-
60secondsfarmerslife –
close to farmers
Farming insider: Henrick Dieckmann, Germany
About Henrick
On his farm in Langelsheim, Henrick Dieckmann´s father kept pigs, cattle and horses up until the 1980s. Following an increase in the amount of land under cultivation, the business eventually abandoned livestock farming and began specializing purely in catch crops –with great success: Henrick Dieckmann is now the fifth generation of the family to manage the farm, helped by his two children und his uncle.
Farm facts
Family-owned for five generations
Farm size: 130 hectares
Cultivated crops: Wheat, barley, rye, corn and rapeseed. Catch crops are planted with the beet and corn in particular.
For me, it´s important to be sustainable and healthy
in what we produce
Question time
Why did you decide to become a farmer?
I grew up on the farm, so I've been here since I was a child and I've always helped out. For me, there was no question whether or not I would take over the farm or do something other than farming – there was never any doubt. I therefore learned all about agriculture, studying it at university later on, and thus laid the foundations for the business to be passed on to subsequent generations in a solid state. I put my heart and soul into the farm.
What defines your profession?
In my job, I value the opportunity to work outside and to be close to nature. The variety of the work I have to deal with means it never becomes monotonous. And in the midst of all this I´m still producing important, healthy foodstuffs. Only this way it is possible to preserve the business for the next generation.
How do you approach innovations and new technologies?
Since I took over the business from my father, our entire fleet of equipment has been upgraded at some point. We now drive GPS-assisted tractors and use automated steering systems. We also use pesticide spray equipment that can be programmed to work on specific areas only and to guarantee precise application. This way, we can work accurately and sustainably and meet all the requirements of modern farming.
How is independence a factor in your day-to-day work as a farmer?
I am self-reliant, flexible and autonomous; I don't have any fixed daily schedule and everything is dealt with as it arises. No two days are the same.
Paving the way. For a fruitful tomorrow.
Farm life is often characterized by family cohesion and traditions that have grown over decades. Around the world, many generations live and work on farms under one roof, and at some point the question of farm succession comes up. Our new Farmer Portraits focus on this generational change that many farmers are facing. Young and old alike - we visited farmers on their farms to have them tell us about their stories, their challenges and their hopes.
Your contact
