Waestemer Weidewirtschaft
The plan is to upgrade relatively poor grassland areas in the Thuringian Rhön. For this purpose, the planting of both high-stem fruit trees and other tree species for valuable wood production on grassland areas is planned. The grassland is used through mob grazing with cattle, hay mowing, as well as rotational grazing with laying hens and broiler chickens. Currently, about 12 ha are being farmed with 8 cattle (cow-calf herd) as well as 150 laying hens and, from spring 2021, a total of 1,500 broiler chickens. The goals are to improve the ecosystem and biodiversity, provide wind and weather protection for the animals, build up humus, create highly productive grassland sites, and generate long-term income through commercial fruit and valuable wood. The farm was taken over in 2020 from the self-sufficient grandparents and restructured according to the principles of regenerative agriculture.
Agroforestry system type:
Silvopastoral system (woody and livestock incl. grazed permanet crops)Size of agroforestry system area(s) (in ha):
3Percentage of area under trees/shrubs (in %):
10Establishment (date):
Feb 9, 2021Site specifics:
- drought / low water holding capacity
- low soil fertility
Farming sectors:
- Livestock farming
Tree species:
- Apple (Malus domestica)
- Pear (Pyrus communis)
- Sweet Chestnut (Castanea sativa)
- Cherry / Wild Cherry (Prunus avium)
- Plum (Prunus domestica)
- Service Tree (Cormus domestica)
- English / Persian Walnut (Juglans regia)
(Intended) use of trees:
- production stemwood
- food production (e.g. production fruit/nut)
- environmental benefits (incl. carbon/ windbreaks/ animal welfare/ biodiversity)
Livestock species in the agroforestry system:
- poultry
- cattle
Motivation/rationale for establishing or maintaining agroforestry system:
- establish ecological balance
- Higher productivity
- Erosion protection
- Diversified product range
- Protective effect for livestock