PROJECT ON-FARM

TITLE OF THE CASE STUDY

HofgutKapellenhof - regional organic sheep dairy in the Rhine-Main area

MAIN DATA OF THE COMPANY

Name of the Company

HofgutKapellenhof

Country

Type of the Company

Farming Activity

Direct selling way

SELF – INTRODUCTION OF THE FARMER

The farm is a certified organic farm. It is located in the state of Hesse, in Hammersbach. It is a certified organic farm and the farm manager Mr. Küthe is studied Dipl. Ing. Agrar. It employs four full-time employees and 12 temporary workers. The company does not employ family labor, it is 100% outside labor. In 1998 was the beginning of organic farming. The farm manages about 75 hectares of arable land and grassland: cultivation of wheat, barley, spelt and field beans These are used as feed grain or also as food grain. A main income brings the breeding of sheep (Lacaune sheep flock), for milk and lamb meat sales. He owns a sheep dairy and makes his own products (sheep cheese, yogurt, fresh cheese, ice cream, sausage, etc.). He offers a farm-gate sale (self-service store (24hours)). Direct marketing 15-10% of the total turnover. The products are marketed through different partners in the region (e.g., supermarkets). The farm offers farm tours, cheese and wine evenings.

CHANGES / INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS ADOPTED

Since July 2018, the company produces organic sheep cheese and has the claim as the only organic sheep milk cheese dairy in the Rhine-Main area to produce high-quality and exclusive cheese creations. Awards at various competitions show that he are on the right track. Opening of farm sale/self-service shop (self-service; 7 days a week, 24 hours a day) Introduction of offer of farm tours, cheese and wine evenings: Knowledge transfer: exclusive look behind the scenes, get to know farm processes and learn interesting facts about organic farming. From the stable /meadow, to the milking parlor, the cheese dairy to the finished product, all processes are explained. Wetland biotope project: A kind of Noah's Ark is to be created on an area of approx. 6 hectares. Here, a retreat for endangered birds, amphibians, insects and plants is to be created for the native flora and fauna.

WHY AND HOW YOU DECIDED TO INTRODUCE  STRATEGY CHANGES / INNOVATIONS

The impulse for the reestablishment of the farm was the memory that the Kapellenhof had been run as an agricultural business since time immemorial. It was only in the 1970s that the farm had ceased to operate. We wanted to continue the tradition and practice agriculture again. In 1998, the farm entered organic farming with only two hectares of arable land. Today it cultivates about 75 hectares of arable land and grassland in Hammersbach and the surrounding area. Strategy changes/innovations have come about on their own. Since it is an organic farm, animal husbandry was needed. Sheep milk products did not exist in the Rhine-Main area before. So, the decision was not difficult to establish a sheep milk processing at the location. Economic constraints led to the development of direct marketing since direct marketing is where the added value is highest. However, Covid's operation was more or less steered into this situation on its own. In addition, the protection of species and biodiversity is far in the front of the farm. Thus, the decision was made to create a 6-hectare wetland where nature can find a retreat that is not intensively farmed. The impulse for the establishment of the sheep herd and the sheep dairy was the consideration that animal manure for their own fields are needed to maintain and improve soil fertility in the long term. Only in this way can ensure the basic ideas of organic farming with a circular economy. The first breeding animals of the Lacaune sheep flock come from a breeders' cooperative from Auvergne in France. The decision much decided on the robust Lacaune sheep because they are optimally adapted to climatic conditions and have a good milk yield. The quality of the products is very important and close to the heart. For this reason, it also participates in competitions with its products.

WHAT OBSTACLES DID YOU MEET

Actually, it can be said that the operation has encountered few obstacles. Since the farm owner is financially secure, there were no financing problems. There are always hurdles to overcome with the authorities. However, the strategy in all projects is to involve the authorities as early as possible. For this reason, we can develop suitable strategies together from the beginning and everyone is satisfied. As the company has grown with Covid or during Covid and is one of the profiteers, it has had no problems reaching the market. On the contrary, the company had to see that it could meet the demand.

EVALUATION OF THE RESULTS

It is difficult to answer this question. Since there were no established structures on the farm due to the young age of the farm, the farm manager knows no other condition than the further development and implementation of new ways.

WHAT WOULD YOU DO DIFFERENT AND WHAT ARE THE PERSPECTIVES IN YOUR MIND

The farm manager thinks that, in retrospect, he should have focused on direct marketing from the beginning. However, it is difficult to judge what would have happened without Covid. That's why it's hard to judge. A certain flexibility to adapt to changing conditions is essential in today's world, he thinks. See Corona and the Ukraine crisis. On the farm, the expansion of direct marketing and the creation of a farm restaurant has absolute priority in the future. The farm manager assumes that it will become more and more important to create reasonable alternatives. Customers must be convinced of the quality in order to pay a justifiably high price.

FINAL SENTENCES

General Evaluation

The farm manager says: "My experience is that we have to be mega flexible. Just because I have set my mind on a certain product and am convinced of it, doesn't mean that the customers will also like it. Especially in the beginning, you have to constantly readjust and be ready to change. That helped me a lot. Above all, you have to find your own way, stand out, find a gap, but not be too specific."

Suggestions for other farmers

In any case, you have to have a great desire for it and be prepared to have to fight against a lot of resistance. There are a lot of things that come your way that you didn't expect beforehand. Absolute focus must be on product quality and reliability. Large fluctuations in both topics are absolute no go`s. You have to be the type for that. As nice as the whole thing is, you have to approach it realistically and critically.