XtraBlatt Issue 01-2020

1
2020
XtraBlatt
HIGHEST COMMITMENT,
HEART AND INTELLECT
80 years Dr Bernard Krone
SLURRY SPREADING
Protesting rightly
against red zones
ALPINE ANGUS
Beef cattle from
Switzerland

This spring, Krone enjoyed a very special double
jubilee: Dr Bernard Krone celebrated his
80th birthday and the firm’s forage harvester
model line BiG X – recognised as worldwide
performance leader right from the start –
marked 20 years
of production.

EDITORIAL
DEAR READERS,
Through the corona pandemic we are all confronted with
previously unimagined challenges. For our production too,
the undertaking of numerous procedures for protection of
our employees and ensuring continued production has been
crucial. We’ve had to part from many familiar customs: for
instance, the welcoming of our customers into the factory.
But such measures have doubtless helped to keep the assembly
lines in production and enabled, as far as possible,
punctual delivery of the machinery you have ordered.
Particularly pleasing for me is the way the present crisis has
engendered a new appreciation from many for services that
used to be seen as simply routine. For instance, the work of
doctors and nurses, of those caring for the elderly; but also the
input of truck drivers, as well as other “heroes of everyday life”.
Agriculture too, is named as system-relevant in this respect and
- even more importantly from my point of view – has earned
from the public a completely new appreciation of its value.
Wouldn’t it be splendid if this heightened awareness
could be upheld long-term, and the services of farming
for society focussed on more, instead of alleged scandals
or the monotonously repeated derogatory catchwords,
from “factory farming” to “environment polluters”? For
more important than ever now is proper communication
of farming’s service to society. With this in mind, I recall the
campaign a few years ago with the slogan “Where would
we be without handcrafts?”. This programme really got
folk thinking: its approach could be transferred 1:1 onto
agriculture – needing only the right pictures to effectively
bring the message home to everyone.
But let’s not forget the facts affecting everyday production.
For instance, the red zones as part of the intensified Fertiliser
Application Ordinance in Germany. These zones have many
farmers and contractors themselves “seeing red”. And their
anger is justified, according to fertiliser experts Dr Hans-Heinrich
Kowalewsky and Dr Günter Steffens, who back their argument
with comprehensive evaluation of data for the state
of Lower Saxony. In this context I recommend the title theme
in this issue. And I hope that those politically responsible
intelligently use the remaining time before implementation
at the end of 2020 to prepare a smooth transition. A transition
satisfying all requirements for protection of drinking water
whilst ensuring framework conditions practicable for agriculture.
And may the facts employed in this process count more
than any environmentally idealistic fake news.
Yours sincerely, Bernard Krone
3

