Agricultural adventure

They are all passionate about farming - and are fighting for their future. Four farms from the north with very different problems - but one goal: to advance their farm and show that it can work in the crisis sector of agriculture. With courage, effort and a lot of enthusiasm.

In Quelkhorn near Bremen, Hauke Johanna von Salzen and Claas Schnackenberg have taken the plunge into self-employment. The couple bought a large dairy farm at the beginning of 2023. Now they have 370 cows, 6 employees, a lot of responsibility and several million euros in debt. Plus two small children and endless work. The film shows how they manage all of this. Buying a farm - getting an adventure is the motto at Eichenhof.

Thomas Andresen from Lindewitt in Schleswig-Holstein is also a dairy farmer. One size bigger. He has more than 1000 animals and almost as many ideas. The farmer likes to experiment. He runs a biogas plant, grows clover grass as a better source of feed and is even trying his hand at sunflowers in the far north. Will it work? His enthusiasm for experimentation is appreciated: Thomas Andresen has been nominated for Energy Farmer of the Year. Will he actually win the prize in Berlin?

Hendrik Meyerholz from Achim in Lower Saxony is fattening pigs and has to rebuild his stables this year. As an Animal Welfare Initiative farm, he is reaching for his tools because there are new requirements for pig farming. His work is also determined by other applications and requirements, and he lost part of his harvest due to the winter floods of 2023/2024. He hopes that the harvest will be better this year and that he can go into the winter with plenty of supplies.

Vanessa Dierink and Henning Stegemann have double the power: the couple run two farms in western Lower Saxony. Henning Stegemann is the third generation to run his, with broilers, cows and arable farming. He is also politically active and takes to the streets to defend his views on agriculture. His girlfriend Vanessa also grew up on a farm and now keeps organic laying hens and grows potatoes on her farm. A lot of work and little family time for the young couple, who are planning a future together.

The four northern reports accompany the farm owners over several months and show why they love their job despite all the problems.