From St. Pauli to the farm: Jenny's struggle for the hay milk future!

From St. Pauli to the farm: Jenny's struggle for the hay milk future!

In the gentle hills of Lower Saxony, a remarkable story has developed: Jennifer Johansson, a trained real estate specialist from Hamburg, now lives on a farm in Toppenstedt. There she and her partner Sven Ole took over the parents' farm, on which there are 50 dairy cows and agricultural areas. This happened in 2020, when the couple decided to step into the footsteps of Sven's parents, but with the additional luggage of debt, which is often associated with agricultural companies. Coming challenges are already just around the corner, because the weather plays a crucial role in the Hurzen in the midsummer, especially when rain threatens (https://www.ndr.de/fernehnungen/die_nordeportage/von-st-pauli-in-stall ,- 2892.html).

The documentary tells the captivating history of the couple from Jenny's self-perspective, while they are dealing with the challenges of agriculture for more than three years. From harvesting to tractor driving school to bureaucratic hurdles-the camera accompanies you on your way. In the meantime setbacks such as a fire bring everything to false, and the couple is forced to find different ways to be operated to do the farm, be it through hay milk, organic production, bullmast or even the idea of ​​a campsite.

North German hay milk as a central challenge

The decision to focus on the production of northern German hay milk is no coincidence. This type of milk production can be particularly explained by feeding the cows with only grass and hay. According to the [Hof and Markt] (https://www.hofundmarkt.at/heumilch- sustainable-wirtschafts/49021), the hay milk in Austria is very popular, where around 8,000 farmers and farmers are active in hay production. The hay milk is not only considered to be high quality, but also combines the concepts of regionality and sustainability. These developments are part of the Austrian identity and contribute significantly to the UN sustainability goals, as ministerial voices emphasize.

Environmental protection plays a central role in hay milk production. The ARGE hay milk is a leader in Europe and is actively committed to sustainable economy. It not only combines around 8,000 hay milk farmers, but also over 100 processors. It is important for member companies to respect the habitat and use local resources, which leads to a higher biodiversity and better quality of the products, says Karl Neuhofer, chairman of the ARGE hay milk.

A look into the future

The question of how the hay milk can be marketed in the future is not only concerned by Johannson and Sven Ole, but also the entire industry. The sustainable approaches to hay milk production were analyzed by the University of Natural Resources and Naturalism, which compiled the results of the study in the context of the UN SDGs. This study shows that the traditional economy in hay milk production is quite adaptable.

While the challenges for many agricultural businesses in the north are getting bigger, it can be hoped that well -trained young people like Jenny and Sven not only save the farm, but can also make a contribution to sustainable agriculture. Because it seems, innovative solutions are required and the way to success is rocky, but full of opportunities.