4
CONTENT
CONTENT
45
BIOGAS
1 m 3 biogas produces on
average 2.5 kWh electricity,
or fuel to drive 9 km or
as much heat as 0.6 l of
heating oil.
FACTS &
FIGURES
Continued from page 13
RENEWABLE ENERGIE
In a single district with a good 250,000
population spending an annual 700 m €
for energy requirements,
using renewable
energies could increase
value of output by
up to 350 m €.
BIOFUEL
3.538 m t of biofuel with an energy
content of 120 petajoules were used in
traffic in Germany 2018. As in the
previous year,
biodiesel had
the greatest
proportion here
with 72%.
BIOGAS PLANTS
A biogas plant with 500 kW
capacity can increase
the value of output from its
respective region by as
much as 300,000 € per year.
300,000
350 m
0.6 l
heating
oil
9 km
2.5 kWh
electricity
14
INTERNATIONAL
FARMER KARL NEUHOFER, STRASSWALCHEN (A)
THE HAY-
MAKER
Anyone speaking with Karl Neuhofer soon learns that
this farmer has a special passion for hay. And this
doesn’t only apply to his own farm. Nationally,
as chairman of the Austrian Haymilk Working Group
(ARGE), he’s one of the most important instigators
of the concept.
Dairy farming profitability depends
on many factors. One of them is
achieving as much milk as possible from
forage. The figure of 50 % is usually taken
as guideline and minimum in the dairy
cow diet. But is that acceptable? “I don’t
really want to pinpoint a particular figure.
But one thing is sure: it should be as high
as possible. Based on our own farm, I’m
going to lean right out of the window and
say that our feed concept brings us 85 %
forage proportion with hay and grass
dry matter over the year”, explains Karl
Neuhofer.
This is certainly a statement that makes
us want to know more about the business
he runs on around 80 ha permanent pasture
as a registered partnership (GesbR)
with his wife Theresia, daughter Isabella
and son-in-law Lukas Übertsberger. The
farm is not typical for many regions of
14 15
Karl Neuhofer: a farmer from
Strasswalchen and chairman of the
Austrian Haymilk Working
Group (ARGE).
Austria, however, in that it’s situated on
gently sloping hillsides with good-sized
fields that can be mowed and harvested
with high performance machinery. Stocking
is with around 100 Fleckvieh cows and
followers totalling 150 head with annual
milk production per cow at between 8,000
and 8,500 kg with approx. 4.11 % fat and
3.51 % protein.
PERFORMANCE IS
IMPORTANT
An interesting point is that the farm is
“bio” – converted by Karl Neuhofer to
organic management and haymilk production
a good 30 years ago. This system
sees the cows out on grass from April to
October. When housed, their forage is
exclusively high-quality barn dried hay
harvested on the farm. “All silage, whether
from grass, maize or other forage components,
is taboo: as stipulated in the ARGE
haymilk regulations. Haymilk has a series
of very positive characteristics. Because
of its natural taste, it is much in demand
by consumers for drinking. Above all,
haymilk offers the ideal raw material for
production of high-quality natural cheese.
Completely rejected by the rules are supplementary
additives, preservatives and
any pronounced mechanical processing”,
stresses the farmer.
The only concentrates fed on the farm
comprise cereal grain that the farmer buys
from fellow organic farmers in the neighbourhood.
“In that the price for organic
grain is double that of conventionally
grown ware, its proportion in rations is
tightly controlled. Annual per cow average
grain in the diet for our milk output is only
about 1,000 kg, almost exclusively due
to the extra quality of our hay”, he adds.
Obviously, achieving this standard of
forage isn’t left to chance. In fact, Karl
Neuhofer fine-tunes the production using a
multitude of large and small management
adjustments, starting with pasture care
over mowing, turning and tedding through
to collection and finally drying. The ultimate
aim: good hay quality, whereby the
machinery clout to complete the harvest
in a timely way is a golden thread running
through the entire harvesting chain.
A key function hereby is played by the
farm’s own hay drying operation, featuring
a combined drying system with
15
28
ON-FARM
29
FAMILY SCHUMEIER, LACHENDORF
SIGHTS FIXED
ON THE FUTURE
F armers think in generations – although
it’s not always simply assumed that
the next generation will take over. All the
more contented are Heinrich Schumeier
and wife Gabriele from Lachendorf in
the Celle district of Lower Saxony that
both their sons Sebastian (29) and Alexander
(24) are set to carry on the farm
that has been in the family since 1910.
The decision to start preparations for
the next generation was actually made
over ten years ago when Sebastian had
completed his studies and Alexander said
he was ready to start. Then, the central
question was: How should the business
be set-up so that it could offer a good
future in the 21st century – and for three
families? At that time, the framework
conditions still featured milk quotas,
although the end of this regime could be
seen, which was more than could be said
for milk price development after quotas,
however. “Despite this, we were resolute
in our course of continually expanding
cow numbers. To start with, this meant
buying extra quota. Later, the amount of
housing space was the final restriction to
expansion”, reports Heinrich Schumeier.
Cow numbers thus increased gradually
from 80 in 2005 to around 180 in 2015.
Result: the accommodation built in 1997
and extended in 2005 was crammed-full.
Room had to be found for youngstock in
neighbouring barns.
MANY HURDLES
Parallel to stocking-up, the most stressful
chapter was also underway: planning and
realisation of the new dairy premises. It
was quickly obvious to the family what
this housing should look like – but not its
location. In total, four options were investigated
and then rejected over a period of
six years, until the decision for the final,
actual location, fell for a greenfield site
With new buildings and doubling of the
milking herd, the Schumeier family steps
out to secure continued success for the
farming business in the next generation.
Enjoyment of farming itself and a good
portion of optimism remain requirements
for the way ahead – despite bureaucracy
and similar hurdles. An encouraging story.
In the building front right is the milking carousel
plus waiting area, milk room, bulk tanks and
housing for dry cows as well as fresh calvers. In
the building behind this is housed the milking
herd. The monopitch shed on the left is for calves
and young heifers.
40
QUALITY FORAGE HARVESTING SERIES – PART 1: MOWING
OPTIMAL CUT
INFORM
41
In a series of articles, we’ll be reporting on the points
the farmer should pay attention to at harvest and with
machinery set-up to “cut a dash” in forage production.
In the first part of our series we concentrate on mowing as
the entry into achieving good forage. Here, we’re supported
by Peter Schultze who, as product specialist for mowing
machinery with Krone, is an expert in how to harvest
quality feed.
HIGH MOWING CAPACITY
The weather sets the pace, emphasises the Krone specialist.
“It shouldn’t rain into the mown grass. That goes for
silage, and still more so for harvesting quality hay. On the
one hand, the weather has to be watched because of this.
But another way you can steal a match on the weather is
by having the high machinery capacity at hand to keep
harvesting time as short as possible.”
As a rule, mowing takes place shortly before panicle or ear
emergence. “Because nowadays grass variety mixes are
often used, you’ve got to orient cutting time accordingly,
or take samples for analysing to determine dry matter
content. According to the required value, harvest begin
can then be decided upon”, says Peter Schultze.
If mowing capacity permits, cutting should start as late
in the day as possible to ensure high sugar content in
the silage. This increases continuously on a sunny day
right through until evening. Mowing capacity must be
matched here so that the required area can be cut in time.
“Those wanting to start mowing in the mornings should
definitely ensure that the sward has dried out, that dew
has evaporated, keeping contamination risk in forage as
low as possible,” he warns.
QUALITY FORAGE HARVESTING SERIES – PART 1: MOWING
OPTIMAL CUT
Mistakes made during harvesting
of silage and hay
leave their mark on overall
farm business returns, meaning
farmers who keep a close
eye on the entire harvesting
chain, from mowing through
to carting home, win a clear
advantage.
Those who want to cut high
should use high skids on
the mower to avoid a stepped,
uneven, cut.
50
MANAGING LIVESTOCK ON PASTURE
KEEPING
WOLVES AT BAY
Nowadays wolves can appear in Germany anytime and
anywhere. This creates challenges, above all for
farmers pasturing livestock. We speak with two experts
on practicable protection plans.
ON-FARM
51
As far as the legal situation is concerned, and the
mood of the population, a clear picture is drawn:
Those running livestock outdoors will have to come to
terms with wolves being on the loose – whether they
like it or not. This means increased sheep casualties are
unavoidable. Even where compensation is available the
problem isn’t solved. On the one hand, the real value of
the animals is seldom paid. On the other, a wolf attack
has an effect on the entire flock, and the shepherd too. A
wolf attack leaves behind a horrible scene: dead, injured,
panicked and thoroughly shocked animals. No one wishes
such a scene on anybody.
There are countermeasures, though. One is a functioning
electric fence. “The recommendation is to work with at
least four strands and minimum fence height of 90 cm”,
says Günter Herkert. He’s technical manager for a barn and
pasture equipment enterprise, as well as being a farmer
himself. On his part-time holding he has 22 cattle and
15 ewes plus followers. “For some time, particularly the
height has been a matter of discussion. The higher a fence
is, especially a mobile one, the more effort is needed for
erecting and dismantling. This has meantime got around.
And, anyway, it’s been found that wolves seldom jump over
a fence. They prefer to try and get through underneath and
this is why the lowest wire should be not more than 20 cm
above the ground”, he explains.
MANAGING LIVESTOCK ON PASTURE
KEEPING
WOLVES AT BAY
The experts: Günter Herkert (left picture) is technical manager with an
enterprise for barn and pasturing equipment. He also runs sheep and
beef cattle as part-time farmer. René Gomringer works as adviser with his
Sheep Office. Up until his retiral he was for many years managing director
of the Bavarian Sheep Farming Association.
54
PARTNER
MOERSCHEN
ADDED VALUE ADVANTAGES
40 of the 60-strong
working force are
employed in the
service division,
including 33 in the
workshop.
55
Farm machinery dealers specialising in just
a few core companies, and then mostly
machinery and implements, remain the
exception. The Moerschen KG in Tönisvorst
is one such enterprise. Offered thereby is
substantial competence in customer advice
and service.
T he company Moerschen in Tönisvorst
has experienced a number of substantial
expansion steps over its 120-year
history. But the official commissioning of
the new company buildings on the Vorster
Strasse at the beginning of 2020 was
doubtless an outstanding occasion for the
owner family and 60 colleagues. On the
site of around 1 ha stands a main office
building, a 350 m2 multi-storied spare
parts store as well as an 870 m2 workshop
with an additional used machinery hall
measuring 60 x 20 m. “This gives us the
necessary space for our farm machinery
division to meet the high demands of
modern service”, explains Veit Ulbricht. He
manages the enterprise together with his
mother Dr Jutta Schröer-Ulbricht. “Also,
the new development means we can use
our former main buildings to give our
second enterprise – communal and garden
machinery - a still more competitive
standing.”
He explains that both divisions of the family
firm are about the same size in terms of
employee numbers and economic importance.
On turnover terms, however, farm
machinery has the nose ahead, as well as
scoring biggest growth rates over the past
five years. According to Veit Ulbricht, there
are various reasons for this. For instance,
an expansion of the farm machinery sales
and service area as well as of the product
portfolio with seeding, soil cultivation
and plant protection implements from
Horsch. “Nothing, however, has changed
as far as the three most important factors
contributing to our impressive growth are
concerned: the focus on just a few core
machinery makes, the strategy of specialisation
and, finally, the entire company’s
uncompromising orientation on 1A service.
There’s no doubt that this is what our
customers really value. And it has given
us continuous market growth”, smiles the
young businessman.
ADDED VALUE
Hereby, core machinery makes and
specialisation are inseparably bound, he
feels. “Those representing businesses that
sell a vendor’s tray range and variety of
products cannot convince through knowhow.
Because in farm machinery we mainly
MOERSCHEN
ADDED VALUE ADVANTAGES
12
INFORM
FACTS &
FIGURES
Farming often comes under fire from critics. Less concentrated-on
and communicated is the size of this sector’s contribution to society
and the environment.
DIGITALISATION
In the third quarter of 2018, 401 farmers
in Germany answered a representative
questionnaire from the German Rentenbank
on digitalisation in farming. 78 % of
the respondents said they felt digitalisation
simplifies product traceability. 70 %
regarded it as having a positive effect
on process documentation, and 67 %
reckoned it can improve protection of the
environment in production.
CARBON STORAGE
Grassland, in particular
permanent
pasture, stores on
average about double
the carbon that arable
land does. With up to
8 % humus content,
there is in fact more
carbon to be found
in grassland than in
woodland and forest
soils.
COSTS IN
AGRICULTURE
Financial expenditure in German farming
2017, for instance for inputs, capital
investments and services, totalled around
45.3 bn € of which 9.9 bn represented
investments in buildings and machinery.
Included in the operating costs is private
consumption expenditure
of farmers and forest
owners which in 2017
totalled 9.2 bn €.
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
NETWORK EXPANSION
A survey by the German Farmers’ Association
(DLV) on possible barriers to digitalisation
included the results:
For almost 40 % of
farmers the decisive
obstacle to digitalisation
in agriculture is poor
broadband availability.
Especially farms over
100 ha see the current
availability of broadband
as problematical.
13
FOOD WASTE
Around 12.7 m t of food lands in rubbish
tips every year in Germany. And the largest
proportion (55 % or 7 m t) comes from
private households with every person in
that country throwing out an average of
some 85 kg food. A further 11 % food waste
occurs in farming (postharvest losses), 17 %
in food processing, 13 % in the gastronomy
sector and 4 % of food is rejected in the
trading chain.
BUY LOCAL
In 2015, private households paid out
around 1.5 bn € at weekly farmers’
markets. A further 1.3 bn € was spent on
goods sold direct from the farm. These
results indicate the importance of regional
production for many consumers,
particularly with regard to meat and meat
products as well as fruit and vegetables.
EXPENDITURE FOR
EATING AND ENJOYMENT
The German Farmers’ Association (DLV) notes
in its Situation Report that some 14 % of
national consumer spending goes for food,
including luxury dining items. The respective
figure for 1975 was 23 %. Both food quality
and processing techniques improved over the
period, finds the report. Individual farming
efficiencies have been bettered too, for
instance through more modern cultivation
techniques and breeding improvements.
WORLD POPULATION
Population on this planet by 2060 is
assessed at around 10 bn – 2.2 bn more
than today. By that time, a single farmer
will have to produce on average enough
food for almost 200 people.
200
24
INFORM
Rainer Weerda took a
week’s holiday in 2018
to serve in the Christmas
package convoy as bus
driver.
Rainer Weerda has worked
with Krone since 2008, first
as plant representative,
now in dealer network development.
Much travelling
therefore comes with the
job. But he’s often happily
underway in his leisure time
– for instance in 2018 as
bus driver in a Christmas
aid convoy to Moldavia.
A moving experience.
25
KRONE PEOPLE
FATHER
CHRISTMAS’
CHAUFFEUR
A ll of us must have the picture in our
mind’s eye: Father Christmas racing
with sledge and reindeer across the night
sky from house to house on Christmas
Eve, heavily loaded with presents. This
led many a child to wonder: How could
he cope with all these deliveries? Scene
change: An industrial hall in Hessian
Hanau with 32 articulated trucks and five
buses parked in front – all loaded with
150,000 (!) Christmas parcels. But while
Santa Claus with sledge is a product of
wonderful fantasy, the Hanau parcels are
real.
Background is long-year aid projects by the
organisations Round Table, Ladies’ Circle,
Old Tablers and Tangent Club: organisations
comparable with the Rotary or Lions
Clubs. Under the motto: “children packaging
for children” kindergarten and schools
from all over Germany package Christmas
presents for children in Ukraine, Moldavia,
Bulgaria and Romania. The parcels are
then collected from various points across
the country, travel before Christmas to the
Hanau centre and then are transported
eastwards in an impressive convoy with
around 250 volunteer helpers.
Rainer Weerda was one of these helpers
in 2018. He’s worked with Krone for
twelve years, including ten years as plant
representative in northwest Germany.
Since 2018 he and two colleagues have
formed the working group “dealer network
development”. Target is optimisation
of Krone sales structures and support of
the company’s dealerships in their role as
specialists for forage harvesting machinery.
“Through the sometimes far-reaching
changes in the farm machinery market
and the attempts by big long-liners to
trim other makes from their dealerships
through ever-wider product ranges,
specialists such as Krone offer diverse
opportunities well worth taking advantage
of”, he explains.
BOAT & BUS
Anyone working in sales is usually often
on the road. What kind of activity could
serve as balancing counterpoint to many
hours in the car? Jogging, or more relaxing
options such as gardening or model
railway building? These are definitely not
for this fifty-year-old who, before his time
with Krone, worked in sales for cars and
commercial vehicles. With his wife and
two children, he lives in Elsfleth on the
Lower Weser – which tends to be more
suitable for hobby Nr. 1: skipper on the
river Weser and North Sea. The question
on the length of his yacht earns the smiling
answer: “No yacht, in fact no sails;
instead, a motorboat 7.5 m long with a
200 HP V-6 engine. With this, one can really
move along, and it’s also outfitted for
a weekend tour now and again. Helgoland
is the limit, though.”
He’s also enthusiastic about hobby Nr.
2, although he finds much less time for
this: bus driving. The requisite licence
originates from his time in the armed
services. But opportunities for driving
practice tend to be rare. So far, however,
he’s always managed to extend the validity
of this licence every five years and also
to manage the required schooling. Helpful
in this respect is his relationship with bus
contractor Jörn Wiards in Elsfleth who
“got wind” of Rainer Weerde’s bus driver
licence purely by chance and is grateful for
any relief drivers, especially at weekends.
The Krone sales expert therefore finds
bus tours on his agenda, for instance
Parcel plus teddy. This young man
is still quite stunned by the present
handed over by Rainer Weerda.
34
ALPINAVERA (CH)
SUPPORTING
THE REGION
INTERNATIONAL
35
Within the alpinavera association, businesses
in the Swiss cantons Uri, Glarus, Grisons
and Ticino have joined forces to promote
sales of their regional products. Involved
can be farmers, processors or even artisan
handworkers.
They sign partnership contracts that allow
them to use the brand name and its seal of
quality label – regio.guarantee – awarded
to certified regional products. Producers
can be farmers or food processors. All must
fulfil the following core requirements: be
producers of food, or vendors of the same,
whereby at least 80 % of raw material
involved must come from the alpinavera
region. Additionally, the main processing
steps must also take place in the region.
Special rules apply for handicraft and
artwork products.
“In Switzerland altogether 27 organisations
are supported by the federal sales
promotion programme. These include
four sales promotional organisations for
regional products. For sales promotion,
the federal government spends a total
68 million Swiss francs (CHF). This is a lot
of money, of which regional products are
supported with maximum 3.35 m CHF”,
reports the executive director adding: “This
is why we must fulfil certain requirements,
ensure strict controls and register our
budgets. We also have to demonstrate that
we’re doing an effective job through, for
instance, reporting turnover with certified
products and documenting the marketing
channels through which producers sell
their certified products, also the sales
situation and, above all, how much money
is getting back to the farmers involved. The
corset laced around us by the federation
is a tight one. At the same time, we are
always measured by our success.” One of
the most difficult tasks involved has been
reaching agreement with the other three
regional sales promotion organisations so
that are guidelines the same. “And that,
despite us being in some ways competitors.
What unites the eastern Swiss
cantons Uri, Glarus, Grisons and
Ticino? “If you’re here in Chur where our
office is, and look down on the Rhine there
doesn’t seem to be much in common”, says
Jasmine Said Bucher, executive director of
the alpinavera project. “Instead, you have
to take a look upwards. It is the mountains
that we all share. And with that, a very special
form of agriculture with many regional
specialities.”
Jasmine Said Bucher – while still working
at the Plantahof school of agriculture – was
with her husband the creator of the project
idea. The concept was created, discussed
and, following confirmation of support
under the federal and canton agricultural
sales support programme, alpinavera
was able to start business in May 2007.
“Members of alpinavera are, however, not
the producers themselves but instead 15
different societies from the participating
cantons”, explains the executive director.
“For instance, the societies are linked to
agriculture, cattle breeding, food production
– butchers, bakers, cheesemakers – or
the agricultural administration. Also represented
are two nature parks. President
of alpinavera since 2011 is the Angus
breeder Gian Peter Niggli from Samedan
in Grisons.”
SALES PROMOTION
The association has twelve workers sharing
what are nearly six full-time posts, mainly
employed in the business office. There are
also regional offices in the cantons. Producers
are also participants in alpinavera.
Favourites with local people and
visitors are the pass markets organised
by alpinavera.
46
INTERVIEW
KRONE HOLDING
TWO WORLDS, ONE WAY
Both sectors, agricultural machinery and
logistics are very different. Despite
this, numerous synergy effects have
already emerged for use under
current conditions.
47
For almost 50 years now the Krone Group has operated as two
branches: agricultural machinery and commercial vehicles. Both
profit from one another more than ever before. Explaining why
this is so is Dr David Frink, chairman of the Krone Holding board
since January 2020. Here, he also draws a detailed picture of the
digital future.
XtraBlatt: Since 2018 you have been chief
financial officer (CFO) of the Krone Holding
and chairman of the board since the beginning
of 2020. What has changed in your
work through your new position?
Dr David Frink: Without doubt, the proportion
of strategic, superordinate aspects
in my function as chairman of the board
is greater. Whereby it’s important to keep
an eye equally on both our main branches:
agricultural machinery manufacture and
trailer production. In our internal shorthand,
we call those the green and the blue worlds.
For operative duties, for instance in the areas
production, sales and marketing, my emphasis
lies rather in agricultural machinery while
my board colleague Dr Stefan Binnewies
focusses more on the trailers.
XtraBlatt: For you personally both branches
represented new land, so to speak ....
Dr Frink: That’s true, because I was dealing
with completely different products and
markets through my board activities with
Schiesser and Gerry Weber. On the other
hand, management activities, from manufacturing
over finance right through to
sales, are similar in their fundamentals quite
independently of the branch involved. But I
agree with you that it is still very important
to build up knowledge of the markets and
branches to enable successful operation and
development.
XtraBlatt: What fascinated you in the Krone
constellation?
Dr Frink: The two worlds – green and
blue – are very different in their principles.
At the same time, they complement one
another extremely well. The synergies are
outstanding and have a stabilising influence
on the enterprise.
XtraBlatt: Which synergies are you thinking
of here?
Dr Frink: It’s pertinent that business developments
in the two markets are, amazingly,
almost always different. During the financial
crisis of 2010 agricultural machinery helped
keep the group on course while the logistic
sector suffered a dramatic collapse. In the
KRONE HOLDING
TWO WORLDS, ONE WAY
Dr David Frink is member of the Krone
Holding board since 2018 and
has chaired it since January 2020.
58
Absolute protection of
employees according to
all the applicable regulations
whilst ensuring
continued production
– since March both challenges
have been tackled
within Krone by the
firm’s own corona crisis
team. Presented here are
some impressions of the
creative solutions adopted
for this exceptional
situation.
MASCHINENFABRIK KRONE
IN CORONA MODE
1
INFORM
59
MASCHINENFABRIK KRONE
IN CORONA MODE
1 1,877 Krone Group employees work
in phases from their home office. This
functions outstandingly thanks to
excellent preparation and support by the
Krone IT team, itself organised between
on-site support and home office.
2 The company’s own 3D printer manufactures
door handle extensions so that
numerous doors can now be opened
simply with an elbow.
3 Assembly of the BiG X takes place in
almost complete isolation anyway, so
that employees’ work clothes can be
prepared beforehand by works council
members and delivered per shuttle to
each worker.
4 Containers ready for female truck drivers
where they can disinfect their hands
before registering arrival and load
delivery/collection.
5 Working shifts are reorganised so that
contact is avoided between early and
late shifts. In the factory, barriers are
built between individual assembly lines
so that, for instance, members of a
production group remain within their
designated area.
3
2
4
5
DRINKING WATER QUALITY
“SLURRY IS
NOT THE
PROBLEM”
“Over-fertilisation” with manure slurry
and fermentation residues is seen by
parts of the political sector and population
as the main cause of high nitrate
levels in drinking water. Current
evaluations now show that this
conclusion is wrong, says
Dr Hans-Heinrich Kowalewsky in this
interview. Also not factually supportable,
he adds, is the existing method of
identifying the so-called red zones.
6
TITLE THEME
7
With the approval end of March by Germany’s
Federal Assembly, the further reduction of applied
nutrients under the Fertiliser Application Ordinance is seen
as accepted. In a matter of weeks, following publication of
the amended ordinance in the federal law gazette, many
new regulations will come into force, although new stricter
regulations for particularly vulnerable so-called red zones
will not be applied until 1.1.2021. Until then, demarcation
of these zones is to be reviewed and the rules for establishment
looked over.
From the agricultural sector in particular, robust resistance
has developed especially against the red zones already established
in the federal states. And justifiably so, according
to two recognised fertiliser and plant nutrient experts: Dr
Hans-Heinrich Kowalewsky, former head of the Department
for Energy, Buildings and Machinery, Lower Saxony Chamber
of Agriculture and Dr Günter Steffens, former head of LUFA
(Laboratory for Agricultural and Environmental Analysis) in
Oldenburg. They forward very interesting results based on
comprehensive analysis of existing fundamental data from
official sources, using examples from Lower Saxony.
18
INTERVIEW
Every generation leaves its mark, and this is no less true
for entrepreneur families. Dr Bernard Krone took many
important directional decisions along the way from
machinery factory to global player. On the occasion of
his 80th birthday he reviews the route taken thereby –
from his own very personal perspective.
19
XtraBlatt: Dr Krone, for our interview we’re sitting here in
the Krone museum, more precisely in your father’s former
office. What memory does this bring back to you?
Dr Bernard Krone: Not just one memory, but in fact many!
For instance, I’m reminded that this February marks the
50th anniversary of my father’s death. I’m reminded of the
great delight he took in the birth of his first grandchild,
our daughter Nicola. And that my wife Maria was at the
end of her eighth month of pregnancy with our daughter
Dorothee when we had to carry my father to his grave. But
I also remember the great pleasure he took in the company
developing so well.
XtraBlatt: Did your father then ever have
doubts that you would successfully carry
on his work ...
Dr Krone: No. That was certainly not the
case! My parents influenced me very much
in their separate, very different, ways. For example, what I
have learnt in social competence and family values I have my
mother to thank for with her heartfelt kindness, readiness
to help and benevolence. She quietly brought about an
enormous amount of good for people within the family,
the firm, in Spelle and far further afield. From my father, I
received very markedly my “entrepreneurial” characteristics.
From knee-high, I often accompanied him in the factory,
but also to the customers. This has enormously helped me
my whole life through. He was very far-seeing, extremely
competent – although he suffered, just like my grandfather,
a great deal with bronchial asthma. For this reason he was
extremely concerned that he might die before I had learned
enough to be in the position to take over the business. This
was why he was keen to prepare me in all necessary respects
for my future responsibilities as early as possible. And to
pass on to me as much as he could – which was certainly not
always an easy task back then.
XtraBlatt: In what way?
Dr Krone: For instance, after four years primary school in
Spelle I was supposed to move on to the
grammar school in Meppen. But it proved
that I still didn’t have enough basic schooling
and therefore started at Freren secondary
school. With the leaving certificate in my
pocket I started practical training in the Niemeyer
Foundry and then moved to learning
in the Claas factory – in retrospect a very
enjoyable period. I would have liked a longer stay there, but
my father pressed – for the above-mentioned grounds – me
to move on to my next study course in Cologne School of
Engineering. At that time, this was the only state engineering
school featuring a special course in farm machinery. Even at
that time it was clear to my father that the future of the
business would depend most upon my technical competence.
That I managed to be accepted into this course in 1959 as the
youngest-ever student then, is very much due to Alfons Siepenkort,
at that time purchasing manager and first director
INTERVIEW
“IT
WASN’T ONLY
STRATEGY.”
“WHAT WAS
ACHIEVED WAS NOT
DUE TO ME ALONE.”
DR BERNARD KRONE
Starting early ...
even future
company leaders
are not spared
from wearying
homework.
On YouTube you can view
all Krone Comedy Clips under
Krone T-Vision:
COMEDY CLIPS
JUST
FOR FUN
Once or twice a year Krone offers super
cinema for less than five minutes – in the
form of a comedy clip. Central to these
slightly different advertising spots is not
farm machinery but instead usually human
relationships. The effort involved in the
filming is enormous – but the results are
well worth watching.
32
INFORM
T he first clip was created 2012 in Austria. Then, the
consideration was how one could most graphically
demonstrate the Krone mower feature “DuoGrip” with its
double linkage cutterbar control. Created was a video with
high entertainment value. The Austrian scything champion
of that time demonstrated deftly with her scythe how
the principle “suspended at centre of gravity – guided by
the linkage arms” functioned. Bringing the comedy was a
somewhat jaundiced elderly man whose mower had seen
better days and who had, in the end, to admit defeat by
the young lady.
The video proved a hit with the public and Krone earned
loads of praise for the humorous presentation.
From then on, it was clear that Krone would continue
with these unusual videos. The secret is a storyline
that’s hard for viewers to forget. This means the brand
message is not forgotten either. Every one of these
videos begins with an idea – often in association with
a new product. Then the idea ripens over a period
of weeks, a film-worthy storyline comes next. A detailed
script is then written. Rightly honoured as idea creator and
author of all clips recorded right up until his death in 2019 is
Krone marketing manager Heinrich Wingels. The challenge
for him and his team consisted of taking such themes out
of real time and shortening them so that the story could
be plausibly and succinctly related in a matter of minutes,
backed by artful film scenes. Up until this day nothing in
this formula has been changed.
For filming the video “Krone Smart Connect(ed)” two agricultural
contractors “Julberger” and “Rombach” are created.
The story: both have in their machinery fleets the same silage
harvester, the same pick up – and both are deadly enemies. As
daughter Julia Julberger drives out with the silage harvester,
father monitors his fleet online on computer in the home
office. Enabling this surveyance is the Krone SmartConnect
box, which collects all data from the silage harvester for
transmitting by Internet. Via Krone SmartTelematics the
driving route can be followed online. From Rombach’s company
premises, a BiG X is also driving off, this one manned
by the owner’s son Roman. His father follows the harvester’s
journey per terminal in the office too – until it deviates from
the planned route. The respective children are unreachable
by mobile phone and so each father immediately sets off to
drive to the location of their silage harvesters. The fathers
then meet each other unexpectedly. What happens next?
Watch the finale yourself by simply tuning into Comedy Clips.
Filming required several days of thorough preparation. Many
requisites were organised, the human cast and the machinery
involved carefully groomed. Most of the filming took place
within two days. Left over from this are three to five minutes
of film. Fine-tuning the result includes adding suitable music.
The title is then composed to neatly fit with the finally edited
video to highlight in fine detail the emotions in the storyline.
The success of this video is able to be assessed not only
from the number of clicks on YouTube and Facebook. Every
two years, the rewards reaped by this work can also be seen
at Agritechnica when hundreds of visitors crowd around
the big screen on the KRONE exhibition stand to await the
punch lines of the individual stories, conjuring smiles on the
faces of the enchanted viewers. «
33

