German farmers use cooperation to combat drought and crop loss

In the Uetze-Schwüblingsen region near Hannover, German farmer Holger Hennies is utilizing a cooperative model to combat increasingly unpredictable weather patterns. Hennies and four other farmers manage 700 hectares together, sharing labor, yields, and risks to mitigate the impact of environmental challenges.

Recent extreme heat and drought periods have severely impacted sugar beet crops. The lack of moisture, combined with competition from fast-growing weeds like goosefoot, has led to significant yield losses in sandy soils. While artificial irrigation has helped maintain some growth, the overall harvest has been hampered by the extreme dryness confirmed by the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture.