Lorenz von schintling-horny - farmers weekly

23 AUGUST 2002 ------------------------- LORENZ VON SCHINTLING-HORNY LORENZ VON SCHINTLING-HORNY GROWS 550HA (1360 ACRES) OF CEREALS, OSR AND SUGAR BEET IN PARTNERSHIP WITH A NEIGHBOUR IN

LOWER SAXONY. A FURTHER 190HA (470 ACRES) IS FARMED IN BRANDENBURG, NORTH OF BERLIN IN PARTNERSHIP WITH HIS WIFE WE are right in the middle of harvest, with three Lexion 460 combines on

contract clearing our 80ha (200 acres) of rye on our tenanted farm in Brandenburg on Monday. It will not make intervention so will only fetch about k70/t (£45/t) when dry. I estimate that we

will harvest about 5t/ha (2t/acre), not enough to make a profit at that price. In the end, we harvested 2.2t/ha (18 cwt/acre) of oilseed rape in Brandenburg, and have put in a 0.6t/ha

(5cwt/acre) hail damage insurance claim following a storm on July 10. Prices for oilseed rape are good at k225/t (£144/t). I have to decide very soon whether to give up this farm, or whether

to turn to organic farming, replacing the risk of production with the risk of state subsidies. Knowing our politicians, that is not an easy decision. The land in Brandenburg is marginal

land and needs a supportive agricultural policy in these uncertain times. Here in Liebenburg, we are harvesting the last 65ha (160 acres) of wheat with our own and another Lexion 460. All

the wheat is flat as a pancake and yields are very poor by our standards, at 7.5-8t/ha (3-3.2t/acre). That is about 15% less than the five-year average yield and only about 40% will make

milling quality. In general the specific weights are very low at 73-76 kg/hl, protein levels are very high, and Hagberg falling numbers are low for most varieties. Ritmo, Drifter and Biscay

retained their quality longest. My farm results are very typical for Germany. Milling wheat will certainly gain a premium price and there will be a lot of fodder wheat around. Nationally we

expect 10-15 % less yield than last year but that will not lead to a shortage anywhere. However, I shouldnt moan. Along the Danube and Elbe there is great damage to people, houses, harbour

stores, as well as crops. Some farmers will not be able to harvest their fields at all. Worse still, we could be in Zimbabwe. &#42 _Low prices, poor yields, and poor quality. Should we

give up the tenancy on one of our farms, asks Lorenz von Schintling-Horny._