IMPRINT
3 Editorial
6 Drinking water quality: “Slurry is not the problem.”
12 Facts & Figures
14 Farmer Karl Neuhofer, Strasswalchen (A): The hay maker
18 Dr-Ing E. h. Bernard Krone: “It wasn’t only strategy.”
24 Krone people: Father Christmas’ chauffeur
27 New products
28 Family Schumeier, Lachendorf: Sights fixed on the future
32 Comedy clips: Just for fun
34 Alpinavera (CH): Supporting the region
38 News-ticker
40 Quality forage harvesting: Mowing the optimal cut
45 Facts & Figures
46 Krone Holding: Two worlds, one way
50 Pasturing livestock: Keeping wolves at bay
54 Moerschen: Added value advantages
58 Maschinenfabrik Krone: In corona mode
Publisher:
Maschinenfabrik
Bernard Krone GmbH & Co. KG
Heinrich-Krone-Straße 10
48480 Spelle
Tel.: +49(0)5977/935-0
info.ldm@krone.de
www.krone.de
Responsible according to Press Law:
Henrik Feldmann
Editorial staff:
Beckmann Verlag GmbH & Co. KG
Rudolf-Petzold-Ring 9
31275 Lehrte
www.beckmann-verlag.de
Layout:
Beckmann Verlag GmbH & Co. KG
Rudolf-Petzold-Ring 9
31275 Lehrte
www.beckmann-verlag.de
Print:
Bonifatius Druckerei
Karl-Schurz-Straße 26
33100 Paderborn
Photographic material:
Unless specified differently:
Maschinenfabrik
Bernard Krone GmbH & Co. KG
and editorial staff respectively
Cover picture: Niggli
S. 8–10: Kowalewsky (3)
S. 14–17: Neuhofer (2), ARGE Heumilch (1)
S. 31: Schumeier (1)
S. 34–36: alpinavera & Partner (3)
S. 37: Niggli
S. 49–53: denisa_voicu.yahoo.com/ Depositphotos
(1), Archiv Gomringer (3), Patura (1)
S. 54–57: Moerschen (5)
Print run:
38,000 copies
XtraBlatt appears biannually for Krone
customers in Germany, Austria and
Switzerland. Reprints only allowed with
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to copying into electronic databanks and
reproduction on CD-ROM.
If you no longer wish to receive e-mails
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XtraBlatt, please let us know by e-mail
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take you off the distribution list. All data
we receive from you is treated confidentially.
It is only used for processing
your requests and feedback. We do not
communicate any data to third parties
5

TITLE THEME
DRINKING WATER QUALITY
“SLURRY IS
NOT THE
PROBLEM”
“Over-fertilisation” with manure slurry
and fermentation residues is seen by
parts of the political sector and population
as the main cause of high nitrate
levels in drinking water. Current
evaluations now show that this
conclusion is wrong, says
Dr Hans-Heinrich Kowalewsky in this
interview. Also not factually supportable,
he adds, is the existing method of
identifying the so-called red zones.
6

With the approval end of March by Germany’s
Federal Assembly, the further reduction of applied
nutrients under the Fertiliser Application Ordinance is seen
as accepted. In a matter of weeks, following publication of
the amended ordinance in the federal law gazette, many
new regulations will come into force, although new stricter
regulations for particularly vulnerable so-called red zones
will not be applied until 1.1.2021. Until then, demarcation
of these zones is to be reviewed and the rules for establishment
looked over.
From the agricultural sector in particular, robust resistance
has developed especially against the red zones already established
in the federal states. And justifiably so, according
to two recognised fertiliser and plant nutrient experts: Dr
Hans-Heinrich Kowalewsky, former head of the Department
for Energy, Buildings and Machinery, Lower Saxony Chamber
of Agriculture and Dr Günter Steffens, former head of LUFA
(Laboratory for Agricultural and Environmental Analysis) in
Oldenburg. They forward very interesting results based on
comprehensive analysis of existing fundamental data from
official sources, using examples from Lower Saxony.
7

TITLE THEME
Hamburg
Hamburg
Oldenburg
Bremen
Lüneburg
Oldenburg
Bremen
Lüneburg
Nordrhein-
Westfalen
Osnabrück
Hannover
Braunschweig
Osnabrück
Nitrate content in drinking water
Hannover
Braunschweig
Göttingen
Thüringen
under 25 mg/l (n= 430)
25 – 37.5 mg/l (n= 35)
37.5 – 50 mg/l (n= 13)
over 50 mg/l (none)
Göttingen
Thüringen
Comparing both maps shows that the red zones (l.) so far established in Lower Saxony are not identical with the regions that have slightly higher nitrate levels in drinking
water (r.).
XtraBlatt: Dr Kowalewsky, together with Dr Steffens you
have evaluated the existing databases for Lower Saxony.
Why only for this federal state?
Dr Hans-Heinrich Kowalewsky: Firstly, we knew through
our earlier activity where exactly to look for the required
data. However, the second reason is definitely the more
important: better than any other federal state, Lower
Saxony permits subdivision into readily definable regions
based on farmland cropping, livestock production intensity
and topography. Thus, the situation on the coastal region
with its high proportion of pastureland is very different from
the western regions with their intensive pig production.
There is again a difference in eastern Lower Saxony where
livestock production plays a lesser role in total. The northeast
is characterised by sandy soil and flatlands whereas in the
southeast, loess-rich soils merge into the central German
mountains and uplands.
XtraBlatt: Have you further segmented these four regions?
Dr Kowalewsky: For the assessment of Lower Saxony
we divided the state into 22 roughly similar sized areas
which are not, however, identical with the administrative
districts. Decisive in this respect was the availability of data
concerning nitrogen fertilising, as well as information on
the nitrate content of seepage, ground and drinking water.
Here, for example, we referred to data from the Lower
Saxony Nutrient Report and the “Lower Saxony Institute
for Water Management, Coastal and Nature Protection”
as well as to information on waterworks available in the
Internet.
XtraBlatt: Are groundwater and drinking water not the
same things?
Dr Kowalewsky: No. It is practical for correct observation and
assessment of nitrate values to differentiate between seepage
water from the upper 2 m of soil, surface-near groundwater
under this level, and the drinking water from deeper levels.
There are no measurement values for seepage water, only
commonly accepted calculation methods based on nitrogen
application and removal, as well as yearly precipitation. The
results for ground water are assessed from sampling pilot
wells, mostly between 5m and 30 m deep, this information
also being referred to for determination of red zones. The
nitrate levels in drinking water are determined, and then
published, by waterworks. These are chiefly assessed in water
taken from depths between 40 m and 120 m.
XtraBlatt: What levels did you find in the 22 districts you
investigated?
Dr Kowalewsky: Let us, first of all, take the mean nitrogen
accrual from organic manures such as slurry and fermentation
residues. As expected, this was highest in the livestock
production areas of western Lower Saxony at 160 – 190
kg N/ha, while in southeastern Lower Saxony achieving
only around a third of these levels with an average of some
55 kg N/ha. However, nutrient input takes place not only
8

Mittlere Nitratgehalte im Trinkwasser in den Regionen
er in den Regionen
3
13
1Angaben in mg/l 2
1
regionally, it is noticeable that in the coastal region and in the
southern part of Lower Saxony pilot well samples show lower
nitrate levels with higher levels in central Lower Saxony. But
= relativ hohe Werte
these (über results 15 mg/l) on their own are not conclusive.
Angaben in mg/l
1
2
1
7
17
. G. Steffens
19
1
1
3
8
13
Results 3given in mg/l
• = relatively high
levels
(over 15 mg/l)
• = median levels
(5–15 mg/l)
• = relatively low
levels
(under 5 mg/l)
3
3
23
= relativ hohe Werte
(über 15 mg/l) 4
= mittlere Werte
(5 – 15 mg/l)
10
= relativ niedrige Werte
(unter 5 mg/l)
20
per region, values
from 5 to 11 waterworks
total n = 196
upper limit = 50 mg/l
Mean nitrate content of drinking water in the regions.
2
1
7
17
19
7.
1
1
3
Grenzwert = 50 mg/l
= mittlere Werte
(5 – 15 mg/l)
XtraBlatt: Why not?
= relativ niedrige Werte
(unter 5 mg/l)
Dr Kowalewsky: Some pilot wells are only a few metres
deep and thus lie very close to the seepage water zone
border. Other pilot wells are many times deeper. In that
nitrate content in ground water reduces with increasing
depth, no comparability exists. Apart from this, the wells
can be situated in residential areas or in the vicinity of roads,
ditches or former silage or dung storage locations. Pilot
wells are also thought to have been created on a former
cemetery and a small refuse dump. Additionally criticised
is that many of these 7. wells are not built according to the
regulatory guidelines of the time. All of which can shed
doubt on quoted nitrate measurement values.
je Region Werte von
5 bis 11 Wasserwerken
gesamt n = 196
through organic material but also with mineral fertilisers
and there is also the nutrient removal through harvest
products to consider. From this, there results in the west
of Lower Saxony, e.g. in the area Vechta/Cloppenburg, a
calculated nitrogen oversupply of 60 – 80 kg/ha, whereas
in the Northeim/Göttingen area, this lies at 0 – 5kg/ha.
Taking into account precipitation, and after conversion of
the nitrogen oversupply (kg/ha) into nitrate content (mg/l),
the result for seepage water in Vechta/Cloppenburg area
is an average nitrate content of around 100 mg/l. In the
Northeim/Göttingen area we found, on the other hand, a
content of only around 40 mg/l.
As corresponding evaluations have shown, it is not possible
to decide on the nitrate content of pilot wells based on
nitrogen fertiliser application. Conversely, however, this
also means that the nitrogen fertiliser applied cannot be
estimated from pilot well nitrate recordings. Thus, our
assessments indicate that it is not technically acceptable
to base management regulations on nitrate levels recorded
in pilot wells.
XtraBlatt: Does this mean that drinking water nitrate
levels are significantly different than those of surface-near
groundwater?
XtraBlatt: To what extent does this apply to groundwater
or drinking water?
Dr Kowalewsky: Naturally there is a connection. If there is no
nitrate present in the seepage water, there can be none in the
groundwater and drinking water. On the other hand, a high
content in seepage water does not automatically mean that
there is always a high nitrate content to be found in groundwater.
The nitrate content is measured in the groundwater
near the surface layers in the oft-quoted pilot well water
samples. In Lower Saxony there are around 1,300 of these
wells, 68% of which reveal nitrate levels less than 25 mg/l,
i.e. less than half the permitted maximum level. In a further
11%, the levels vary between 25 and 50 mg nitrate/l, in other
words still under the permitted maximum. However, there’s
no denying that in 13% of the pilot wells the level lay between
50 and 100 mg/l, in 8% even above 100 mg/l. When regarded
Dr Kowalewsky: This is correct. We were ourselves surprised
that the nitrate levels in drinking water in high-density
livestock production areas – with the associated higher
application of organic manure – were especially low. For
instance, published levels from the appropriate waterworks
in the coastal area and central Lower Saxony areas with
relatively high livestock densities often lay between 1 mg/l
and 5 mg/l. In the southern part of the state these values
often ranged between 20 and 30 mg/l. The southern areas
of Lower Saxony are characterised by upland terrain such as
the Teutoburger Wald, the Deister and the Solling areas with
farming featuring very little animal production. We estimate
that this data confirms that manuring through application of
slurry and fermentation residues cannot thus be the reason
for higher nitrate content in drinking water. Or, less formally
stated: slurry is not the problem.
9

TITLE THEME
Dr Hans-Heinrich Kowalewsky,
former head, Department
for Energy, Buildings
and Machinery of the
Lower Saxony Chamber
of Agriculture, is a
profound expert on
the theme of organic
fertiliser application.
I do not know of any substantiated research results on
this. It would be very desirable to investigate this aspect
more thoroughly.
But even now it can be said that, despite intensive livestock
production existing in western Lower Saxony for over 60
years, and resultant slurry not always applied strictly
according to crop requirements in that area, the nitrate
levels in drinking water there are low. In that nowadays
slurry application regulations mean manure must be
applied according to crop requirements, there can be no
reason to expect that this will in future contribute to a
problem in the drinking water.
XtraBlatt: What does all this now mean for the demarcation
of red zones?
XtraBlatt: Why is that?
Dr Kowalewsky: As water finds its way
downwards, a lot takes place in the soil
which, in end effect, means that drinking
water nitrate levels cannot be inferred from
seepage water contents. What we mean
here is that we have to consider so-called
denitrification where, simply put, nitrate nitrogen
is converted to air nitrogen through
bacteria with the help of carbon and sulphur compounds
present in the soil. The air nitrogen escapes from the soil,
representing no environmental risk. After all, atmosphere
already comprises 78% nitrogen. Denitrification is thus a
very positive process as far as drinking water is concerned
because it markedly reduces nitrate input. This is, however,
not only dependent on carbon and sulphur content, but just
as much on humus content and the local water household,
which is why there are regional differences here too.
XtraBlatt: Are these factors in western Lower Saxony
especially favourable? Or upon what do you base the low
nitrate levels in the ground water there?
Dr Kowalewsky: What was not sufficiently taken account
of up until now is the fact that the aforementioned carbon
and sulphur compounds are also present in manure slurry
and are so applied onto fields. It can therefore be that
slurry, while taking care of nitrate supply, also includes
the required solution via denitrification. So far, however,
“IT’S IMPOSSIBLE TO
ESTIMATE NITRATE
CONTENT IN THE
PILOT WELLS BASED
ON THE AMOUNTS
OF NITROGEN
FERTILISER APPLIED.”
DR HANS-HEINRICH KOWALEWSKY
Dr Kowalewsky: Our comparisons show that the red zones
in Lower Saxony, so far primarily based on the results from
pilot wells, do not correspond with the
regions where there are increased nitrate
levels in drinking water. This is also because
pilot wells sampled are sometimes located
wrongly and often feature constructional
faults. Additionally, the number of pilot
wells was, and continues to be, much too
low for the importance given to their role in
the identification of red zone positioning.
Either one should completely do without
the establishment of such zones, or else
drinking water quality should also be a factor in their
establishment.
Additionally, I find especially annoying in present red zone
regulations that nitrogen levels have an imposed flatrate
reduction of 20% to only 80% of requirement. This makes
no sense: in no way does it help drinking water quality
whilst at the same time it also leads to lower harvest yields.
Instead of applying all this effort in the establishment of
red zones and in the continuing tightening of fertiliser
application regulations, it would be better to instead
control the obeying of the current regulations more
intensively. Practicable technical solutions towards this,
such as managing application amounts, analysing slurry
nutrient content in tanks as well as automatic data recording
and documentation, are all already in existence. Here
I envisage, among other things, agricultural contractors
serving a central function in order to avoid encouraging
a process economically justifiable for only large-scale
farming businesses. «
10

THANKS TO ALL
UNSUNG HEROES
IN TURBULENT TIMES
GOOD NEWS:
Machinery is available.
The sales & service network
is guaranteed for the
2020 season.

INFORM
FACTS &
FIGURES
Farming often comes under fire from critics. Less concentrated-on
and communicated is the size of this sector’s contribution to society
and the environment.
DIGITALISATION
In the third quarter of 2018, 401 farmers
in Germany answered a representative
questionnaire from the German Rentenbank
on digitalisation in farming. 78 % of
the respondents said they felt digitalisation
simplifies product traceability. 70 %
regarded it as having a positive effect
on process documentation, and 67 %
reckoned it can improve protection of the
environment in production.
COSTS IN
AGRICULTURE
Financial expenditure in German farming
2017, for instance for inputs, capital
investments and services, totalled around
45.3 bn € of which 9.9 bn represented
investments in buildings and machinery.
Included in the operating costs is private
consumption expenditure
of farmers and forest
owners which in 2017
totalled 9.2 bn €.
NETWORK EXPANSION
A survey by the German Farmers’ Association
(DLV) on possible barriers to digitalisation
included the results:
For almost 40 % of
farmers the decisive
obstacle to digitalisation
in agriculture is poor
broadband availability.
Especially farms over
100 ha see the current
availability of broadband
as problematical.
CARBON STORAGE
Grassland, in particular
permanent
pasture, stores on
average about double
the carbon that arable
land does. With up to
8 % humus content,
there is in fact more
carbon to be found
in grassland than in
woodland and forest
soils.
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
12

FOOD WASTE
Around 12.7 m t of food lands in rubbish
tips every year in Germany. And the largest
proportion (55 % or 7 m t) comes from
private households with every person in
that country throwing out an average of
some 85 kg food. A further 11 % food waste
occurs in farming (postharvest losses), 17 %
in food processing, 13 % in the gastronomy
sector and 4 % of food is rejected in the
trading chain.
EXPENDITURE FOR
EATING AND ENJOYMENT
The German Farmers’ Association (DLV) notes
in its Situation Report that some 14 % of
national consumer spending goes for food,
including luxury dining items. The respective
figure for 1975 was 23 %. Both food quality
and processing techniques improved over the
period, finds the report. Individual farming
efficiencies have been bettered too, for
instance through more modern cultivation
techniques and breeding improvements.
BUY LOCAL
In 2015, private households paid out
around 1.5 bn € at weekly farmers’
markets. A further 1.3 bn € was spent on
goods sold direct from the farm. These
results indicate the importance of regional
production for many consumers,
particularly with regard to meat and meat
products as well as fruit and vegetables.
WORLD POPULATION
Population on this planet by 2060 is
assessed at around 10 bn – 2.2 bn more
than today. By that time, a single farmer
will have to produce on average enough
food for almost 200 people.
200
13

