Hi Everyone,

Welcome back to the final segment of sharing my European seminar tour.

Our next farm visit in Germany involved a trip to the farm of Dolf Weasemeal. It had been suggested that we might enjoy a visit to this farm, as Dolf has seriously embraced the regenerative model. Shortly after we arrived at the farm in the late afternoon, Dolf gifted us a very special treat. We visited the neighbouring twin towns of Bernkastell-Kues and dined in a restaurant built into a crumbling, mountain-top castle called Burg Landshut. We enjoyed spectacular views, as the sun set over intensive viticulture, surrounding a picture-perfect, medieval town, nestled beside the Mosel River.

We marveled at the thousands of vine rows planted directed down, the steep mountain side and wondered how the obvious erosion risk and harvesting challenge is managed. Apparently the grapes are mechanically harvested with tracked machines, but there can be runaway accidents, when the safety chains fail.

Dolf is originally from Holland, but he has now settled in Germany with his wife, Madeleine, and two young boys. He has an engineering background that has served him well when constantly maintaining diverse farm machinery. These skills have also enabled innovative adaptations to large machinery to improve their regenerative farming functionality. He has made his own roller crimper that works well in his multi-species cover crops. Dolf has also adapted his planter, with clever cutting discs, created to cleanly slice through the dense, crimped cover crop, while preparing the slot for the seed and biological liquids. His huge machinery shed was built to handle the weight of several hundred solar panels, which provide another income stream amongst his multiple enterprises. He has state-of-the-art, solar-powered chook trailers delivering sought-after organic eggs, for which he grows much of the grain. Dolf has retained the Dutch love of potatoes. He has sourced and adapted second-hand potato harvesters and planters to produce potatoes for the organic market.

Dolf is organically certified,  so one of his major challenges is weed control. He has found that tools like his finger weeder can provide good mechanical weed management of row crops. His dense cover crops, when crimped, can also offer good weed management when direct drilling into this dense mulch.

Dolf has a seed sorter that enables dual or triple plantings. One particularly successful combination is fava beans and oats. The fava beans have yielded particularly well and obviously enjoy the synergy (see photo). One wonders if there is commercial potential in using this strategy with the variety of fava (broad beans) favoured for human consumption.

Like many growers around the globe, Dolf has proven the claim that a bag of seed is worth more than a bag of fertiliser. He has witnessed some of the best soil fertility changes on his farm through building plant diversity. This, in turn, sponsors greater microbial diversity, while nature sings “Thank You”.

Along with many European producers, Dolf has suffered from the climate extremes that have become a large part of the brave new world of climate change farming. With his passion and diverse skill set, Dolf is achieving the resilience that will see him better ride the storms.

 At our final meeting in Germany, we met with Josefine Herz, who has become an important player in driving EU legislative changes. She is the GM of EARA. (European Alliance for Regenerative Agriculture). This proactive group is working to generate positive changes to the Common Agriculture Policy (CAP). There is a screaming need for EU subsidies to be more results-based, as the current model often favours an abusive or neglectful outcome, where growers can be rewarded for effectively doing nothing on their land.  Josephine had just returned from a press conference where she had been publicising the release of comprehensive research demonstrating that well-managed regenerative farms outperformed conventional farms in terms of yield and profitability. I will provide details of that research in an upcoming blog. This provides exciting evidence of my long-time contention that Nutrition Farming needs never involve a sacrifice. The best outcome for the planet can be the best outcome for your bank account and your farming fun

 Josefine is the kind of well-informed, action-driven soul who oozes integrity and inspires confidence in the future. I’m sure we will meet again.

The final stage of our journey involved a visit to Austria to meet Claudia’s family and spend some time with the acclaimed independent researcher Harriet Mella.

Claudia’s older brother, Heimo, is the sole surviving family member. Heimo and his wife Linde live up in the mountains in the house previously owned by Claudia’s grandparents. Her warm childhood memories of times roaming free in the lakes and forests, nurtured by her Grandmother’s herbal formulas, were quickly reclaimed. We visited an amazing lake called the Wörtersee, where Claudia swam in the cold, crystal clear waters. We were also able to spend time with Heimo’s daughters Eva and Katharina and their partners. It was precious family fun and we enjoyed some delicious meals, including a wood fire pizza night under the stars, where Daniel (Katharina’s partner) produced a suite of memorable pizza fusions.

Europe is amazing, and everywhere you can almost breathe the fascinating history. However, there is one flaw that involves a path we should fight hard not to follow. Europe has become overpopulated and over-regulated, and the well-heeled have usurped the commons. It seems like an affront to realise that the beaches, waterways and National parks we take so much for granted are not freely accessible in many parts of Europe. The owners of lakeside houses, for example, also control the foreshore that fronts their luxurious properties. The commoners are restricted to small, fenced-off areas where you pay to enter, and then share your rented deck chairs with the multitudes seeking some sun and fun.

Fishing is the biggest sport in Australia, but in Europe it is much more difficult to wet a line. The lakes we visited were visibly brimming with good-sized fish, but fishing is forbidden. Even the catch-and-return model is unacceptable. Here, access to so many waterways is restricted or removed. We most certainly remain “the lucky country”.

During our final few days in Austria, we visited the house and research gardens of Harriet Mella. Harriet has agreed to an upcoming interview on my Nutrition Farming Podcast. She is an independent researcher with a background in microbiology, plant physiology, mycology and biochemistry. She cooked us a delicious cake, all of which was consumed during that afternoon, and then she treated us to a tour of her garden/ research facility.

Harriet contends that compaction is a major yield limiter, the extent of which is little recognised. She suggests that compaction accounts for up to 30% yield loss. This observation dovetails with my contention that the management of gas exchange is a critically important role for all growers. The most important element for healthy soils and crops is oxygen. The byproduct of the oxygen consumed by the roots and surrounding soil life is the CO2, which drives photosynthesis. The better the soil structure, the better the O2 intake and the CO2 out breath, and the better you do. Compaction brings this process to a grinding halt.

Harriet also notes that aluminium toxicity is a common side effect of compaction and can be related to the yield loss potential. Compaction can lead to water accumulation and leaching of basic cations (Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺), contributing to acidification and increasing Al toxicity risk. Most symptoms are linked to root damage and nutrient deficiencies, linked to aluminium binding to root cell membranes and interfering with nutrient uptake. Symptoms include poor root branching, dark coloured root tips, short, stubby, brittle roots and reduced root hair development.

It was a special experience to watch this remarkably observant researcher describe what we were seeing in her research plots. One great tip referred to the use of table beans as an indicator of crop stress. It appears they can be used like a canary in a coal mine. When healthy and stress-free, position their leaves to access maximum sunlight exposure perfectly. When stressed, this physical positioning is impacted, and you have an easily visible, early warning system that is immediate action is needed

There are many questions I will pose in the upcoming interview, as Harriet has much to share. She spoke about a tool plants use to manage heat stress, called radiative cooling. It was fascinating to find that this important protective process has a silica link. Just how vital is this resilience mineral, so often missing when reviewing soil test data?

Well, my friends, that brings to an end this travel blog. It appears that many of you have enjoyed the sharing, so I might continue this travel diary during future International travel.

Happy, healthy, Nutrition Farming!

Warm regards,
Graeme

Certificate in Nutrition Farming

Our next iconic, five-day Certificate in Nutrition Farming® course is scheduled for July, Monday 21st - Friday 25th July 2025.

Our last course was attended by growers and consultants from six countries. It was a wonderful learning opportunity where attendees enjoyed a wealth of education and inspiration from both our presenters and their fellow attendees. We only accept 40 bookings for these courses, so please register if you would like to attend.