many dairy farmers have come to recognise that classic pasturing has many advantages, despite the extra work involved. One of these bonuses is the increased sustainability offered by a grazing system, an aspect readily recognised by a growing number of discriminating dairy product consumers. Grassland accounts for around 30 % of all farmland in Germany. The greencrop is mainly to feed dairy herds with either animals grazing the fields, or the crops harvested for forage feed. “Discussions on the future of farming up until now have left grassland only a minor role”, regrets Dr Arno Krause, director of the Centre for Grassland, Lower Saxony/Bremen. This institute emerged from a networking project ten years ago and now sees itself as central platform linking all participants in and around grassland. These include chambers of agriculture and agricultural associations as well as government institutions. The centre is simultaneously a driver of research projects on everything to do with grassland. General aim of such projects is improving agricultural utility in this respect, but also aiding wildlife, water and climate protection. With its research and lobbying work, the Centre for Grassland wants to strengthen the standing of this crop in the public perception. But why is this so important? Grazing dairy cows and other cattle outdoors has become more popular in recent years. MULTIDIMENSIONAL DILEMMA “The problems confronting grassland and those farming it become increasingly complex”, emphasises Dr Krause. Earlier, factors to react to were mainly technical. For example, too low protein content in forage, or crop insect damage. The farms found technical solutions in the form of fertilisers for better plant growth, or protection sprays. “However, in grassland regions we now find ourselves having to face much more than simply technical problems”, adds the Centre for Grassland director. Challenges are increasingly complicated. One reason: modern society’s requirements from the green countryside tend to oppose the aforementioned technical ones. In particular, themes such as manure application, or the use of so-called “pesticides” are seen in an increasingly critical light by large segments of society, adds Dr Krause. This means compromises are required. “On top of this we’re recognising that other themes now play a role in the discussions, for instance the safeguarding of water quality, supporting wildlife biodiversity and climate protection. And these contend 13
