Environmental Impacts and Economic Differences in grassland based Organic Dairy Farms in Germany – Modelling the Extremes

Differences in environmental impact and economic returns between intensive and low-input organic dairy production are investigated using two simplified model farms with different amounts of concentrates being fed. In four scenarios, ecological and economic effects of restricting the more intensive farm management practice beyond the existing regulations of organic farming are analysed. In the initial situation, the intensive farm has a financial advantage of about 600.00 € per ha compared with the low-input farm, while the environmental risks caused by its production system are higher in several Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) categories. We showed for the model case that limiting livestock density and using regional grown concentrates bring about considerable improvements in LCA results, while restricting the amount of concentrates used does not. These three scenarios result in economic deterioration for the intensive farm. A fourth scenario increasing the share of pasture in daily dry matter intake (DMI) to a minimum of 50% during the grazing season has positive effects environmentally as well as economically

Leistungen und Entwicklung von Öko- Milchviehbetrieben mit geringem Kraftfuttereinsatz in Baden-Württemberg

The aim of this study was the analysis of dairy farms in Baden-Württemberg producing milk without or with only a little amount of concentrate. 12 biological managed farms have been visited and consulted by questionnaire in 2010. Also the results of milk yield testing have been examined. Economic calculations were run for a comparison to conventionally working dairy farms. In 2015 the results were for 10 of these farms updated. Since 2010 the structure of the farms remained almost unchanged (number of cows, milk yield, cultivated area). The proportion of pasture from grassland increased from 45 to 53%. The ecological-low input drived production system leads to better conditions for profitable milk production compared to conventional dairy farms

Ökobilanz und Wirtschaftlichkeit ökologisch wirtschaftender Milchviehbetriebe mit unterschiedlicher Fütterungsintensität und Produktionsstruktur

Ziel des Projekts war die Analyse von Umweltwirkungen und Wirtschaftlichkeit unterschiedlicher Typen von ökologisch wirtschaftenden Milchviehbetrieben in Deutschland. Im Vordergrund standen dabei die Auswirkungen unterschiedlicher Fütterungsintensität. Es wurden sechs modellhafte Betriebstypen formuliert, um die Bandbreite der Produktionssysteme innerhalb der ökologisch wirtschaftenden Milchviehbetriebe in Deutschland abzubilden. Die Modelle basieren auf einer Praxiserhebung von 39 Betrieben über 5 Wirtschaftsjahre und wurden aus Klassen von Betrieben auf vergleichbaren Standorten und mit ähnlicher Fütterungsintensität abgeleitet. Intensive Fütterung wirkt sich in der Umweltwirkungskategorie Treibhauseffekt positiv aus, auf Ackerbaustandorten auch im Bereich Energieverbrauch. Risiken bestehen bezüglich der regionalen und lokalen Umweltwirkungskategorien. Auf Ackerbaustandorten ist intensive Fütterung in ökologisch vertretbarer Weise möglich, wenn das erhebliche Stickstoff-Emissionsrisiko minimiert werden kann. Auf Grünlandstandorten ist extensivere Produktion aus ökologischer Sicht vorzuziehen. Maßgeblich ist der Kraftfutterimport je Flächeneinheit, der etwa 11 dt TM/ha nicht überschreiten sollte. Intensiv fütternde Betriebe sind zugleich größer und produzieren zu geringeren Stückkosten, könnten aber durch Erhöhung des Weideanteils in der Ration sowie eine Verbesserung der Kraftfuttereffizienz ökologisches wie ökonomisches Potential aktivieren. Extensiv fütternde Betriebe haben ihre ökologischen Stärken vor allem im biotischen Bereich. In der Umweltwirkungskategorie Treibhauseffekt sind sie, insbesondere wenn energieintensive Verfahren zur Grundfuttertrocknung eingesetzt werden, jedoch kritisch zu bewerten. Die Stückkosten der Milchproduktion sind bei diesen Betriebstypen, vor allem bei kleineren, vielfältig strukturierten Betrieben auf Ackerbaustandorten, sehr hoch. Derartige Betriebe sind nur dann langfristig existenzfähig, wenn die Mehrkosten durch entsprechende Vermarktungsmöglichkeiten wie z.B. Direktvermarktung oder Zuschläge für Silagefreie Fütterung bestehen, oder durch Umverteilung öffentlicher Direktzahlungen kompensiert werden können. Optimierungspotential bei diesen Betriebstypen besteht in der Kontrolle der Grundfutterqualität und in der Arbeitswirtschaft