INTERNATIONAL
FARMER KARL NEUHOFER, STRASSWALCHEN (A)
THE HAY-
MAKER
Anyone speaking with Karl Neuhofer soon learns that
this farmer has a special passion for hay. And this
doesn’t only apply to his own farm. Nationally,
as chairman of the Austrian Haymilk Working Group
(ARGE), he’s one of the most important instigators
of the concept.
Dairy farming profitability depends
on many factors. One of them is
achieving as much milk as possible from
forage. The figure of 50 % is usually taken
as guideline and minimum in the dairy
cow diet. But is that acceptable? “I don’t
really want to pinpoint a particular figure.
But one thing is sure: it should be as high
as possible. Based on our own farm, I’m
going to lean right out of the window and
say that our feed concept brings us 85 %
forage proportion with hay and grass
dry matter over the year”, explains Karl
Neuhofer.
This is certainly a statement that makes
us want to know more about the business
he runs on around 80 ha permanent pasture
as a registered partnership (GesbR)
with his wife Theresia, daughter Isabella
and son-in-law Lukas Übertsberger. The
farm is not typical for many regions of
14

Austria, however, in that it’s situated on
gently sloping hillsides with good-sized
fields that can be mowed and harvested
with high performance machinery. Stocking
is with around 100 Fleckvieh cows and
followers totalling 150 head with annual
milk production per cow at between 8,000
and 8,500 kg with approx. 4.11 % fat and
3.51 % protein.
PERFORMANCE IS
IMPORTANT
An interesting point is that the farm is
“bio” – converted by Karl Neuhofer to
organic management and haymilk production
a good 30 years ago. This system
sees the cows out on grass from April to
October. When housed, their forage is
exclusively high-quality barn dried hay
harvested on the farm. “All silage, whether
from grass, maize or other forage components,
is taboo: as stipulated in the ARGE
haymilk regulations. Haymilk has a series
of very positive characteristics. Because
of its natural taste, it is much in demand
by consumers for drinking. Above all,
haymilk offers the ideal raw material for
production of high-quality natural cheese.
Completely rejected by the rules are supplementary
additives, preservatives and
any pronounced mechanical processing”,
stresses the farmer.
The only concentrates fed on the farm
comprise cereal grain that the farmer buys
from fellow organic farmers in the neighbourhood.
“In that the price for organic
grain is double that of conventionally
grown ware, its proportion in rations is
tightly controlled. Annual per cow average
grain in the diet for our milk output is only
about 1,000 kg, almost exclusively due
to the extra quality of our hay”, he adds.
Obviously, achieving this standard of
forage isn’t left to chance. In fact, Karl
Neuhofer fine-tunes the production using a
multitude of large and small management
adjustments, starting with pasture care
over mowing, turning and tedding through
to collection and finally drying. The ultimate
aim: good hay quality, whereby the
machinery clout to complete the harvest
in a timely way is a golden thread running
through the entire harvesting chain.
A key function hereby is played by the
farm’s own hay drying operation, featuring
a combined drying system with
Karl Neuhofer: a farmer from
Strasswalchen and chairman of the
Austrian Haymilk Working
Group (ARGE).
15

INTERNATIONAL
1
solar roof air extraction in combination
with a high-performance dehumidifying
plant. The system has the capacity for
daily drying of up to 25 t 60–65 % dry
matter forage. Usually, there are four cuts
in the season with the sward carted into
the dryer 24 hours after mowing, at the
very latest.
ADDING VALUE
That two generations work together on
the Neuhofer farm is helpful. “This working
side-by-side offers many possibilities
for optimising organisation while still
allowing free time for everyone involved”,
smiles the senior partner. And, thanks
to hay feeding, barn work is very simple.
“We don’t even use a feed mixer wagon.
Harvesting hay might take a little more
effort, but we more than make up for
this by the savings in labour in the barn
through the simple and straightforward
feeding”, he reports.
And what about the costs involved? After
all, using own machinery and barn drying
of hay costs money too. “For us, though, the
sum works out well”, confirms this farmer.
From dairies in Austria in spring 2020 the
average producer price paid for GMO-free
milk was some 38 c/kg gross. The haymilk
bonus on this price for conventional farms
represented 5 – 7 c/kg. “For organic haymilk
with loose housing system and outdoor
grazing we received on our farm a producer
milk price of 57 c/kg gross. This extra added
2
value makes dairy farming profitable. It also
disengages us from the increasing volatility
of the world market price because haymilk
is a comparatively stable factor in the small
but high-quality segment of premium milk
products.”
More added value and less price fluctuation
– these aspects of haymilk attract ever-more
farmers, and processors too. According to
Karl Neuhofer, around 8,000 farmers produce
under the ARGE haymilk guidelines in
Austria currently. Most haymilk is from cows
although now there are herds with goats
and sheep. Also in the ARGE organisation
are now around 60 cheese production
plants, other dairy processors and some
Alpine dairies (Sennerein). In 2019, these
processed a total 510 m kg milk with 85%
of this for cheese. This means around 15 %
of all milk in Austria was produced by
haymilk farms last year, with the tendency
increasing.
Even more changes may be up ahead
because there is now a haymilk ARGE for
German producers. This cooperates closely
with the Austrian organisation. Most of the
German farmers involved are to be found in
the states of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg,
says Karl Neuhofer. “But our concept
of haymilk was born in the Alpine region
and certainly has its emotional roots here,
also as far as our consumers are concerned.
And after all, everything depends on them.
But now farmers and processors in France,
north Germany and the Netherlands are
also interested in haymilk. Decisive for the
16

3
4
3
1 The haymilk product portfolio of high-value natural cheeses ranges from
soft and slicing ware through to long-matured hard cheeses such as
Austrian Bergkäse.
2 Pasturing is an essential part of the haymilk concept.
3 The drying plant can handle up to 25 t of forage per day.
4 Optimum cutting time and careful handling of the forage crop whilst
still achieving good harvesting performance are all important aspects.
future is uncompromising retention of our
high standards and quality because this is
how the market measures us.”
GOOD DEMAND
Characteristic of the ARGE system is
not only the haymilk product logo but
primarily the strict controls of the farmers
and processors through certified
inspection points. A highlight for the
organisation was the EU seal of quality
in 2016 “g.t.S. – guaranteed traditional
speciality” awarded in 2016 and representing
a great opportunity for ARGE
marketing. “Important for our organisation
is the professional implementation
of communication and public relations.
The required financing comes from con-
tributions by haymilk producers (0.3 c/kg
milk) and processors (0.2 c/kg) as well as
input from rural development sources”,
explains the chairman. Going further, he
emphasises: “In terms of staff, ARGE is
an extremely slim organisation. Almost
the whole budget is effectively spent on
market development. On the other hand,
haymilk requires no marketing overkill or
“Schmäh” as Austrians might say. Instead
the products live through consumer
conviction of the dedication that goes
into production. Dedication that becomes
clear to the many consumers that holiday
in the Austrian countryside. Our farms
are often open to allow the public to
experience the production of haymilk. All
this helps conviction and strengthens product
credibility. Other customer support
features the direct contact we encourage
with retail outlets.”
Karl Neuhofer sees as very positive the
current developments in the retailing
sector encouraging consumer trends
of regional production and specialities,
leading to more sales opportunities for
smaller market players such as haymilk.
He’s not so worried about a dilution effect
from large-scale milk dairies. “The target
group, the buyers of premium products
such as haymilk, differ clearly from other
consumers. And if the haymilk market
share is increased this can only help
agriculture in general.” «
17

INTERVIEW
Every generation leaves its mark, and this is no less true
for entrepreneur families. Dr Bernard Krone took many
important directional decisions along the way from
machinery factory to global player. On the occasion of
his 80th birthday he reviews the route taken thereby –
from his own very personal perspective.
18

INTERVIEW
“IT
Starting early …
even future
company leaders
are not spared
from wearying
homework.
WASN’T ONLY
STRATEGY.”
XtraBlatt: Dr Krone, for our interview we’re sitting here in
the Krone museum, more precisely in your father’s former
office. What memory does this bring back to you?
Dr Bernard Krone: Not just one memory, but in fact many!
For instance, I’m reminded that this February marks the
50th anniversary of my father’s death. I’m reminded of the
great delight he took in the birth of his first grandchild,
our daughter Nicola. And that my wife Maria was at the
end of her eighth month of pregnancy with our daughter
Dorothee when we had to carry my father to his grave. But
I also remember the great pleasure he took in the company
developing so well.
XtraBlatt: Did your father then ever have
doubts that you would successfully carry
on his work …
Dr Krone: No. That was certainly not the
case! My parents influenced me very much
in their separate, very different, ways. For example, what I
have learnt in social competence and family values I have my
mother to thank for with her heartfelt kindness, readiness
to help and benevolence. She quietly brought about an
enormous amount of good for people within the family,
the firm, in Spelle and far further afield. From my father, I
received very markedly my “entrepreneurial” characteristics.
From knee-high, I often accompanied him in the factory,
but also to the customers. This has enormously helped me
my whole life through. He was very far-seeing, extremely
“WHAT WAS
ACHIEVED WAS NOT
DUE TO ME ALONE.”
DR BERNARD KRONE
competent – although he suffered, just like my grandfather,
a great deal with bronchial asthma. For this reason he was
extremely concerned that he might die before I had learned
enough to be in the position to take over the business. This
was why he was keen to prepare me in all necessary respects
for my future responsibilities as early as possible. And to
pass on to me as much as he could – which was certainly not
always an easy task back then.
XtraBlatt: In what way?
Dr Krone: For instance, after four years primary school in
Spelle I was supposed to move on to the
grammar school in Meppen. But it proved
that I still didn’t have enough basic schooling
and therefore started at Freren secondary
school. With the leaving certificate in my
pocket I started practical training in the Niemeyer
Foundry and then moved to learning
in the Claas factory – in retrospect a very
enjoyable period. I would have liked a longer stay there, but
my father pressed – for the above-mentioned grounds – me
to move on to my next study course in Cologne School of
Engineering. At that time, this was the only state engineering
school featuring a special course in farm machinery. Even at
that time it was clear to my father that the future of the
business would depend most upon my technical competence.
That I managed to be accepted into this course in 1959 as the
youngest-ever student then, is very much due to Alfons Siepenkort,
at that time purchasing manager and first director
19

INTERVIEW
Anna Krone with grandchild Bernard on her lap. Probably photographed in 1941.
Father and son in the 1960s, posing before the parental home.
at Claas as well as being brother to Dr Helmut Class’ mother
Paula. My fellow students and I also received the benefit of
support for our final examinations from Harsewinkel in the
form of construction drawings with which we were allowed
to work. As far as my training in those days was concerned, I
have a great deal to thank the Claas family for.
XtraBlatt: At just 22 years of age you then came back home
as engineer. What happened then?
Dr Krone: (smiling) My father felt that
I should start first in purchasing. There, I
would be least likely to cause any damage.
In my youthful arrogance I, however, believed
that as engineer I already knew, and
could do, everything better than him or any
long-term employee. Naturally, this attitude
wasn’t going to last for long and so I got orders to set out for
Ireland equipped with a car and 3,000 DM, to win my spurs
in the market there. The aim was to boost our machinery
sales, especially of the Optimat manure spreader, although
up until then we had an importer for the model. Waiting
for this contract to finish, I started by trading with other
models, for instance with rear-mounted loaders for tractors
and with Kuhn potato elevators. My close relationships with
such companies started in those days. A turbulent time, but
enormously educational.
XtraBlatt: In what way?
Dr Krone: I learned, for example, that there is nothing to
replace the direct contact with customers. This always
“THERE IS NOTHING
TO REPLACE THE
DIRECT CONTACT
WITH CUSTOMERS.”
DR BERNARD KRONE
applied with us, but my time in Ireland tremendously extended
my horizon. One of the employees of our importer
there, Denis Scrivener, joined our company. He was to
become not only a personal friend, but also an important
adviser for me through his experience – and later on, our
importer in Ireland. This relationship still exists today,
whereby now Denis’ son John has the responsibility. From
Denis, for instance, I learned not to leave the office in
the evening before the last job had been
completed. And that when a telephone
call couldn`t be taken immediately, it had
to be returned as soon as possible. Letters
must be answered on the day they arrive.
And that every employee with a question
had the right to an answer at once. All
this might sound perhaps banal but is
extremely important. A wrong decision is
usually not as bad as no reaction at all. Nowadays we’re
seeing big companies investing great efforts in attempting
a return to this directness. With Krone, it has always been
a central maxim and remains so to this day.
XtraBlatt: In February 1970 came a serious turn in events:
through the death of your father you suddenly attained full
responsibility …
Dr Krone: And not only that. A matter of days after father’s
death came the news that Hanomag, a major supplier for
our farm machinery trading business, was to give up tractor
production. For the first time since the war Germany’s farm
machinery market experienced a decline through saturation
so that turnover shrank leaving inventory, and therefore costs,
20

In 1963 Krone manufactured its first forage wagon with the “Alleslader”. Typically, it’s the
junior chief, Bernard Krone taking control as test driver.
In 1998 Bernard Krone was designated Dr-Ing. E.h. by Braunschweig
Technical University.
much too high. Last but not least, we had inheritance tax to
pay: all-in-all an extremely tense year financially. However,
thanks to two ground rules of my father’s, we managed to
overcome everything in the end.
XtraBlatt: Which rules were they?
Dr Krone: Firstly, that the enterprise is only ever to be
passed-on to one successor so that the leadership is always
clear; all other heirs being appropriately compensated.
And secondly, if possible, the business is always to be
managed in a way that builds up reserves. In this way,
bad years can be survived without the business getting
into difficulties. Exactly this situation was experienced by
many well-known German manufacturers during the crisis
in the early 1970s, not only Hanomag but also firms such
as Ködel & Böhm, Kemper, Stille, Hagedorn or Eberhardt.
Since then, such phases have come around repeatedly. As
far as I’m concerned, both the above maxims are always
the most important rules, linked with the fact that earned
cash is always to be invested continuously in the company.
Own capital is, and will remain, the basis of success. This
applies nowadays more than ever.
XtraBlatt: Was the crisis in the 1970s also the reason for the
decision to begin with commercial vehicle manufacturing?
Dr Krone: In the final analysis, yes. Although ideas and trials
aimed at establishing the enterprise on a broader base also
featured before this time, for instance with my father.
XtraBlatt: In which direction did these plans go?
Dr Krone: In the 1960s there was the chance to establish a
joint venture with Bergmann in Meppen. Although we didn’t
activate this project - from today’s point of view this was a
mistake because Bergmann is a fantastic enterprise. The same
applies to the firm Paus in Emsbüren, founded in 1968 by our
former employee Hermann Paus and myself. However, when
my father died, I sold my share because I wanted – indeed had
to – concentrate on our main business. And we also had the
chance to purchase a company from again one of our former
employees: the firm Roberine in Enschede. I hesitated at the
time – something I now regret.
The market crisis of the 1970s also affected our factory in
Werlte where we had for some time built our Emsland tipper
trailers. However, here a chance occurrence came to our aid.
One day, the Kässbohrer factory in Dortmund asked us if
we could produce chassis for truck trailers. At that time the
truck manufacturer had capacity problems. This was our
opportunity. Soon after that, a haulage contractor from here
in Emsland requested a trailer for grain transport. Apparently
the result was satisfactory because the amount of orders kept
on increasing.
But how could customers immediately recognise our trailers?
I had the idea of stamping our Krone logo on the rear
underride. Up until then, nothing like this had been done
– and it led to some surprising confrontations. For instance,
a haulage contractor from the Ulm area got in touch. At that
time the area was a centre for, and home of, giants in truck
manufacture such as Kögel and Kässbohrer. The contractor
said he certainly didn’t plan to buy from us in any case. But
also added that he’d like to meet the – original soundtrack
21

INTERVIEW
A networker within the highest circles of finance and politics – here in conversation with the
then German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder towards the end of the 1990s.
With Dorothee Renzelmann (nee Krone) and Bernard Krone, the
4th generation of this entrepreneur family takes over the baton.
here – person crazy enough to imagine that he would drive
around with a trailer advertising a small manufacturer up
in Emsland. This sort of exchange typified the situation
then. It also showed that important decisions by businesses
are often traceable to chance ideas or trivialities. Great
strategies were not always responsible – and this is still the
case today.
XtraBlatt: Are there other examples of this from your time
as entrepreneur?
Dr Krone: Oh yes, many. Before and during the German
reunification I was chairman of the West German Agricultural
Machinery and Tractor Association, in short LAV, the association
of farm machinery manufacturers. In this function I
was able to forge a very large number of contacts early on
with personalities responsible for business in the then GDR,
including the director Tischer (Klaus Tischer, general director,
Fortschritt). He took up my invitation to visit us in Spelle for
a direct insight into how an enterprise in a market-based
economy functioned. This contact developed well, even
DR-ING. E.H. BERNARD KRONE
Born 23rd April 1940, married,
3 children, 4 granddaughters.
Hobbies: career, hunting
Personal motto: One man waits the
times to change, the other seizes the
day and acts. (Dante, 1265–1321)
Milestones:
1959– Studying mechanical engineer-
1962: ing at the School of Engineering
in Cologne (special department
for agricultural machinery) graduating
as diploma engineer
1962: Starting work in the firm
Company turnover then: a good
8.5 m Euro
1963: Building subsidiary plant in
Werlte
1971: Beginning assembly of commercial
vehicles in Werlte
1992: Beginning of truck box assembly
at Brüggen (competence partner)
1994: Stopping soil cultivation machinery:
concentration on forage
1995: Bernard Krone awarded the Max
Eyth Memorial Medal
1998: Honorary doctor title from the
Technical University Carolo-
Wilhelmina zu Braunschweig
1999: Division of firm into three independent
societies
Dr Krone moves to the holding
company advisory board
2000: Start of refrigerated vehicle
manufacture in Hvam (DK)
2003: Board member, German Association
of the Automotive Industry
(VDA)
2004: Honoured with the Tilo-Freiherr-von-Wilmowsky
Medal,
election as VDA vice-president
2006: Awarded the Order of Merit,
State of Lower Saxony
2006: Awarded honorary professorship
of the Cluj-Napoca University
of Agricultural Sciences and
Veterinary Medicine (USAMV),
Romania
2007: Turnover of the Krone Group:
1.21 bn Euro
2010: Re-election as vice-president
of VDA. Official transfer of the
enterprise to son Bernard Krone
2011: Award of the Grashof-Denkmünze
(highest honour of the Association
of German Engineers, VDI)
2012: Turnover of the Krone Group:
1.39 bn Euro
22

