The comparisons give visitors to the event the opportunity to learn more about arable farming strategies from other countries. Crops from nine teams of crop advisers and researchers from Sweden down to the Czech Republic will be compared as the participants demonstrate their growing techniques under practical conditions. The results will be of particular interest to the DLG Feldtage specialist visitors because this special DLG-Feldtage feature compares achievable margins for the wheat crops, not just the yields. This brings capital- and labor-saving systems into focus, including the cost-cutting possibilities of modern precision farming.

Comparing their production techniques this year at the DLG (German Agriculture Society's) IPZ site in Saxony-Anhalt are nine teams of wheat professionals from the Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland and Ukraine. All the teams have had their crops in the ground since October last year. 

A unique presentation of crop production approaches

The wide diversity of crop production approaches that are possible guarantee a unique presentation and keen interest in the resultant final yields, quality and financial margins. Indeed, the only common factors between the plots are sowing time, soil conditions and the weather – everything else, from the seed varieties to the cultivation, drilling, fertilizing and crop protection strategies, have been decided by the competitors. In addition, the DLG will present a strip-seeded plot, using a variety that has proven itself in trials, although this will be outside the competition and grown only as a discussion point. 

Naturally, it will be interesting for visitors to see how each competitor copes with local conditions while attempting to reach their objectives. And during the three-day DLG-Feldtage event, experts from the teams will be on hand to explain the strategies and discuss the expected results with visiting growers from all across Europe. 

The measures taken by the different teams will be collected for analysis and evaluation. An independent DLG team will make the data available online to the participants so that they can monitor progress. 

The highlight of the output from the comparisons is an analysis using cost and yield data that reflects arable conditions. Making this publicly available means it is possible to compare the results with the visitors' own farming methods. The full results, including details of the winner, will be announced when the harvest has been completed and the data fully analyzed. 

The participants in this year's wheat growing competition are: 

• Institute of Soil Culture and Crops, Germany
• Hochschule Anhalt (FH) Department of Agriculture, Ecotrophology and Landscape, Germany
• Saxony-Anhalt State Institute for Agriculture, Forestry and Horticulture, Germany
• Strickhof Consulting Service, Switzerland
• Faculty of Agriculture at Mendel University in Brno, Czech Republic
• NUBIP Agrobiological Faculty, Ukraine
• ООО Agrostandart, Russia
• Patriotisk Selskab, Denmark
• 10-Tonne Club, Sweden

DLG will present a strip-seeded plot that will be outside the competition:

• IPZ Bernburg, Germany