Produktionsstruktur und Kostenanalyse unterschiedlicher Typen ökologisch wirtschaftender Milchviehbetriebe

Production and business data from organic dairy farms in three German regions are being retrieved in a survey extending over several years. The farms are classified according to site conditions and feeding intensity, the latter being defined as the amount of concentrate use. In a parallel part of the project environmental impacts of the different production systems are analysed and confronted with the results obtained in view of productivity and cost effectiveness. While the variability of the business data is high and class differences do not in gen-eral prove to be statistically significant a tendency for lower production costs in sys-tems with larger herd size and more intensive feeding strategy is observed. Further investigations will separate the effects of intensity and size. Those systems that oper-ate in the most cost-effective way have shown to risk at the same time potential envi-ronmental damage especially through nutrient imbalances and resulting ammonia losses

Umweltwirkungen unterschiedlich intensiv wirtschaftender Milchviehbetriebe im Ökologischen Landbau in NRW

Organic dairy farms with different feeding intensity and production structure differ significantly in their environmental impacts; low input organic farms achieve a higher product quality and animal welfare and cause less environmental risk for sensitive ecosystems and water quality due to lower nitrogen emissions. Intensive organic farms achieve lower greenhouse gas emissions because of lower CH4 emissions per litre milk. However, the contribution of animal husbandry to global warming potential is relatively low and the aim of low CH4 emission runs contrary to ruminant welfare. Concerning the impact categories of biodiversity, product quality and energy con-sumption, the average ecological benefit of the farms is relatively low compared to the best single farm, indicating a high management influence

Diversifizierung des Silomaisanbaus

Dieses Forschungsvorhaben hat drei Schwerpunkte. Erstens wird die Attraktivität von Mais (Zea mays L.), angebaut im Gemenge mit Stangenbohnen (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), für verschiedene Artengruppen, z.B. Laufkäfer (Carabidae LATREILLE), untersucht. Zweitens wird die Futterqualität von Mais-Bohnen-Silagen für Milchkühe getestet. Drittens werden weitere Gemengepartner für den Mais geprüft. Erste Ergebnisse werden in 2019 erwartet

Organic Agriculture

Consumers are increasingly aware of the health- and safety-related implications of the food which they can buy in the market. At the same time, households have become more aware of their environmental responsibilities. Regarding the production of food, a crucial and multifunctional role is played by agriculture. The way vegetables, fruits, and other crops are grown and how livestock is raised has an impact on the environment and landscape. Operations performed by farmers, such as water management, can be dangerous for the soil and the whole ecosystem. Consequently, there is a search for natural ways of sustaining the impact of agriculture on the environment. In this context, one of the most popular ideas is organic agriculture. In the literature on the subject, there are many concepts that some authors consider to be synonymous even as others argue that these terms are not interchangeable. There is, for example, "organic agriculture," "alternative agriculture," "sustainable agriculture," "ecological agriculture," "biological agriculture," "niche farming," "community-supported agriculture," and "integrated pest management." Very often, techniques and products related to organic agriculture are described by marketing experts with the use of abbreviations such as "bio" and "eco." Products with such markings and labels are increasingly popular in stores that often give them separate shelves for their sale. Despite the higher price compared to conventional products, they are increasingly sought by consumers. The entry examines the various impacts of organic agriculture with a view to these trends

Organic Agriculture

Consumers are increasingly aware of the health- and safety-related implications of the food which they can buy in the market. At the same time, households have become more aware of their environmental responsibilities. Regarding the production of food, a crucial and multifunctional role is played by agriculture. The way vegetables, fruits, and other crops are grown and how livestock is raised has an impact on the environment and landscape. Operations performed by farmers, such as water management, can be dangerous for the soil and the whole ecosystem. Consequently, there is a search for natural ways of sustaining the impact of agriculture on the environment. In this context, one of the most popular ideas is organic agriculture. In the literature on the subject, there are many concepts that some authors consider to be synonymous even as others argue that these terms are not interchangeable. There is, for example, "organic agriculture," "alternative agriculture," "sustainable agriculture," "ecological agriculture," "biological agriculture," "niche farming," "community-supported agriculture," and "integrated pest management." Very often, techniques and products related to organic agriculture are described by marketing experts with the use of abbreviations such as "bio" and "eco." Products with such markings and labels are increasingly popular in stores that often give them separate shelves for their sale. Despite the higher price compared to conventional products, they are increasingly sought by consumers. The entry examines the various impacts of organic agriculture with a view to these trends