High quality protein feed from alfalfa (HEILU)

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April 25, 2024: Alfalfa Drying Trials at ZALF

Here, the sample weighing process for leaf-stem separation is shown. The samples are weighed before and after drying to determine the dry matter content. Fresh mass yields and dry matter are calculated per plot and extrapolated to one hectare. With the feed analysis in the laboratory, further hectare-based calculations can be made based on dry matter and various nutrient contents.

In the current trials, the KOH solubility of the whole plant at a growth height of 35 cm is determined at 30, 50, 70, and 100 °C as well as with freeze-drying. Additionally, the KOH solubility of plant parts (leaves and stems) is determined separately. The drying temperatures for these parts are 30 and 70 °C.

• The 70 °C samples are dried for approximately one day or 22 hours, after which the leaf-stem separation is carried out.
• The 30 °C samples are dried for approximately 2 days (about 44 hours).

For leaf-stem separation, the samples first undergo a rough separation by being threshed with the stationary thresher Haldrup LT 35. The finer separation is performed by the air separator. With appropriate blower settings, heavy components (stems) fall downwards, while lighter leaves are collected in the upper containers:

April 23, 2024: First Cut of the Year on the Alfalfa Field

The first cuts of the year were carried out on trial plots with a growth height of 35 cm, without irrigation, using a high cut of 15 cm and some with a low cut. During an inspection of the plots with Dr. Johann Bachinger and Dr. Klaus Gutser, it was notable that the unirrigated alfalfa plants exhibited much stronger growth and a greater ground-covering density than the irrigated plots. The double-knife mower from HALDRUP was once again used for the cutting.

March 14, 2024: Kick-off of the Eco-Practice Days Brandenburg

The HEILU project team was present at the launch of the event series “Eco-Practice Days Brandenburg – More Knowledge about Organic” in the conference room of the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) in Müncheberg. Through poster exhibitions, film screenings, and interactive info and display materials, interim results on protein and crude fiber content and ideas for secondary use of alfalfa fiber raw materials were presented firsthand.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Environment, and Climate Protection hosted the event, welcoming more than 60 participants from across the value chain, including producers, cultivation associations, processors, scientists, companies, and various administrative bodies. The participants were welcomed by the Minister of Environment Axel Vogel, who gave an introductory speech, followed by a current status report on organic farming, an outlook on upcoming events, and a moderated discussion on building value chains and networking. A guided tour of the ZALF grounds, featuring ongoing ZALF projects such as HEILU and MEFAP related to organic agriculture, rounded off the informative day. The event created further networking opportunities, which were continued during the subsequent get-together.

The Eco-Practice Days are part of the implementation process of the Brandenburg Eco Action Plan aimed at strengthening and ensuring the future viability of organic farming in the “Knowledge Transfer” field of action. Ongoing and upcoming events, active stakeholders, and informational materials are bundled and made available on the MLUK website and the dedicated LinkedIn Focus Page for Eco-Practice Days. We, as agrathaer GmbH, are responsible for implementation. We organized and moderated the event.

February 29, 2024: Presentation of Interim Results at BioPark Round Table

Dr. Klaus Gutser presented the HEILU project, including interim results and recommendations for agriculture, to members of Biopark e.V. The online event was organized and initiated by Melanie Gosch of the BioPark e.V. cultivation association. It became evident that there is strong interest in this topic.
Two field days and a final event in southern Germany focused on building value chains are planned as part of the EIP-HEILU project.
Follow our LinkedIn channel for upcoming updates!

February 9, 2024: HEILU Project Presentation at Gäa Winter Conference

At the event held at Rittergut Limbach in Willsdruff, Saxony, Gäa welcomed 120 participants on the first day and 45 on the second day.
Dr. Klaus Gutser’s presentation was well-received, and the topic of protein feed from alfalfa was regarded as a crucial key for the further development of organic farming. Clover grass or alfalfa is considered essential in any organic crop rotation, even for farms without livestock or with low livestock density. Producing feed for monogastric animals could generate income from these fields.

A connection was made between a large pig farmer in Thuringia and Dr. Gutser, who have since exchanged ideas.
The farmer is currently hesitant to invest in harvesting technology (feed wagons) and is seeking organic farms that already practice feeding young alfalfa to fattening pigs. Ulf Müller can help establish these contacts.

According to Ulf Müller (Chairman of Gäa Association for Organic Farming, Saxony), a critical point for practical implementation is the preservation and separation of alfalfa leaves when marketing over long distances. Drying (preferably gentle drying without altering the protein structure) and possibly pelleting are very energy-intensive processes. Work is currently underway on these and other related questions and solutions.

November 30, 2023: Premiere of the First HEILU Project Film

The project is briefly introduced in a video created by Isabell Szallies and Karoline Funk.
You can watch the video here!

Enjoy and learn something new!

November 29, 2023: Quiet Fields

After the work is done, winter rest follows. No mowing or harvesting is carried out on either the farmers’ fields or the ZALF trial plots.