In 2016 the factory and enterprise are introduced to German Federal President Joachim Gauck during a visit to Spelle.
though we did not join up with Fortschritt. Years later I met
him again, long after he’d changed his position. It was during
the Sima exhibition in Paris. There, he paid me back by quietly
recommending a self-propelled construction that could offer
a perfect combination with our disc mowers. Our constructors
implemented the idea – and the rest is history. The BiG M is,
for me, one of the greatest success stories in our now more
than 114-year-old company history.
XtraBlatt: Not the BiG X?
Dr Krone: That too, represented a milestone for us, the next
consequent step on our way towards becoming a forage
harvesting specialist. Here, chance played a role in numerous
aspects. But most responsible was the gigantic efforts of
our team in filling the idea with life. My contribution in this
progress primarily consisted of insisting on eight, ten and
then twelve rows for the maize cutterhead from the very
beginning – when there wasn’t a single competitor offering
more than six rows.
XtraBlatt: What do you see as your greatest success?
Dr Krone: As having steered the enterprise successfully
through difficult times and to have laid a foundation so
that the next generation can successfully continue on this
way. For this reason, I’m completely at peace with myself
nowadays, even if the list of my mistakes and omissions over
60 years would probably fill volumes. What was achieved
was not due to me alone but thanks to, first of all, my
family and especially my wife Maria. She has always kept
my back free. But more than that, she’s brought up three
capable people personified in our children, for which I’m very
grateful. Also not forgotten in this respect are my cousins
Heinz and Walter, my friend Jürgen Föhrenbach and many
other highly valued travelling companions along the way,
the mentioning of all of whom would far exceed the space
available here. In the final analysis, all have enabled the
success of the enterprise. If I may perhaps mention one of
my own inputs, this is my understanding and eye for judging
individuals. One of the greatest compliments that I’ve ever
been given, came from a journalist saying of me: For this
gruff character, one either works for just a day or a whole
lifetime. That fits exactly!
XtraBlatt: And the view ahead? What lies in the future for
the specialists Krone?
Dr Krone: The conditions in the enterprise couldn’t be better.
The fourth generation has been responsible for over ten years
now and make a great job. However, the current environment
means we’re all on the threshold to extremely great changes.
The radical change in agriculture and in society, digitisation,
the aftermath of pandemics and economic crises. All present
conditions that really cannot be accurately forecasted. Times
of radical change have occurred in our company history more
than once – although not in what feels like the present gigantic
scale. On the other hand, I am convinced that through
our innovative strength, direct contact to customers, solid
finances, the right people in the team and a portion of careful
optimism, all these challenges will be mastered. «
23

INFORM
Rainer Weerda has worked
with Krone since 2008, first
as plant representative,
now in dealer network development.
Much travelling
therefore comes with the
job. But he’s often happily
underway in his leisure time
– for instance in 2018 as
bus driver in a Christmas
aid convoy to Moldavia.
A moving experience.
Rainer Weerda took a
week’s holiday in 2018
to serve in the Christmas
package convoy as bus
driver.
24

KRONE PEOPLE
FATHER
CHRISTMAS’
CHAUFFEUR
All of us must have the picture in our
mind’s eye: Father Christmas racing
with sledge and reindeer across the night
sky from house to house on Christmas
Eve, heavily loaded with presents. This
led many a child to wonder: How could
he cope with all these deliveries? Scene
change: An industrial hall in Hessian
Hanau with 32 articulated trucks and five
buses parked in front – all loaded with
150,000 (!) Christmas parcels. But while
Santa Claus with sledge is a product of
wonderful fantasy, the Hanau parcels are
real.
Background is long-year aid projects by the
organisations Round Table, Ladies’ Circle,
Old Tablers and Tangent Club: organisations
comparable with the Rotary or Lions
Clubs. Under the motto: “children packaging
for children” kindergarten and schools
from all over Germany package Christmas
presents for children in Ukraine, Moldavia,
Bulgaria and Romania. The parcels are
then collected from various points across
the country, travel before Christmas to the
Hanau centre and then are transported
eastwards in an impressive convoy with
around 250 volunteer helpers.
Rainer Weerda was one of these helpers
in 2018. He’s worked with Krone for
twelve years, including ten years as plant
representative in northwest Germany.
Since 2018 he and two colleagues have
formed the working group “dealer network
development”. Target is optimisation
of Krone sales structures and support of
the company’s dealerships in their role as
specialists for forage harvesting machinery.
“Through the sometimes far-reaching
changes in the farm machinery market
and the attempts by big long-liners to
trim other makes from their dealerships
through ever-wider product ranges,
specialists such as Krone offer diverse
opportunities well worth taking advantage
of”, he explains.
BOAT & BUS
Anyone working in sales is usually often
on the road. What kind of activity could
serve as balancing counterpoint to many
hours in the car? Jogging, or more relaxing
options such as gardening or model
railway building? These are definitely not
for this fifty-year-old who, before his time
with Krone, worked in sales for cars and
commercial vehicles. With his wife and
two children, he lives in Elsfleth on the
Lower Weser – which tends to be more
suitable for hobby Nr. 1: skipper on the
river Weser and North Sea. The question
on the length of his yacht earns the smiling
answer: “No yacht, in fact no sails;
instead, a motorboat 7.5 m long with a
200 HP V-6 engine. With this, one can really
move along, and it’s also outfitted for
a weekend tour now and again. Helgoland
is the limit, though.”
He’s also enthusiastic about hobby Nr.
2, although he finds much less time for
this: bus driving. The requisite licence
originates from his time in the armed
services. But opportunities for driving
practice tend to be rare. So far, however,
he’s always managed to extend the validity
of this licence every five years and also
to manage the required schooling. Helpful
in this respect is his relationship with bus
contractor Jörn Wiards in Elsfleth who
“got wind” of Rainer Weerde’s bus driver
licence purely by chance and is grateful for
any relief drivers, especially at weekends.
The Krone sales expert therefore finds
bus tours on his agenda, for instance
Parcel plus teddy. This young man
is still quite stunned by the present
handed over by Rainer Weerda.
25

INFORM
Great joy: For many children, especially in the poorer areas of Moldavia, the convoy brought
them their only present for Christmas.
Every child received his or her present directly from the hands of the
voluntary convoy participants.
down to Switzerland or Alsace with the
Lower Saxony agricultural contractors’
association. Via association president
Andrea van Eijden and her husband
Godfried, both of whom have supported
the afore mentioned Christmas package
convoy for years now, Rainer Weerda also
came in contact with the project – and to
his role as “Father Christmas’ Chauffeur”.
He’s now in the bus drivers’ team and
experienced in the said December week
the journey of a lifetime.
GREAT POVERTY
On a Saturday morning the convoy started
off from Hanau and drove non-stop, apart
from fuelling and short breaks, for 48
hours eastwards. Three drivers per vehicle
were on-board sharing the shifts. During
the journey the convoy split up several
times, with participants heading for different
regions in the four countries where
reception preparations had already been
made by local Round Table partner clubs.
“For me it was already very impressive
to experience the depth of commitment
shown by the hundreds of volunteer
helpers involved. All take extra holidays
for this, and during the trip pay for their
own food and upkeep. A very large part
of the success achieved in this project
lies in the perfect organisation behind
it”, he reckons.
This professionalism is also crucial. Because
of the war situation in Ukraine, the journey
plans in 2018 had to be altered at short
notice. Initially, this caused very mixed
feelings on the part of the helpers. The
reorganisation meant that one part of the
group - including Rainer Weerda – landed
in northern Moldavia. “Even the drive
through the Carpathian Mountains on the
Romanian side showed dramatically how
great the prosperity gap is within Europe.
It is still more apparent in Moldavia – a
beautiful, but unbelievably poor, land that
haemorrhages increasingly because the
younger and well-educated people leave
the area looking for a better life in western
Europe, leaving behind the old and the
disadvantaged, for example many orphaned
children”, he adds. Rainer Weerda also found
it important knowing that all the parcels
from the helpers were personally handed
directly to the children. In other words, that
aid arrived where it is meant to be, 1:1 and
without loss.
VERY EMOTIONAL
Appropriately overwhelming on every
occasion is the joy of the children and
their thankfulness communicated to
those who deliver the gifts. For example,
at the furthest point of the journey and
after several splitting ups of the group,
Rainer Weerda reached with ten other
helpers, one bus and one truck, a small
settlement on the border to Ukraine.
There, the children and their carers had
prepared in only a few days a 90-minute
programme with songs and presentations
to show their gratitude. “Their poverty
meant that the present many of these
children got was their only Christmas gift,
for some even the first in their lifetime.
The light in their eyes and the deeply moving
scenes are hard to describe. It was all
highly emotional for us and at the same
time made us humble, thinking about
the luxurious conditions we in Germany
experience in comparison. Only then does
one realise just why this aid is so valuable
and justifies every difficulty of the 6,000
km seven-day journey.”
In 2019 the calendar nearness of Agritechnica
and the convoy date meant Rainer
Weerda could not participate in the trip.
“However, if I can help, I’ll be there in
2020”, he indicates and smilingly adds:
“We cannot replace Father Christmas – but
we can certainly help him a little, even
if it’s behind the wheel of a bus”. By the
way, anyone wanting to get an impression
of the convoy aid campaign, can access a
moving video under www.weihnachtspaeckchenkonvoi.de
– it is well worth while
viewing. And even more, very worthy of
support by everyone. «
26

SMART REPORTING
HIGH-SPEED ANALYSIS
Krone Smart Telematics offers a new function – Smart Reporting.
Using this a contractor can, for instance, evaluate simply and
rapidly via computer or tablet fields that have been worked
on by a driver. No previously carried out recording of the field
boundaries by the user is required. A click on the driving track
is enough to select all tracks followed in the respective field. In
this way, the user can call-up all important machinery data, e.g.
operation time in the field, number of bales produced, yield and
diesel consumption.
This new feature markedly lightens the workload of the contractor’s
and operator’s working day. Thus, via Krone Smart Telematics the
desired field and machinery data can be viewed rapidly and easily.
With this new function, the software recognises field borders on the
basis of Sentinel satellite data. The system is available as standard
for the entire Krone BiG line (BiG X, BiG M, BiG Pack) as well as for
numerous Krone round balers and Krone forage wagons and silage
trailers. The system can be used free for a period of two years. Users
can naturally upload all data produced by Krone machinery directly
to the DKE Data GmbH agrirouter where it can be applied by farmers
and contractors with further systems. «
AEF CERTIFICATION
A FIRST FOR ROUND BALERS
As round baler manufacturer Krone is the first one to achieve
certification from the Agricultural Industry Electronics Foundation
(AEF) for Tractor-Implement-Management (TIM) for its
model lines Fortima, Comprima, and VariPack. This is official
confirmation that Krone round balers operate actively and may
control the tractor during operations. Because the tractor-baler
combination is now able to work as a single unit, still more
effective and efficient operation is possible.
TIM allows all baling procedures to be carried out automatically.
As soon as the bale chamber is filled, TIM stops the tractor. Subsequently
the net is fed into the chamber, the chamber opened, the
bale deposited, and the chamber gate then immediately closed.
Through the closely integrated sequences, baler throughput is
even further enhanced. In that the process is always exactly
repeated, Krone says this means the baler produces consistent
and uniform bales of very high density. Over and above this,
the technology makes very much easier the operator’s working
day because there’s more time to concentrate on driving. Which
machines are currently AEF certified for the TIM function can be
viewed under:
https://www.aef-isobus-database.org/isobusdb/login.jsf. «
27

28
ON-FARM

FAMILY SCHUMEIER, LACHENDORF
SIGHTS FIXED
ON THE FUTURE
In the building front right is the milking carousel
plus waiting area, milk room, bulk tanks and
housing for dry cows as well as fresh calvers. In
the building behind this is housed the milking
herd. The monopitch shed on the left is for calves
and young heifers.
With new buildings and doubling of the
milking herd, the Schumeier family steps
out to secure continued success for the
farming business in the next generation.
Enjoyment of farming itself and a good
portion of optimism remain requirements
for the way ahead – despite bureaucracy
and similar hurdles. An encouraging story.
Farmers think in generations – although
it’s not always simply assumed that
the next generation will take over. All the
more contented are Heinrich Schumeier
and wife Gabriele from Lachendorf in
the Celle district of Lower Saxony that
both their sons Sebastian (29) and Alexander
(24) are set to carry on the farm
that has been in the family since 1910.
The decision to start preparations for
the next generation was actually made
over ten years ago when Sebastian had
completed his studies and Alexander said
he was ready to start. Then, the central
question was: How should the business
be set-up so that it could offer a good
future in the 21st century – and for three
families? At that time, the framework
conditions still featured milk quotas,
although the end of this regime could be
seen, which was more than could be said
for milk price development after quotas,
however. “Despite this, we were resolute
in our course of continually expanding
cow numbers. To start with, this meant
buying extra quota. Later, the amount of
housing space was the final restriction to
expansion”, reports Heinrich Schumeier.
Cow numbers thus increased gradually
from 80 in 2005 to around 180 in 2015.
Result: the accommodation built in 1997
and extended in 2005 was crammed-full.
Room had to be found for youngstock in
neighbouring barns.
MANY HURDLES
Parallel to stocking-up, the most stressful
chapter was also underway: planning and
realisation of the new dairy premises. It
was quickly obvious to the family what
this housing should look like – but not its
location. In total, four options were investigated
and then rejected over a period of
six years, until the decision for the final,
actual location, fell for a greenfield site
29

ON-FARM
1 2
about 500 m from the original farmyard.
“The time involved wasn’t because we
couldn’t make up our minds, but through
the numerous, and ever-larger obstacles
placed in the way of our plans. From
the local authorities, public officials
and testing institutions, there was no
difference. In the end, they all gave us
the same feeling: that a future-oriented
dairy farm was not wished for here, and
that everyone involved only wanted to
protect themselves 400% from having to
make even the very smallest of decisions.
It was as if we were setting out to build a
nuclear power station!”
Anyone listening to Heinrich Schumeier
describing this period cannot miss the
bitterness that he feels. “If one was to
describe in writing the madness involved, it
would fill a whole book.” Hereby, certainly
a few chapters would be also taken-up covering
experiences during building because
frictionless was not a word that could be
applied here either. Around almost all tasks
involved there were phases when massive
problems developed: from the electricians
through to the deliverers of the milking
carousel. For instance, with the last-mentioned
the equipment delivered turned out
completely different from that ordered.
More chaos came from this not being noticed
until assembly which, because of the
initially described problems, couldn’t get
started until 2019, i.e. one year later than
planned. “It was only unfortunate that
the parlour manufacturer had delivered
it, as agreed, in 2018. Since then, it had
lain, still packaged, here in the old barn”,
recalls the farmer. On top of this, when
the plant was eventually assembled the
milking stances were the wrong size. At
best, they were suitable for Jersey cows
and certainly not for Holstein-Friesians.
“The ensuing discussions meant even
more stress. It’s just as well that none of us
realised beforehand the woes that building
would bring. However, we soldiered on and
now we are delighted with the end result”,
is his summary of the most strenuous spell
in his working life.
CAROUSEL FANS
In comparison, rehousing the cows in
summer 2019 was comparatively trouble-free.
Also as smooth as butter was
the changeover from the old herringbone
to carousel milking, confirms Alexander
Schumeier. Only a bought-in batch of
50 cows had difficulties with the rotary
platform. “They were used to a robot
milker and it needed a lot of persuasion
plus much sweat to convince the ladies
that their new surroundings were safe.
However, they are all carousel fans now”,
he smiles. It was to be expected that yields
in some cases fell during the changeover
phase. But output was back to earlier
levels, or even above with some cows, in
the following lactation. Now target herd
size of 350 head has been reached with
an average milk production of 9,400 l per
cow and year.
Some reorganisation was also required for
forage and fieldwork on the current 149
ha including 67 ha pasture. Arable is 82 ha
with 68 ha maize, 8 ha fodder beet and –
new this year – 8 ha mixed crop of maize
and beans. All three Schumeier men are
very interested in how this experiment will
work out. Sowing of the “melange” wasn’t
until mid-May, not least because herbicide
treatment for this plant mixture can only
be done before crop emergence.
In fact, such creative ideas are continuous
factors when it comes to feed here. As
well as fodder beet, potatoes were on the
menu this spring because the corona crisis
means less chips are required. Core of feed
planning is grass from long leys with three
30

