The 67th annual conference of the German Working Group for Grassland and Forage Crops (AGGF) convened at Justus Liebig University Gießen to address site-adapted grassland management amid escalating climate pressures.
Agricultural experts, researchers, and administrators from across Germany and Switzerland gathered for the multi-day event. The opening sessions established the necessity of balancing intensive fodder production with extensive conservation practices to protect regional biodiversity.
Balancing Forage Production with Conservation and Climate Resiliency
- Site-Adapted Management: Farmers must balance high-intensity forage production with low-intensity conservation grazing to preserve soil health and specific plant communities.
- Climate Resiliency: Severe summer heatwaves disrupt crop regrowth, requiring advanced feed storage reserves and innovative harvesting technologies.
Academic Insights and Ministerial Addresses
Professor Till Kleinebecker of Justus Liebig University (JLU) Gießen and Dr. Anna Techow from the Landesbetrieb Landwirtschaft Hessen (LLH) welcomed participants at the opening of the conference. Dr. Stephan Hartmann, chairman of the AGGF and representative of the Bavarian State Research Center for Agriculture, emphasized that systematic field trials provide the essential data backbone required for agricultural advisory services and political policymaking.
Ingmar Jung, Hessian Minister for Agriculture, Environment, Viticulture, Forestry, Hunting and Homeland, delivered a video message highlighting the critical function of grassland in regional agriculture and the Hessian landscape. JLU Vice President for Research and Junior Academics Prof. Dr. Wencke Gwozdz alongside interim LLH director Anna Kaiser outlined the multifaceted roles grasslands fulfill across diverse natural regions.
Anna Kaiser noted the operational hurdles facing modern agricultural businesses, stating, Es ist wichtig, auch innerhalb von Naturräumen Flächen mit unterschiedlichen Nutzungsintensitäten zu bewirtschaften. Damit stehen Betriebe vor der Herausforderung, ein Nebeneinander von intensivem Grünland zur Futterproduktion und extensiver Bewirtschaftung zur Erhaltung bedeutender Pflanzengesellschaften zu realisieren.
This operational reality requires farms to integrate intensive forage parcels directly alongside protected ecological zones.
Scientific Programs and Field Excursions Address Climate Pressures
The scientific program featured lectures on sheep landscape management, equine grassland utilization, optimized fertilization regimes, and the intersection of agriculture and conservation. Excursions directed participants to JLU’s FACE2FACE experimental facility, Hof Buchenhain, and the Hessian State Domain Gladbacher Hof in Vilmar. At Gladbacher Hof, attendees examined stable feeding models, rotational grazing systems, and orchard meadow management.
The operational pressures of extreme weather formed a core focus of the agricultural discussions. According to LLH reporting, the severe summer heatwave spanning from June to August severely stunted pasture regrowth following the second harvest cut. Because multi-month dry periods have recurred with increasing frequency in recent years, agricultural advisors stress that such weather events can no longer be treated as statistical anomalies.
Long-term operational resilience now demands proactive strategies for building large feed reserves. Volker Schäfer, representing an agricultural operation and contracting business, joined JLU researcher Björn Leineßer to demonstrate the economic and ecological potential of oscillating mowing technology.
| Project / Facility | Location | Primary Focus |
|---|---|---|
| FACE2FACE Facility | Gießen | Climate change simulation on managed grassland ecosystems |
| Landwirtschaftszentrum Eichhof | Bad Hersfeld region | Grassland trials, dairy husbandry, and vocational training |
| Gladbacher Hof | Vilmar | Organic livestock management and orchard meadow integration |
Eichhof Agricultural Centre and Digital Innovations
The conference’s concluding full-day excursion visited the LLH Landwirtschaftszentrum (LWZ) Eichhof, which has served as a dedicated grassland trial station since 1952. Anna Mawick, head of department at LLH and director of LWZ Eichhof, welcomed attendees to the educational and research hub. Modern livestock housing systems for dairy cattle and calves were presented by Dieter Braun and Christine Hirschfeld.
On approximately 25 hectares of trial land, researchers execute precision agronomy experiments. Dr. Anna Techow, alongside colleagues Benjamin Klauk, Toni Kaiser, and Enrico Michaelis, demonstrated digital methodologies designed to increase the accuracy of agricultural field trials. These technological upgrades allow institutions to process complex agronomic data streams efficiently, supporting regional adaptation frameworks.
Future Trajectories in European Grassland Science
References
- Landesbetrieb Landwirtschaft Hessen (LLH). 67. Jahrestagung der Arbeitsgemeinschaft Grünland und Futterbau (AGGF) an der JLU Gießen. Fachinformation Pflanzenbau, 2026.
- European Commission. European Innovation Partnership for Agricultural Productivity and Sustainability (EIP-AGRI). Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development.
- Justus Liebig University Gießen. Landschaftsökologie und Landschaftsplanung: Versuchsstationen und Forschungsberichte.