Next year, work with alfalfa will continue. There will be various networking formats for alfalfa cultivation, harvesting, and processing.
We will keep you updated here and on our LinkedIn account:
agrathaer LinkedIn

September 5, 2023: Alfalfa Field Day in Wallmow

Under optimal harvesting conditions for alfalfa, a total of 19 participants gathered for a field day in Wallmow (Uckermark) on Tuesday, September 5, 2023. Project leader Dr. Johann Bachinger welcomed representatives of the operational group, LBV, IDL, LFA, and other interested parties at the village inn Wallmow and provided an overview of the project background. Subsequently, Dr.-agr. Klaus Gutser presented the project’s current results and his perspective on alfalfa. Dr. Thomas Eckhardt from Saatzucht Steinach gave a talk on variety selection, and Ms. Lara Vollbort from the State Control Association Berlin-Brandenburg rounded off the theoretical part with her presentation on feed quality.

After a protein-rich, locally produced lunch with opportunities for informal exchange, the group visited the fields of farmer Oskar Wendt, where the double-knife mower was demonstrated in action. This mower offers advantages such as greater maneuverability and fuel efficiency and lays the cut material gently. However, a drawback is its susceptibility to damage from stones, which can result in high repair costs in rocky areas like Uckermark. A productive discussion ensued regarding careful harvesting and processing of alfalfa plants.

We thank everyone for the informative day and the valuable exchange!

Here are the presentations from the speakers:

Presentation: Interim Results of the Investigations (ZALF)

Presentation: Feed Quality (LKV BB)

Presentation: Variety Selection (Saatzucht Steinach)

June 8, 2023 | Trial in Müncheberg: 50 cm in the Second Round

The 50 cm alfalfa plots are ready for cutting again. Interestingly, there is a variation between the irrigated and non-irrigated variants: as with the first cut, the irrigated variant reached the desired height again after 7 days, while the non-irrigated plot needed an additional 7 days to achieve the same milestone. Perhaps rain will soon return to make things easier for all the alfalfa plants. We remain active!

June 1, 2023 | After 26 Days, It’s Time for Another Cut…

…for the alfalfa plants from the first cut! Since May 4, they have grown back to 35 cm, making another cut and sampling necessary.

May 25, 2023 | Alfalfa Has Grown to 65 cm!

21 days after the first cut, the remaining alfalfa plots that had not yet been cut have grown to 65 cm. Therefore, it’s now time for their first cut.

May 23, 2023 | Artificial Rain in Müncheberg

To assess the impact of weather on the crops, artificial irrigation was installed. In parallel, regular manual soil moisture tests are conducted at multiple points and averaged to represent the usable field capacity between plots and variants. For each irrigation variant, 54 samples are taken and analyzed weekly.

May 11, 2023 | First Cut at 50 cm Height in Müncheberg

7 days after the first cut, the remaining uncut alfalfa plants have grown to 50 cm – meaning it’s time for the first cut for this variant! A total of 72 samples were taken and analyzed from the 64 plots.

May 9, 2023 | First Cuts on the Farms

Shortly after Müncheberg, the practice farms also began their cutting season. A high cut (15 cm) and a low cut (5 cm) were simulated on the designated alfalfa plots using a double-knife mower, and samples were taken. These samples underwent feed analysis. Over a period of three weeks, eight practice farms in Uckermark were sampled. Initial results indicate that protein levels were quite high in early May but gradually decreased. Differences in established versus mixed stands were also reflected in the analysis results. The weather also influenced the results – we suspect that rain and cold led to lower protein content but higher leaf mass. Additionally, leaf-stem separation seems reasonable in the current situation for better feed values.

May 4, 2023 | Double-Knife Mower in Use at ZALF

We are starting the trials in Müncheberg! At the lead partner ZALF’s location, trial fields have been established under controlled conditions to determine the optimal cutting regime that yields high alfalfa returns with high protein yields. The 192 plots are divided based on the following criteria: variety, with or without irrigation, growth height (35 cm, 50 cm, 65 cm), and further processing (different cutting heights, leaf-stem separation). In addition to analyzing 72 samples for N, P, and K, the growth height and plant composition are regularly monitored. This marks the start of a busy summer!

April 3, 2023 | Start of Fieldwork

It’s April, and fieldwork can finally begin. The ZALF staff visited the operational group farms in Uckermark, evaluated the fields, and measured them using GPS. To ensure representative results for each field and farm, the plots were selected based on various criteria, including location, soil values from maps, NDVI satellite images, and botanical-visual assessments. The goal of selecting these sampling areas is to gather insights into yield potential and protein potential at different cutting times. Here’s to a good start to the season!

Kick-Off on December 16, 2022, in Dedelow

In wintry temperatures, the operational group met for the kick-off meeting at the research station in Dedelow. Together, they discussed the project’s objectives and current status. The main concern remains the pending approval for the band drying plant. All participants had the opportunity to get to know each other.