3
1 Also delighted with the new cow barn:
Gabriele Schumeier (l.) with daughter
Katharina and granddaughters
Madeleine and Fiona.
2 Alexander, Heinrich and Sebastian
Schumeier (l. to r.) grounded a GbR
(civil-law partnership) in 2019.
3 The fieldwork is largely tackled by
other farmers or agricultural contractor.
Only cultivation work, as well as
mowing and tedding, are carried out
by the Schumeier family.
or four cuts taken, depending on precipitation.
These cuts are supplemented with
annual ryegrass intercropped on around
40 ha by neighbouring arable farmers.
Here, though, summer drought in the past
two years has proved a real challenge,
the sand soil (quality points between 18
and 40) doesn’t hold moisture for long.
“We have to irrigate several times anyway.
But 2019 was particularly bad”, recalls
Heinrich Schumeier. “For this reason,
we’ve tried oats instead of ryegrass and
it has worked surprisingly well. The later
silage cut was a little wet, but the cows
fed happily on it and yields were good,
too”, says the senior partner.
MULTI-CULTI
Support from outside the home farm is
not only with forage. The Schumeiers have
a farmer friend who undertakes much of
their arable work, for instance fertiliser
spreading and spraying. Solid manure goes
to a biogas plant, some of the slurry to a
neighbouring crop grower. Precision seeding,
driving the forage home, harvester
work and filling the clamps are all done
by contractor. “Alongside the cultivations,
mowing, tedding and pasture care are the
only jobs we carry out ourselves”, adds Alexander
Schumeier. Not much more could
be done by the family anyway because
there’s more than enough work to be done
with a total herd of 660 head.
So what’s the next challenge? The
amended Fertiliser Ordnance regulations
in Germany certainly loom large in this
respect, especially if the red (nitrate
sensitive) areas affecting Lachendorf
are not altered in size. “Most important
of all is, however, achieving uniformity
in our herd”, is the first thought of the
two junior partners. It’s certainly true
that a walk through the barn reveals a
colourful variation among the beasts:
black and white, red and white, Brown
Swiss and Fleckvieh, Angler and Jersey.
This multi-culti mix is not altogether due
to buying-in different breeds over the last
three years. Even before this, father and
sons always had fun introducing the more
exotic breeds into the herd. Now they all
agree, though: Holstein-Friesian should
be the line taken.
“Hobbies” involving other animals remain,
however. Father Schumeier’s ten horses
and a small contingent of 40 feeding bulls
offer a change from the cows. “Actually, we
had a permanent buyer for the bull calves.
But prices have crashed in the corona crisis
and we couldn’t even give the bull calves
away. So we thought we could feed them
ourselves”, explains Heinrich Schumeier
as he walks off across the yard to the cow
barn. It’s milking time, after all. Although
nowadays the carousel means this now
proceeds at a rapid 150 cows an hour, it
still takes-up a bit of time. But now it’s at
least fun again! «
31

INFORM
On YouTube you can view
all Krone Comedy Clips under
Krone T-Vision:
COMEDY CLIPS
JUST
FOR FUN
Once or twice a year Krone offers super
cinema for less than five minutes – in the
form of a comedy clip. Central to these
slightly different advertising spots is not
farm machinery but instead usually human
relationships. The effort involved in the
filming is enormous – but the results are
well worth watching.
32

From then on, it was clear that Krone would continue
with these unusual videos. The secret is a storyline
that’s hard for viewers to forget. This means the brand
message is not forgotten either. Every one of these
videos begins with an idea – often in association with
a new product. Then the idea ripens over a period
of weeks, a film-worthy storyline comes next. A detailed
script is then written. Rightly honoured as idea creator and
author of all clips recorded right up until his death in 2019 is
Krone marketing manager Heinrich Wingels. The challenge
for him and his team consisted of taking such themes out
of real time and shortening them so that the story could
be plausibly and succinctly related in a matter of minutes,
backed by artful film scenes. Up until this day nothing in
this formula has been changed.
For filming the video “Krone Smart Connect(ed)” two agricultural
contractors “Julberger” and “Rombach” are created.
The story: both have in their machinery fleets the same silage
harvester, the same pick up – and both are deadly enemies. As
daughter Julia Julberger drives out with the silage harvester,
father monitors his fleet online on computer in the home
office. Enabling this surveyance is the Krone SmartConnect
box, which collects all data from the silage harvester for
transmitting by Internet. Via Krone SmartTelematics the
driving route can be followed online. From Rombach’s company
premises, a BiG X is also driving off, this one manned
by the owner’s son Roman. His father follows the harvester’s
journey per terminal in the office too – until it deviates from
the planned route. The respective children are unreachable
by mobile phone and so each father immediately sets off to
drive to the location of their silage harvesters. The fathers
then meet each other unexpectedly. What happens next?
Watch the finale yourself by simply tuning into Comedy Clips.
The first clip was created 2012 in Austria. Then, the
consideration was how one could most graphically
demonstrate the Krone mower feature “DuoGrip” with its
double linkage cutterbar control. Created was a video with
high entertainment value. The Austrian scything champion
of that time demonstrated deftly with her scythe how
the principle “suspended at centre of gravity – guided by
the linkage arms” functioned. Bringing the comedy was a
somewhat jaundiced elderly man whose mower had seen
better days and who had, in the end, to admit defeat by
the young lady.
The video proved a hit with the public and Krone earned
loads of praise for the humorous presentation.
Filming required several days of thorough preparation. Many
requisites were organised, the human cast and the machinery
involved carefully groomed. Most of the filming took place
within two days. Left over from this are three to five minutes
of film. Fine-tuning the result includes adding suitable music.
The title is then composed to neatly fit with the finally edited
video to highlight in fine detail the emotions in the storyline.
The success of this video is able to be assessed not only
from the number of clicks on YouTube and Facebook. Every
two years, the rewards reaped by this work can also be seen
at Agritechnica when hundreds of visitors crowd around
the big screen on the KRONE exhibition stand to await the
punch lines of the individual stories, conjuring smiles on the
faces of the enchanted viewers. «
33

INTERNATIONAL
ALPINAVERA (CH)
SUPPORTING
THE REGION
34

Favourites with local people and
visitors are the pass markets organised
by alpinavera.
Within the alpinavera association, businesses
in the Swiss cantons Uri, Glarus, Grisons
and Ticino have joined forces to promote
sales of their regional products. Involved
can be farmers, processors or even artisan
handworkers.
What unites the eastern Swiss
cantons Uri, Glarus, Grisons and
Ticino? “If you’re here in Chur where our
office is, and look down on the Rhine there
doesn’t seem to be much in common”, says
Jasmine Said Bucher, executive director of
the alpinavera project. “Instead, you have
to take a look upwards. It is the mountains
that we all share. And with that, a very special
form of agriculture with many regional
specialities.”
Jasmine Said Bucher – while still working
at the Plantahof school of agriculture – was
with her husband the creator of the project
idea. The concept was created, discussed
and, following confirmation of support
under the federal and canton agricultural
sales support programme, alpinavera
was able to start business in May 2007.
“Members of alpinavera are, however, not
the producers themselves but instead 15
different societies from the participating
cantons”, explains the executive director.
“For instance, the societies are linked to
agriculture, cattle breeding, food production
– butchers, bakers, cheesemakers – or
the agricultural administration. Also represented
are two nature parks. President
of alpinavera since 2011 is the Angus
breeder Gian Peter Niggli from Samedan
in Grisons.”
SALES PROMOTION
The association has twelve workers sharing
what are nearly six full-time posts, mainly
employed in the business office. There are
also regional offices in the cantons. Producers
are also participants in alpinavera.
They sign partnership contracts that allow
them to use the brand name and its seal of
quality label – regio.guarantee – awarded
to certified regional products. Producers
can be farmers or food processors. All must
fulfil the following core requirements: be
producers of food, or vendors of the same,
whereby at least 80 % of raw material
involved must come from the alpinavera
region. Additionally, the main processing
steps must also take place in the region.
Special rules apply for handicraft and
artwork products.
“In Switzerland altogether 27 organisations
are supported by the federal sales
promotion programme. These include
four sales promotional organisations for
regional products. For sales promotion,
the federal government spends a total
68 million Swiss francs (CHF). This is a lot
of money, of which regional products are
supported with maximum 3.35 m CHF”,
reports the executive director adding: “This
is why we must fulfil certain requirements,
ensure strict controls and register our
budgets. We also have to demonstrate that
we’re doing an effective job through, for
instance, reporting turnover with certified
products and documenting the marketing
channels through which producers sell
their certified products, also the sales
situation and, above all, how much money
is getting back to the farmers involved. The
corset laced around us by the federation
is a tight one. At the same time, we are
always measured by our success.” One of
the most difficult tasks involved has been
reaching agreement with the other three
regional sales promotion organisations so
that guidelines are the same. “And that,
despite us being in some ways competitors.
35

INTERNATIONAL
Linking elements of the four cantons are the Alps and
the form of agriculture conducted thereon.
Executive director of alpinavera, Jasmine Said Bucher..
However, we managed to agree and, since
then, remain on good terms. In the meantime,
we’ve established a common seal of
quality, regio.guarantee, which is used on
certified products as a logo in co-branding
with the regional brand”, reports Jasmine
Said Bucher.
VERY ACTIVE
Prerequisite for cooperation between
a producer and alpinavera is a contract
partnership and the associated external
certification which applies to individual
products, not the farm concerned. The
certificate applies in each case for two
years. Currently 2,106 products are certified.
The association has 198 contracts with
producers from 540 farms. The apparent
numerical inconsistency here is because
a single product (e.g. an alp cheese) can
come from a number of farms producing
and processing within a single alp society.
“Our main task is to sink transaction
costs”, explains Jasmine Said Bucher. “The
individual producer has, after all, only
very limited access to consumers. And if
the latter stands before a big counter in a
retail outlet, decisions are often difficult.
This is where labels offer security. And I’m
very happy that ours has been chosen as
best of regional labels in an evaluation
by the organisation Swiss Consumer
Protection.”
Alpinavera is active in five areas:
– Advice: For partners concerning, for
example, advertising actions and label
design. Additionally, diverse national and
international projects are advised on.
– Presenting the range: The organisation
runs its own online shop for certified
regional products from its partners.
– Support: alpinavera supports its
partners’ sales promotional activities
through available federal support funds.
– Sessions: Through alpinavera tasting
sessions, groups are presented with
a variety of specialities, cheeses with
wine, beer with wurst, or liqueurs together
with baked products – whatever
is wished for.
– Organising: alpinavera organises
partner presentations at markets,
exhibitions and events, helping with
infrastructure and providing presentation
material. Additionally, catering
orders are organised. And alpinavera
central ordering can arrange delivery of
regional and certified Alpine and mountain
specialities for hotels, gastronomy,
company and hospital kitchens and
speciality shops.
Among the great association successes,
remarks the executive director, are the
much-loved pass markets and the lakeside
markets in Ticino. The pass markets are held
on the Gotthard, Oberalp, Lukmanier, Flüela
and Klausen passes. There are also markets
in Ascona and Locarno. Such markets feature
around 25 to 35 producers presenting
their regional specialities in attractive
surroundings. The alpinavera association
is also active in the retail sector. Through
so-called degustations, customers get the
opportunity of tasting five specialities.
The retailers involved are helped by the
association in arranging the presence of a
professional tasting expert and a representative
of the producers so that the products
on offer can be explained and discussed.
And, for attracting still more attention, the
food retailers can even also book an alpine
horn player. «
36

FARMER GIAN PETER NIGGLI, SAMEDAN (CH)
ALPINE ANGUS
Angus in Oberengadin? Yes! The blacks
thrive there too, high on Switzerland’s
alpine uplands. Swiss beef cattle breeders
decided very early on to focus on just a
few breeds as key to successful marketing.
One of these is the Angus: the breed
with the legendary reputation for quality
beef. Initially, alpinavera president Gian
Peter Niggli, who grounded his farming
business in 1990, worked closely with
German breeders. He couldn’t get all the
foundation stock he needed from a single
herd and had to buy from several. Although
top quality was his aim from the start, as
every breeder knows, it takes generations
of animals to establish the sought-for type
in a new herd. And if the genetics come
from different sources, then it’s all the
more difficult.
This was the cause of a radical move in
2012. Gian Peter Niggli sold his entire herd
and imported pedigree Aberdeen Angus
stock from Scotland. The genetic basis of the
herd is therefore more compact. Systematic
breeding became easier and this brought
with it definite management advantages.
The import also meant he became the
first breeder in Switzerland included in the
herdbook of the Aberdeen Angus Cattle
Society based in Perth. Additionally, he started
participation in the Breedplan breeding
programme which gave him access to highly
significant data on a wide range of parameters:
information that helped, not only
in selection within his herd, but also his
cattle breeding customers when choosing
purchases. The highlight with Breedplan is,
however, the great breadth, and therefore
solid reliability, of the database involved.
In Great Britain alone, 6,000 Angus cattle
are registered.
Through their Scottish homeland, Aberdeen
Angus animals are not unused to
adverse weather conditions. Although
normally unusual for imported breeds, it’s
therefore not altogether surprising that
they get along well with the climate in
Switzerland. Even when they – as is the
case with the Niggli Angus cattle - spend
the whole summer from May to October on
the nearby 2,500 m alp Muottas Muragl.
Proof, incidentally, can be seen in Google
Maps. When you know what to look for,
you can recognise the black dots in the
vicinity of an alpine hut as outlines of the
herd members. Admittedly, what one does
not see are the cow bells that the cattle
wear around their necks according to good
Swiss tradition.
Gian Peter Niggli is not only a successful
breeder and serial winner with his cattle
at livestock shows, he’s a man who has
always had his eye on marketing the end
product: meat. Helping him in this aspect
is the region where his farm is located:
the community Samedan lies only a few
kilometres from well-known St. Moritz.
The customer-type – private and from the
gastronomy sector - that not only expects
quality but is able and willing to pay well
for it, is therefore right on-hand. Among
the Angus products on offer are not only
high-quality beef and an air-dried sausage
– called salsiz in Grisons - but also
handbags made of the black cattle hide,
manufactured near the Niggli farm.
A further strength of this farmer is his
passion for networking. Whether with
international breeders or meat experts, in
the St. Moritz horse racing society White
Turf, or the Plantahof educational institute,
or in the canton parliament – Gian Peter
Niggli is active in very many areas. «
37

TELEGRAM
NEWS-TICKER
CORONA BOOSTS
HOME OFFICE
During the corona pandemic a total 1,877
Krone Group employees exchanged their
workplace for a home office. Thanks to the
outstanding preparation and support from
the IT department, all administration work
could also be tackled with ease from the
respective home.
IN NEW LOOK
The exhibits in the Krone Museum have
been added to, and the presentation
layout redesigned. For anyone wishing
to take a look: the museum is open every
Thursday (except on holidays) from 2 pm
to 5 pm. Entry is free. To arrange alternative
dates contact: museum@krone.de
NEW HEAD OFFICE
At the beginning of this year Krone
North America moved into a new, modern
company centre in Olive Branch,
Mississippi just 16 km south of the
previous location in Memphis. Floor
area of the new building is 24,600 m2.
INNOVATION DAY
As part of its “Innovation Day”, Krone Australia
presented the new VariPack and the
Premos in action. Interest was appropriately
great. Not only from the dealers who had
travelled to the event from all over Australia,
but also from around 350 customers (from,
among other places, New Zealand, Western
Australia and Queensland) visiting the event.
EXPANDING
IN INDIA
A large dairy farm near Nasi (170 km
northeast of Mumbai) now uses four
Krone machines – and reckons its mechanisation
represents a jump of about
100 years forward. In India nowadays,
the average farmer works 1.5 ha land and
has one cow. In many cases the fieldwork
is still carried out manually.
38

FUTURE LAB
The new Krone Future Lab in Lingen started
work as planned in May. Tested there now
by around 30 Krone female employees are
vehicles, machinery and axles.
NEW ATTRACTION
AgriPark is a newly-founded sales support
facility for Krone and Lemken near Haag in
southern East Bavaria. In addition to the
modern office and administration building
there’s a separate workshop hall with the
latest equipment as well as a 1,100 m 2
showroom. In the 700 m 2 spare parts store
around 6,000 parts are available.
NOW ERASMUS
PARTNER
Krone received from the Europaschule
BBS Brinkstrasse in Osnabrück the
“Erasmus + Partner” medallion. The
Erasmus+ programme promotes
international exchange of trainees
and instructors. In 2019 a number of
trainees took part in projects in Spain
and Ireland.
BEST LOGISTIC BRAND
The title “Best Logistic Brand 2020 in the category trailer and bodies” went to Krone thanks
to the results of a reader questionnaire launched by the specialist magazine “Logistik
heute” (Logistics today) and the Bundesvereinigung Logistik e.V. (BVL). In total, the jury
counted 26,567 votes.
KRONE DONATES
In the last weeks Krone has donated
around 150,000 € to diverse charity
organisations in Emsland to help
support them during difficult corona
times. Among the recipients are the
Bonifatius Hospital in Lingen as well
as dementia and hospital facilities.
BERNARD KRONE
ON SUPERVISORY
BOARD
Bernard Krone (l., managing partner of Bernard
Krone Holding SE & Co KG) and Alfons Veer
(chairman of the board, Krone Holding) were
voted onto the holding supervisory board at
the beginning of this year. Bernard Krone took
over the supervisory board chair, Alfons Veer
the position of deputy chairperson.
NEVER SO
IMPORTANT
Increasing numbers of consumers
now understand: Farmers are just as
important, or as system-relevant (politics-speak),
as transport enterprises. In
this line of thought: Keep on farming &
keep on trucking!
39

