Rural seniors on a tour of discovery: Experience agriculture up close!

Rural seniors on a tour of discovery: Experience agriculture up close!

The idyllic landscape of the Gotha district recently attracted 50 senior citizens from the Ilm district and the Gotha district to an exciting field trip. Farmers and their seniors meet every year to find out about the latest developments in agriculture. Heiko Giese, Chairman of the Goldbach Agricultural Cooperative, warmly welcomed the participants and gave an insight into the current challenges that farmers are facing, which once again make it clear that there is a lot of work in agriculture.

The trip not only took the group across idyllic fields, but also offered the opportunity to visit the cooperative's state-of-the-art dairy farm. There the participants were able to experience the high animal welfare standards and the new milk production techniques up close. At the same time, the good plant populations in the arable region were examined, but they are causing serious concern due to drought stress. Nico Scheringer, a former employee of the Großfahner agricultural cooperative, led the senior group through the diverse field, which includes both arable farming and sheep farming.

Insights into agricultural research

Another exciting stop was the Friemar experimental station of the Thuringian State Office for Agriculture. Here Valentin Herrmann, the head of the station, presented the different types of potatoes, grain and corn, which are being tested in detail. The field trip was extremely appreciated by the rural seniors and the hospitality of the companies was consistently praised.

Larger discourses are also emerging in the agricultural landscape of Europe. Brussels is planning proposals for agricultural policy until 2034, to which farmers in Germany are already responding with hopes of more financial support for regional quality and climate and species protection. In particular, Christoph Plass, a farmer from Brandenburg, expresses the urgency of applying for artificial irrigation for his potato cultivation, as he invests significant sums in irrigation systems every year—between 160,000 and 180,000 euros.

Challenges for agriculture

The farming business community is under pressure to double food production by 2050, while climate change and biodiversity demands threaten the foundations. These challenges are not just local, but affect the entire EU, which is now reorienting its agricultural policy to support farmers in their work. Through its policies, the EU not only offers financial aid, but also promotes sustainable, environmentally friendly processes to maintain food quality and traceability.

In this context, the German Farmers' Association emphasizes the need to reduce bureaucratic requirements, which eat up an estimated 30% of farmers' working time. Different types of businesses require adapted support programs in order to be able to better cope with the challenges.

The information from the field trip and the associated discourses make it clear that agriculture is about both tradition and innovation - a combination that will be crucial in the future.