Pilot Farms in Germany - Baden-Württemberg
In Baden-Württemberg about 11.500 farms produce milk. The annual decrease in the number of dairy farms is about 4-5%.
Baden-Wuerttemberg is generally a land with a very high percentage of cutted grassland. Grazing is only done on a small percentage of land.
Environmental regulations and main constraints
Permitted farm yard manure is 170 kg N/ha (including excretion during grazing), a maximum of 230 kg N/ha from slurry of animal excreta is only allowed with special official approval.
Application period: 1 Feb - 31.October (grassland till 14. November). Since January 1, 2010 application of slurry with equipment with uncontrolled dispersion is not allowed.
Preparation of nutrient balance and humus balance is obligatory: permitted balance between -75 kg humus-C/ha/year and +125 kg humus-C/ha/year.
From July 1, 2010 there will be a soil erosion land register that will force farmers not to plough agriculture areas that are classified to have a high risk of soil erosion. Furthermore prices for renting agriculture area are rising because of local competition between dairy farms and biogas plants (we have more than 600 biogas plants in Baden-Württemberg).
Water quality of the region
Nitrate contents are continuously decreasing because of reduction of N input. Depending on ecological factors at different locations and planted cultures, the groundwater status can be not very good. For reaching the required good status till 2015 there have been implemented additional measure programmes like SchALVO and MEKA.
Phosphate contamination has declined by 60-70 % since 1985. Problems might exist in areas with high livestock density.