INFORM
QUALITY FORAGE HARVESTING SERIES – PART 1: MOWING
OPTIMAL CUT
40

Those who want to cut high
should use high skids on
the mower to avoid a stepped,
uneven, cut.
In a series of articles, we’ll be reporting on the points
the farmer should pay attention to at harvest and with
machinery set-up to “cut a dash” in forage production.
In the first part of our series we concentrate on mowing as
the entry into achieving good forage. Here, we’re supported
by Peter Schultze who, as product specialist for mowing
machinery with Krone, is an expert in how to harvest
quality feed.
HIGH MOWING CAPACITY
Mistakes made during harvesting
of silage and hay
leave their mark on overall
farm business returns, meaning
farmers who keep a close
eye on the entire harvesting
chain, from mowing through
to carting home, win a clear
advantage.
The weather sets the pace, emphasises the Krone specialist.
“It shouldn’t rain into the mown grass. That goes for
silage, and still more so for harvesting quality hay. On the
one hand, the weather has to be watched because of this.
But another way you can steal a match on the weather is
by having the high machinery capacity at hand to keep
harvesting time as short as possible.”
As a rule, mowing takes place shortly before panicle or ear
emergence. “Because nowadays grass variety mixes are
often used, you’ve got to orient cutting time accordingly,
or take samples for analysing to determine dry matter
content. According to the required value, harvest begin
can then be decided upon”, says Peter Schultze.
If mowing capacity permits, cutting should start as late
in the day as possible to ensure high sugar content in
the silage. This increases continuously on a sunny day
right through until evening. Mowing capacity must be
matched here so that the required area can be cut in time.
“Those wanting to start mowing in the mornings should
definitely ensure that the sward has dried out, that dew
has evaporated, keeping contamination risk in forage as
low as possible,” he warns.
41

INFORM
1
CUTTING HEIGHT 6 – 11 CM
How high to cut? This is one of the most important points
for forage quality but also for good regrowth. “In practice,
this remains the subject of much discussion”, reports Peter
Schultze. “The tendency nowadays is clear: higher cuts to
minimise, right from the start, ash content in the feed.
Meantime, 6 cm to 11 cm has become standard.”
2
Disc mower standard skids are often insufficient in this
respect. Or higher cuts are only achievable through tilting
with the hydraulic links which can negatively affect levelness
of cut. Increasingly, customers choose to fit high-cut,
or combi, skids. Krone offers in this respect four different
skid types for cutting heights of from 4.5 cm to 12 cm.
“Trials have shown that higher cuts offer many advantages.
Along with lower crude ash content in feed, regrowth is
also accelerated, leading to the next cut being possibly
earlier. Over the whole season, more forage is harvested if
one cuts higher”, summarises Peter Schultze. The last years
tended to dryness. Here too, it is recommended to cut the
sward higher to ensure good regrowth.
A further point to keep an eye on is sharpness of blades.
For a clean, straight and parallel cutting action, the blades
mustn’t be blunt. “Particularly in very dry years, blades
need a lot of attention. A sharp blade cuts cleanly so that
the plant’s cut surface area is thus very small, which reduces
subsequent evaporation compared with losses from a
plant mown with a blunt blade”, explains the specialist.
Krone recommends blade replacement when the knife is
worn back to the last centimetre.
THREE CONDITIONERS
A conditioner brings faster and therefore shorter drying
times. But does this fit into every harvesting chain? There
are many arguments on this point in practice. “In the
north where a lot of silage is harvested, this technique
has now become established. But in classic hay regions,
or on sloping terrain, grass is mainly mowed without
a conditioner and subsequently turned. However, clear
regional borders in this respect cannot be drawn.”
Krone offers three different types of conditioner. The steel
V-tine conditioner is applied in monocotyledon crops and
is the most widely used variant in Germany. Its working
42

1 To ensure a clean cut, mower blades must be replaced
by the time they wear down to the last centimetre.
2 Through a correctly set-up mower suspension,
machinery wear and forage contamination sink. Target
setting here is 70 kg/ m working width.
3 Mowing with conditioner shortens wilting time for
silage by up to seven hours.
intensity is adjusted through varying
rpm and adjusting throughput.
In regions where mainly lucerne is
harvested, on the other hand, the roller
conditioner comes into its own. With
lucerne, roller models lead to less leaf
loss compared with tine conditioners.
Roller conditioners come with rubber or
steel rollers, differing in rubbing characteristics
and crimping profiles.
In short, it can be said that professional farm businesses
and agricultural contractors tend to harvest silage with
conditioners to save as much time as possible during the
harvest. With conditioners, wilting can be shortened by
as much as 7 hours and energy losses correspondingly
minimised.
“THOSE WANTING TO
START MOWING IN
THE MORNING
SHOULD DEFINITELY
ENSURE THAT THE
SWARD HAS DRIED OUT.”
PETER SCHULTZE,
PRODUCT SPECIALIST FOR MOWING MACHINERY
SWATH COLLECTION
A number of mowers nowadays are offered with swath
collection systems. This features a technique also influencing
cleaner forage feed because the grass is directly
transported by auger or conveyor belt without any intermediate
ground contact. “Collection systems make sense
from the work efficiency aspect, especially with later
cuts that tend to have less bulk. Cutting and collection is
combined. Only the strips where the mower has deposited
the cut forage are then raked. Possible is thus collection
of forage from around 18 m width by using a 9.5 m
mower combination and a tedder covering just under
14 m working width. Subsequent
work after mowing can then be more
effective”, adds Peter Schultze. Krone
now offers swath collection for mowers
without conditioner. Beforehand,
a conditioner was obligatory for a
collection system. This suits farms on
hilly land where there’s big demand
for lighter systems. On slopes, every
kilogram less is an advantage.
3
A Krone disc mower speciality is that cutterbar rotational
directions can be individually adapted so the customer
can decide whether he or she wants the cut spread out
over almost the whole width or formed in swaths. When
mowing with conditioner the mower is set to spread
the grass evenly across most of the width. The discs of
mowers without conditioner, on the other hand, are usu-
43

INFORM
Swath collection makes sense,
especially with later cuts when
forage yield tends to be lower.
ally set to form swaths. “This means that
on a working width of 3.6 m two swaths
would be formed. The advantage here is
that during subsequent turning, tractor
wheels can be kept off the forage thus
minimising contamination”, explains the
mower specialist. Disc rotational direction
can always be changed in the workshop,
however.
HOW FAST TO
MOW?
“OVER THE WHOLE
SEASON MORE
FORAGE IS
HARVESTED IF ONE
CUTS HIGHER.”
PETER SCHULTZE,
PRODUCT SPECIALIST FOR MOWING MACHINERY
Mowing speed depends on the
fields involved. With a new ley on
an even field surface, 20 km/h is
possible. Power requirement
at the pto can be calculated
as 15 to 20 HP per metre cutting width
without conditioner, and approx. 25 HP
per metre with.
Mower suspension must be watched as
well. This can be controlled mechanically
or, nowadays with many mowers, also
hydraulically - partly from the tractor seat.
Downward pressure to aim for with disc
mowers is 70 kg per metre working width.
This optimises firstly the wear but at the
same time ensures minimum damage to the grass sward
as well as reducing contamination risk.
Nowadays there’s a tendency towards more hydraulic
components for adjustments of mower, turner and tedder
– it’s a solution that eases operation and means the driver
doesn’t always have to dismount to adjust suspension,
for example. “The technical possibilities for optimising
machinery adjustments are there nowadays – and they
should be used”, concludes Peter Schultze. «
44

FACTS &
FIGURES
Continued from page 13
2.5 kWh
electricity
300,000
9 km
0.6 l
heating
oil
BIOGAS PLANTS
A biogas plant with 500 kW
capacity can increase
the value of output from its
respective region by as
much as 300,000 € per year.
BIOGAS
1 m 3 biogas produces on
average 2.5 kWh electricity,
or fuel to drive 9 km or
as much heat as 0.6 l of
heating oil.
BIOFUEL
3.538 m t of biofuel with an energy
content of 120 petajoules were used in
traffic in Germany 2018. As in the
previous year,
biodiesel had
the greatest
proportion here
with 72%.
RENEWABLE ENERGIE
In a single district with a good 250,000
population spending an annual 700 m €
for energy requirements,
using renewable
energies could increase
value of output by
up to 350 m €.
350 m
45

INTERVIEW
KRONE HOLDING
TWO WORLDS, O
Both sectors, agricultural machinery and
logistics are very different. Despite
this, numerous synergy effects have
already emerged for use under
current conditions.
46

NE WAY
For almost 50 years now the Krone Group has operated as two
branches: agricultural machinery and commercial vehicles. Both
profit from one another more than ever before. Explaining why
this is so is Dr David Frink, chairman of the Krone Holding board
since January 2020. Here, he also draws a detailed picture of the
digital future.
XtraBlatt: Since 2018 you have been chief
financial officer (CFO) of the Krone Holding
and chairman of the board since the beginning
of 2020. What has changed in your
work through your new position?
Dr David Frink: Without doubt, the proportion
of strategic, superordinate aspects
in my function as chairman of the board
is greater. Whereby it’s important to keep
an eye equally on both our main branches:
agricultural machinery manufacture and
trailer production. In our internal shorthand,
we call those the green and the blue worlds.
For operative duties, for instance in the areas
production, sales and marketing, my emphasis
lies rather in agricultural machinery while
my board colleague Dr Stefan Binnewies
focusses more on the trailers.
XtraBlatt: For you personally both branches
represented new land, so to speak ….
Dr Frink: That’s true, because I was dealing
with completely different products and
markets through my board activities with
Schiesser and Gerry Weber. On the other
hand, management activities, from manufacturing
over finance right through to
sales, are similar in their fundamentals quite
independently of the branch involved. But I
Dr David Frink is member of the Krone
Holding board since 2018 and
has chaired it since January 2020.
agree with you that it is still very important
to build up knowledge of the markets and
branches to enable successful operation and
development.
XtraBlatt: What fascinated you in the Krone
constellation?
Dr Frink: The two worlds – green and
blue – are very different in their principles.
At the same time, they complement one
another extremely well. The synergies are
outstanding and have a stabilising influence
on the enterprise.
XtraBlatt: Which synergies are you thinking
of here?
Dr Frink: It’s pertinent that business developments
in the two markets are, amazingly,
almost always different. During the financial
crisis of 2010 agricultural machinery helped
keep the group on course while the logistic
sector suffered a dramatic collapse. In the
47

INTERVIEW
following years, the trailers showed stronger
growth rates. However, in mid-2019 there
again occurred a hefty hiccup in the market
for trailers whilst the farm machinery continued
to sail well before the wind – and is
still doing so. If the group was standing on
one leg only, the position might have been
not so steady at times – the sort of problem
with which not a few players in our markets
have to struggle, especially in logistics.
XtraBlatt: Are there also inner synergies?
Dr Frink: Yes, without a doubt! An outstanding
example is certainly digitalisation with
all the challenges this represents, although I
personally see as real themes for the future
in this respect the areas of telematics and
digital business model development.
XtraBlatt: What is the driving force here?
Particularly with themes such as fleet
management, the logistic branch appears
to be clearly further ahead …
Dr Frink: On development of digital concepts
through to full production within Krone, it
is in fact farm machinery that’s very often
the driving force in development. In my
experience, customer requirements and
technical trends here lead to very complex
tasks. However, in market introductions and
realisation of business models, the logistic
sector reacts more rapidly overall, not least
because the high unit numbers involved
allow faster return on investment. But: this
approach enables development steps to be
taken by each participant, but not always at
the same speed. In other words: Two worlds,
one way.
XtraBlatt: This sounds as if, in terms of development
costs, the position of specialised
medium-sized enterprise tends to be at a
disadvantage compared with large global
players …
Dr Frink: No, I don’t see it this way. Many
of our agricultural customers are certainly
unaware that Krone occupies second place
in the European trailer market, in fact
Through “mykrone.green” customers can go online to book additional engine power for their forage harvesters.
relatively close behind the market leader. Dr Frink: The turnover and, above all, earnings
potential of digital business models
In our own segments, we are actually in
first place. When based on turnover, this are today proportionately certainly larger
doesn’t apply to the same extent in agricultural
machinery, where we, as specialist However, I also see a great potential for
in the blue world than in the green one.
for the forage harvest, compete alongside this in agriculture. With our new offering
some financially very strong concerns, “mykrone.green” presented at Agritechnica
commonly described as long-liners. Here 2019, we sent a clear signal that attracted
lies one of the challenges, to strengthen great interest. In this context, for instance,
the marketing and service network, and there’s the possibility of online booking and
to retain or increase the lead through activating of extra engine power for forage
repeated future-oriented engineering developments,
as well as outstanding service.
harvesters.
Digital concepts, too, will substantially XtraBlatt: Why should an agricultural contractor
who buys a 700 HP forage harvester
gain in importance, and here we want to
be trendsetter.
hand-out even more cash to get 100 HP
extra power for a limited period?
XtraBlatt: Which could be more difficult
to develop in the target group agriculture Dr Frink: Because this means that he can
compared with the logistic branch … buy a smaller forage harvester. In other
48

words, he can reduce investment and
depreciation and buy extra performance
cheaply, only when he needs it. Only pay for
what you really need: this is an approach
that represents pure added value. It’s a way
of thinking that doesn’t come so naturally
in agricultural engineering as it does in
the logistic sector. Precisely here lies our
task as manufacturer: developing products
that offer recognisable added value – with
machinery as well as with digital products
– and to make this extra value transparent.
No one buys digital solutions just for their
own sake.
XtraBlatt: In your view, what concrete
digital solutions will become more strongly
established in agricultural machinery?
Dr Frink: For the theme rental machinery I
basically see lots of room for expansion in agriculture.
Also expanding will be the already
mentioned “pay per use”, i.e. use-oriented
models. For example, I can very well imagine
that farm contractors someday won’t be
buying a forage harvester. Instead, payment
will be for the harvesting of a precise area of
forage crop with suitably capable machinery.
The costs involved would be on a per unit
basis and clearly calculatable.
It is still too early to forecast if, in the green
world, similarly complex concepts will evolve
as in the blue one, for example the excellently
functioning Smart Capacity Management
with connections to digital freight exchanges
for optimal exploitation of
transport space. What I am convinced
of is that, with farm machinery, we’ll
soon be seeing solutions in the market that
hardly anyone can imagine today.
XtraBlatt: Apropos imagining: quite often
discussed in the wake of digitalisation are
the dangers of disruptive business models
seriously shaking up the existing markets.
How do you view this in the context of the
blue and green worlds?
Dr Frink: This scenario is not so very unlikely.
Logistic giants such as, for example,
Amazon already invest in haulage fleets.
However, the trucks involved are not always
fully loaded with own products. Thus, such
actors themselves seek additional freight
orders. This represents a concrete risk for
classic medium-sized haulage contractors.
“IT DOESN’T MATTER
WHETHER
IN AGRICULTURAL
MACHINERY OR
WITH COMMERCIAL
VEHICLES – IN
DIGITALISATION
KRONE STANDS VERY
CLEARLY FOR
OPEN SYSTEMS”
DR DAVID FRINK
In that vehicle manufacturers such as Krone
offer technical solutions which support the
medium-sized enterprise, this means that
we are hopefully ensuring a lasting healthy
market structure.
XtraBlatt: How do you see this developing
in agriculture?
Dr Frink: Here too, digital concepts offer
enormous potential. They will, however, also
cause substantial changes in traditional market
structures. I always see a risk for farmer
and farm contractor when digital concepts
lead to markets being closed to individual
actors, be it machinery manufacturer or
service company.
XtraBlatt: For example?
Dr Frink: Worth keeping an eye on I find, for
example, are strategies such as guaranteed
efficacy of plant protection operations or the
offering of “guaranteed yields” – when this is
even feasible. This approach is no longer just
a vision. It’s reality and already offered by
producers of plant protection materials and/
or wholesaler organisations. This leads us to
the question: what does this mean for the
machinery manufacturer or the agricultural
contractor? Farmers, too, should also watch
out that, with such models, they retain
enough free room for their own decisions.
The tendency, on different levels, of utilising
digitalisation for customer binding, as well as
the hoovering-up of data, enabling scanning
of overall market volumes such as crop seeds
or harvest yields, hides monopolisation risks
about which I can only warn. At any rate,
they are not in the interest of medium-sized
suppliers. For this reason, these enterprises
are well advised to together arm themselves
with open concepts and to support their customers.
And from our point of view I would
like to state absolutely clearly: no matter
whether in agricultural machinery or with
commercial vehicles - in digitalisation Krone
stands very clearly for open systems and not
island solutions. We want data ownership to
remain always with the customers. «
49

