In DLG Mitteilungen 3/2025, there is a very interesting article by Detlev Dölger under the heading “Consulting. It is becoming more individual” (https://www.dlg-mitteilungen.de/artikel/beratung-es-wird-individueller). Here are a few statements summarized and supplemented by our opinion:
In the field of advice and research in agriculture, German farmers have so far benefited from a broad network:
- Universities and research institutions for basic knowledge,
- government advice for practical implementation,
- private consultancy, industry and agricultural trade as complementary players.
But this structure is beginning to falter. Universities are increasingly focusing on highly specialized research (in biology, for example) rather than on systemic agricultural issues. At the same time, government and societal interests are steering research funding – often bypassing the needs of the field.
The result:
- Training and research lose touch with real farm issues.
- Universities of applied sciences can only close this gap to a limited extent.
Where is there still research for practical use that does not depend on special interests? (Detlev Dölger)
Individualization instead of standard solutions
Agriculture is facing fundamental changes:
- Climate change is leading to drier summers and uncertain yields, while rainfall is becoming increasingly small-scale and heavy.
- Farming methods are more diverse than in the past (tillage, integration of cover crops).
- Markets are more volatile nowadays.
- Carbon farming and agroforestry open up additional sources of income.
- Neighboring farms can also take very different paths.
However, while simple solutions such as grass-effective herbicide-supported narrow crop rotations used to be sufficient, customized approaches are needed today. This overtaxes traditional trial systems – because what works for one farm may fail for its neighbor.
How can practical knowledge be gained?
Cross-farm exchange by looking at pioneering farms:
Networks such as the Society for Conservation Tillage (GKB) show how experience transfer can succeed.
International knowledge transfer is becoming increasingly important.
Farmers need to network more; not everyone has to do everything alone.
If changes or even a complete system change is to be implemented in your own practice, it is important to check the effectiveness on your own farm on your own land or, if necessary, to adapt solutions to local conditions.
This can be checked on the farm with your own trials. What is important here is
- Simple implementation: trial systems should be easy to implement.
- Meaningful results: The trials must provide clear, statistically reliable answers to farm-specific questions.
- Cost efficiency: The costs of the trials should be economically justifiable.
We at EXAgT have more than 10 years of experience with OFR trials. By working together with our colleagues from AgDoIT, we have been able to take big steps towards standardized/automated trial planning including practical trial equipment and statistically reliable evaluation in the IFR (ISO Farmresearch) project, which won an award at Agritechnica 2023.
We supervise a large number of trials every year according to uniform quality standards and manageable costs!
We are happy to help you establish trial collaborations and, if possible, can also look for funding opportunities for trials.
Ask us, we look forward to your tasks! We specialise in company-specific solutions, we value you and your challenges =;-).
Our contact details are:
exagt@exagt.de or personally:
moritz.gassan@exagt.de
+49 (0) 170 365 2072, +49 (0) 34324 269739
arnim.grabo@exagt.de
+49 (0) 176 72588814, +49 (0) 34324 269737
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