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XtraBlatt Issue 01-2022

  • Text
  • Xtrablatt
  • Carbon
  • Farmers
  • Machinery
  • Contractors
  • Germany
  • Grassland
  • Slurry
  • Biogas
  • Agricultural
  • Krone

FEATURE FERTILISING

FEATURE FERTILISING GRASSLAND WITH COMPETENCE AND PRECISION Contractors are more than just service providers. Alongside their machines, they also bring their expertise to the table. This is especially appreciated when it comes to effective application of slurry on grassland. Patrick (l.) and Fritz Oudehinkel provide a broad range of agricultural contracting services. Grassland is one of their key businesses. Grassland as far as the eye can see. Agricultural land on the German-Dutch border is littered with dairy cattle, and this has of cause an effect on the services contractors offer in the region. Their daily work is dominated by spreading slurry and forage harvesting. Oudehinkel contractors in Emlichheim on the Dutch border specialise in these services. Tillage, sowing and the grain and rapeseed harvest naturally play a role as well, since the rural district of Grafschaft Bentheim, where Emlichheim is situated, is also well known for its animal husbandry and tillage. The diverse agricultural landscape of the region is reflected in Oudehinkel’s machinery. Berend-Johann Oudehinkel set up the contracting business in 1958. Five forage harvesters, one Big M high performance mower conditioner, a powerful rotary rake and slurry equipment, among other machines, are housed in the machine sheds. Spreading slurry has become even more valuable this year. The energy crises and the shortage of mineral fertiliser that goes with it means that simply “getting rid” of slurry is no longer an option, rather the focus is on using its constituents in the most effective way for nutrient supply. “Spreading slurry on grassland plays a very important role for us in the region,” Fritz Oudehinkel states. He has been in charge of the contracting company since 1998, when he took over from his father. The third generation has already entered the company- his son Patrick successfully completed his master craftsman exams in 2011 in agri service. 20% of the slurry they spread every year is spread on grassland. The first application is at the beginning of the growing season. After each cut, they spread more slurry until they reach the permitted limit. According to Fritz Oudehinkel, the rising prices for mineral fertiliser have so far not affected fertiliser costs for grassland in the region, because there is plenty of slurry available there. In fact, there is so much that in the winter months in particular some slurry is separated and taken away. MANAGING, FERTIL- ISING AND CUTTING GRASSLAND Grassland management is a core business in this region. Grass silage, maize and roughage make up amongst the basic rations. The weather dictates the date when the grass and maize are cut, but there is some leeway as to when applying fertiliser after the cut. This however becomes less and less when rain is forecast. “Then every customer 26 27