ON-FARM
MANAGING LIVESTOCK ON PASTURE
KEEPING
WOLVES AT BAY
Nowadays wolves can appear in Germany anytime and
anywhere. This creates challenges, above all for
farmers pasturing livestock. We speak with two experts
on practicable protection plans.
50

The experts: Günter Herkert (left picture) is technical manager with an
enterprise for barn and pasturing equipment. He also runs sheep and
beef cattle as part-time farmer. René Gomringer works as adviser with his
Sheep Office. Up until his retiral he was for many years managing director
of the Bavarian Sheep Farming Association.
As far as the legal situation is concerned, and the
mood of the population, a clear picture is drawn:
Those running livestock outdoors will have to come to
terms with wolves being on the loose – whether they
like it or not. This means increased sheep casualties are
unavoidable. Even where compensation is available the
problem isn’t solved. On the one hand, the real value of
the animals is seldom paid. On the other, a wolf attack
has an effect on the entire flock, and the shepherd too. A
wolf attack leaves behind a horrible scene: dead, injured,
panicked and thoroughly shocked animals. No one wishes
such a scene on anybody.
There are countermeasures, though. One is a functioning
electric fence. “The recommendation is to work with at
least four strands and minimum fence height of 90 cm”,
says Günter Herkert. He’s technical manager for a barn and
pasture equipment enterprise, as well as being a farmer
himself. On his part-time holding he has 22 cattle and
15 ewes plus followers. “For some time, particularly the
height has been a matter of discussion. The higher a fence
is, especially a mobile one, the more effort is needed for
erecting and dismantling. This has meantime got around.
And, anyway, it’s been found that wolves seldom jump over
a fence. They prefer to try and get through underneath and
this is why the lowest wire should be not more than 20 cm
above the ground”, he explains.
51

ON-FARM
Very impressive: a Pyrenean Mountain dog.
Guard dogs at work in a field protecting a large flock.
What this expert finds enormously important
is the conductivity of the fence
wires, particularly where fences are long.
But biggest problem out on the pasture is
making sure the fence is earthed properly.
“Naturally, the shock given must be strong
enough. One to two joules and upwards
represent a minimum. After all, the wolf is
a wild animal and not a pet. But the shock
effect is all the more important because
of that”, says Günter Herkert. Something
else to look out for is increased power
consumption through vegetation touching
the wires. Having the lowest strand at 20
cm, instead of the normal 30 cm for sheep,
makes a big difference in this respect.
“Sheep netting should normally be kept
as short as possible so that vegetation
doesn’t grow into it. More fence wires than
four isn’t practical because no suitable reel
systems are available. Also, the outlay is
then substantially higher.”
He reckons that three strands are enough
to stop livestock breaking out. A fourth
needs about 3 0% more time in erecting
and dismantling. Where, with a cattle
fence, four strands are used instead of the
usual two to three, the time involved in
moving it is actually doubled. As to the
electric netting fences that many sheep
graziers like to use as mobile solution,
Günter Herkert has a divided opinion. “On
my farm, I never use them. I find a fence
with wires much easier in overall use and
it’s easier to ensure a good current flow. On
top of this, the latter is far less susceptible
to wild pig damage”.
WATCHING OUT
Günter Herkert emphasises that continual
monitoring of an electric fence is crucial.
Checking can be done manually or via
electronic monitoring with systems that
sometimes even include mobile phone
alarms. “Pasturing animals usually accept
the fence and don’t continually try it out”,
he says. “A wolf seeking prey, on the other
hand, discovers any weak points right away.
Incidentally, checking an electric fence
should always be done at the end of the
line. If everything is OK there, the rest of the
fence is working. Available extras include
“light flashers”. “But I find their efficacy
tends to be short-term with wild animals
quickly becoming used to them.”
The above statements apply for pastures
in lowland or lower altitude uplands. “The
situation is completely different in Alpine
areas”, says Günter Herkert. “Here there are
grazings where it’s just not practicable to
set up a fence. And where there’s no fence.
no other flock protection measures, such
as dogs, can be used. Here, we’re definitely
approaching our limits.”
But there’s another theme that worries
experts. If it eventually comes to a wolf
attack and compensation claims are
made, the graziers are quickly criticised
because it’s often felt that the mistake is
theirs: through poor fencing, for instance.
“I’ve seen fences that, in my opinion, were
absolutely in order but, from the other
side, were criticised on many points. Here,
sound common sense is needed because
under practical conditions requirements
cannot always be followed to the exact
centimetre. In particular, the height of
the bottom wire is always a difficult
subject. 90 cm high, four strands and all
this erected correctly for efficient current
flow. In my eyes, this is what a functional
protection against wild animals, including
wolves, should comprise. Those who
demand more, especially with mobile
set-ups, have as a rule never erected
an electric fence out on the pastures
themselves.”
WITH DOGS
Whereas electric fences are nothing new
for livestock graziers, most have never
had experience with flock guard dogs. “As
opposed to sheepdogs, flock guard dogs
are not order-takers”, explains René Gomringer.
Over many decades, he served as
managing director of the Bavarian Sheep
Farming Association. Since his retiral last
year, he works as independent advisor with
his “Schafbüro” (sheep office). He’s been
able to collect experience internationally
regarding flock guard dogs. On top of this,
René Gomringer also keeps his own sheep
as part-time farmer.
52

Small flocks are also good for landscape care. In such cases flock protection requires disproportionately high
inputs.
Nothing misses these watchers: flock guard dogs like to
keep watch from elevated points on the grazing area.
“For many graziers, guard dogs take a lot
of getting used to. Still, guarding flocks
with dogs is done more and more. Suitable
for this are mainly breeds from Italy,
France, Spain or from eastern Europe. The
training involved is actually less intensive
than for a sheep dog, although a sensitive
hand is needed. Especially important is
the socialising aspect: even as whelps,
the animals should already have been out
with their flock, experiencing everything
they’ll come across in the future.” René
Gomringer reports that in many German
states, the authorities subsidise purchase
of flock guard dogs in wolf regions. However,
in order to earn this support, the
dogs have to undergo a test for which
there’s still no formal structure in many
areas. So-called “list dogs”, i.e. belonging
to potentially dangerous breeds, must
also undertake a behavioural test which
doesn’t take any account of the characteristics
needed in a flock guard dog. “A
certain threatening behaviour is quite
simply part of its job. Unfortunately,
the Mastin Espanol breed with which a
number of shepherds in Bavaria have had
outstanding experience, is just such a “list
dog”, he adds.
Flock guard dogs for the most part work
on their own initiative. In that most flocks
have at least two dogs, three being even
better, the ability to work as a team is an
important characteristic, another being
“fence awareness”: a flock guard dog that
can’t understand and accept an electric
fence is useless under German conditions.
EXTRA EFFORT
“For the livestock grazier, flock protection
with dogs always demands extra input”,
says René Gomringer. “Those serious about
using guard dogs on a large farm, need
easily around 20 dogs. The teams involved
have to be continually changed around, for
instance when there are bitches coming
into heat. And between the dogs some real
fights can break out. They are not too gentle
with each other. That’s in their nature after
all … ”
Caring for them, on the other hand, is
not so demanding. This specialist reckons
that the guard dogs can be simply kept in
kennel yards. But in widespread areas of
Germany professional shepherding features
continual moving of the flocks with
sheep dogs. “The interaction between
sheep dogs and flock guard dogs can work
quite well, although not always. After all,
the characteristics of a herd guard dog
includes continual monitoring of the situation
within the flock and surrounding
area. A roadway doesn’t bother such a dog
and therefore represents a real danger.
When sheep dogs are working with the
flock some flock guard dogs are tied up or
penned out of the way with a few sheep
for company. Sometimes guard dogs are
driven home during daytime. There is no
commonly accepted recipe for working
with them.
Most problems with flock guard dogs
are caused by people. In Switzerland,
folk have had more experience with such
dogs, even right up into the Alps. Despite
this, tourists and the normal population
are often not willing to accept certain
restrictions on paths. And an impressive
dog on the other side of a fence is not to
everyone’s taste. If flock guard dogs are at
work in the vicinity of a settlement, their
barking can be a problem. Every fox, each
wild pig, represents a potential danger to
the flock, leading to loud warnings from
the dogs. This can quite often last the
whole night through.”
Flock guarding with dogs is possible but,
despite all compensation and monetary
support from the state, it remains a difficult
theme. This is especially so because
the experiences with flock guard dogs from
other countries cannot be simply transposed
onto German situations. A lot has
to be worked out for specific areas. Even
where flock protection can sometimes
be effective, there’s no 100 % guarantee.
No matter whether flock guard dogs or
properly erected electric fences: the input
needed for livestock protection is always
substantial – financially, and in terms
of time. And both are scarce factors for
livestock graziers. «
53

PARTNER
MOERSCHEN
ADDED VALUE AD
40 of the 60-strong
working force are
employed in the
service division,
including 33 in the
workshop.
54

VANTAGES
Farm machinery dealers specialising in just
a few core companies, and then mostly
machinery and implements, remain the
exception. The Moerschen KG in Tönisvorst
is one such enterprise. Offered thereby is
substantial competence in customer advice
and service.
The company Moerschen in Tönisvorst
has experienced a number of substantial
expansion steps over its 120-year
history. But the official commissioning of
the new company buildings on the Vorster
Strasse at the beginning of 2020 was
doubtless an outstanding occasion for the
owner family and 60 colleagues. On the
site of around 1 ha stands a main office
building, a 350 m2 multi-storied spare
parts store as well as an 870 m2 workshop
with an additional used machinery hall
measuring 60 x 20 m. “This gives us the
necessary space for our farm machinery
division to meet the high demands of
modern service”, explains Veit Ulbricht. He
manages the enterprise together with his
mother Dr Jutta Schröer-Ulbricht. “Also,
the new development means we can use
our former main buildings to give our
second enterprise – communal and garden
machinery - a still more competitive
standing.”
He explains that both divisions of the family
firm are about the same size in terms of
employee numbers and economic importance.
On turnover terms, however, farm
machinery has the nose ahead, as well as
scoring biggest growth rates over the past
five years. According to Veit Ulbricht, there
are various reasons for this. For instance,
an expansion of the farm machinery sales
and service area as well as of the product
portfolio with seeding, soil cultivation
and plant protection implements from
Horsch. “Nothing, however, has changed
as far as the three most important factors
contributing to our impressive growth are
concerned: the focus on just a few core
machinery makes, the strategy of specialisation
and, finally, the entire company’s
uncompromising orientation on 1A service.
There’s no doubt that this is what our
customers really value. And it has given
us continuous market growth”, smiles the
young businessman.
ADDED VALUE
Hereby, core machinery makes and
specialisation are inseparably bound, he
feels. “Those representing businesses that
sell a vendor’s tray range and variety of
products cannot convince through knowhow.
Because in farm machinery we mainly
55

PARTNER
Mobile customer service with a total of 22
comprehensively equipped vehicles on the road
is a core pillar of the Moerschen business.
concentrate on the makes Grimme, Krone,
Horsch and Massey Ferguson, we can offer
competences and technologies: giving
advice, sales and service indispensable to
achieving successful cooperation with professional
customers. And it’s increasingly
clear in the market just how important
this know-how is. After all, time is money.
We cannot expect help from respective
manufacturers each time a technical
problem crops up. The specialised dealer
has only one way of survival: the ability to
offer real added value to suppliers, as well
as customers. And that is exactly our aim”,
he states emphatically.
A worthwhile share of this added value
is rapid and reliable spare parts supply.
Here, Moerschen depends on a comprehensively-stocked
parts store, explains Veit
Ulbricht as he shows guests over the new
business premises. Not simply the turnover
speed of individual parts is decisive but
also the ability to deliver what’s needed,
even articles that are not so often asked
for. “Using the night express we can order
everything rapidly from the manufacturer.
But during the season this still causes unnecessary
delays: lost time that, especially
farm contractors, do not have. After all,
every hour of downtime costs a lot of cash.
Naturally, not even we can always have the
very latest special machine part ready to
hand-over from our shelves. However, I am
sure our store is certainly above average in
terms of inventory. Here too, the old rule of
giving and taking applies in that we enable,
through a high proportion of early orders,
a plannability for the supplier. At the same
time, we can then profit from good price
conditions which in turn help make the
spare parts store profitable while ensuring
good availability for our customers.”
A further service pillar which this specialist
dealer sees as a great help for his
enterprise comprises the service team.
40 of the 60 employees are busy in the
workshop and spare parts store. A large
proportion of regular training courses
ensures continuous current knowledge for
all involved. As a rule, every mechatronic
spends 14 days per year and more on
courses. Also welcomed at Tönisvorst is
further education courses, for instance
towards the master’s certificate and certified
service technician. “In the meantime,
we have in our two workshops a total
six master craftspersons. This has a clear
advantage in service quality, as our customers
repeatedly confirm”, emphasises
Veit Ulbricht.
In the spare parts business a wide-ranging inventory on
the spot and high delivery capacity share top priority.
QUALITY COSTS
On the subject of service, not to be forgotten
at Moerschen is the high level of
mobile capability with specially equipped
vehicles. There are now 22 dedicated
service vehicles on the road. “This allows
56

Veit Ulbricht and
his mother Dr Jutta
Schröer-Ulbricht
together head the
enterprise.
The new building
in the Vorster Strasse
went into operation
at the beginning
of 2020..
us to manage well with only one central
facility, and no subsidiary depots, despite
a service area that’s expanded by up to
100 km. Especially here in densely populated
Rhineland it’s a real competitive
advantage when the service comes to the
customer and a machine doesn’t have to
be transported to the workshop. And our
service vehicles are so comprehensively
equipped that, during the season, it is
seldom that a machine has to be brought
to Tönisvorst. Even complex repairs
are possible on the spot”, reports this
entrepreneur.
The investment in employee qualifications
is substantial and per year represents
clear five-figure sums. However, this
businessman sees these as well invested.
On the other hand, this also leads to
the hourly rates having to be regularly
adjusted, representing a difficult dilemma.
Here too, this boss puts his faith on
plannability for both sides: customer, as
well as supplier. “Decisive is not alone
the cost per hour. It’s also the efficiency
of service on the spot, or the total costs
per machine. Service agreements and full
service contracts are proven solutions in
this respect offering security of service
and costs for both sides: concepts that
have needed a little longer to become
established in agriculture compared with
other sectors although, especially with
self-propelled harvesters or high value
plant protection machines, acceptance
has markedly increased”, he adds.
CHANGING TIMES
Customer structure: which direction are
changes here taking in the Moerschen
activity radius? Veit Ulbricht is fairly optimistic
here, too. Easy to notice, especially
in milk production in Rhineland, is the
trend to larger farms, with associated very
high demands on feed quality and, with
that, the machinery involved. In fact, this
is a plus point for farm contractors, even
if the farmer desire for own machinery, at
least with mowers, turners and tedders,
has not so far diminished noticeably. “But
there are also many farms here in the
Rhineland that continue with a mix of
enterprises and more traditional unit size.
For instance, in the northern third of the
Rhineland with dairy production, direct
marketing or potatoes and vegetable
production. Such diversification entails
high labour input which again encourages
more interest in efficiency and automation
as well as increased willingness to
consider the specialists for service and
maintenance. On the other hand, taking
the diversification route gives farmers an
economic stability that’s to our advantage
as well.”
Veit Ulbricht would like to see consumers
in general putting a higher valuation on
their food quality and a better appreciation
that higher prices are necessary in such
cases. He cites the examples of France and
of Italy, where he studied. “High quality
food represents a part of the culture there.
Consumers, in part, pay substantially more
for this compared with here in Germany.
Presently, in the midst of the corona pandemic
such concerns naturally step into the
background. However, in general I believe
that at least a proportion of consumers
here too, are developing once again more
appreciation for food. The increasing
share of direct marketing and the obvious
consumer preference for more regional
products are also reassuring as far as I’m
concerned.” «
57

INFORM
MASCHINENFABRIK KRONE
IN CORONA MOD
Absolute protection of
employees according to
all the applicable regulations
whilst ensuring
continued production
– since March both challenges
have been tackled
within Krone by the
firm’s own corona crisis
team. Presented here are
some impressions of the
creative solutions adopted
for this exceptional
situation.
1
58

E
2
3
4
1 1,877 Krone Group employees work
in phases from their home office. This
functions outstandingly thanks to
excellent preparation and support by the
Krone IT team, itself organised between
on-site support and home office.
2 The company’s own 3D printer manufactures
door handle extensions so that
numerous doors can now be opened
simply with an elbow.
3 Assembly of the BiG X takes place in
almost complete isolation anyway, so
that employees’ work clothes can be
prepared beforehand by works council
members and delivered per shuttle to
each worker.
4 Containers ready for female truck drivers
where they can disinfect their hands
before registering arrival and load
delivery/collection.
5 Working shifts are reorganised so that
contact is avoided between early and
late shifts. In the factory, barriers are
built between individual assembly lines
so that, for instance, members of a
production group remain within their
designated area.
5
59

Landtechnik
Dienstleistung
Pflanzenproduktion
Werde
eld
Held
Berufsziel: Fachkraft Agrarservice
Eine moderne Ausbildung
mit Perspektive!
www.werde-feldheld.de