The Neuhaus farming family grows rice in Stetten AG: “We want to benefit from climate change”

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After the first tour of the field, the organic farmer was overcome with childlike joy. “The harvest is much better than expected,” says Lukas Neuhaus (31). After briefly examining the freshly harvested rice, he immediately returns to the threshing machine. Father Röbi Dätwyler (64) takes the full bag from his son’s hand and immediately gives him the next one.

We can say that the tension that has been going on in the Stetten AG farmer family for the last few months has disappeared. As one of twelve companies growing fresh rice in Switzerland, our pioneering work has paid off.

Italy became a source of inspiration

Climate change makes this possible. Agrscope, the federal competence center for agricultural research, closely supports rice cultivation in Switzerland. “30 years ago it would not have been possible to grow wet rice in our region,” says Agroscope researcher Yvonne Fabian (45). At that time, especially the spring and autumn months were still very cool.

While many other crops struggle in the summer heat, rice grows in high temperatures. Farmer Lukas Neuhaus says: “We want to benefit from climate change.”

In Ticino, farmers began growing dry rice at the turn of the millennium. Attempts north of the Alps, including those of the Neuhaus family, failed. Another method was needed.

Lukas Neuhaus headed abroad. “This idea came to my mind while I was traveling through Italy,” he says. Wet rice has been grown here for centuries. After rice seedlings are planted in spring, the fields are flooded. Water maintains heat even at night, allowing rice to grow. When the rice is ready to be harvested, the water is drained again.

The first companies in northern Switzerland started cultivation in 2017. The Neuhaus family had its first harvest in 2021. At that time, Lukas Neuhaus and his wife Natalie (28) had just bought the farm right next to Reuss. They soon realized that the ground was too wet. They wanted to take advantage of natural humidity. “We admire agriculture because we also make an ecological contribution,” says Natalie Neuhaus.

ecologically sensitive

The Neuhaus family eliminates a problem in Swiss agriculture by growing rice. According to Agroscope, one-third of arable land in Switzerland is drained using so-called drainage systems. Animals and plants living in wetlands are losing their habitats. Some are currently on the Red List of Endangered Species.

According to Agroscope researcher Fabian, more than 1,000 hectares of land in Switzerland are suitable for growing rice. This requires being close to a river or lake from which farmers can pump water all year round. The Federal Council also wants to encourage this: Since the beginning of the year, farmers have been able to register their wet rice fields as biodiversity-promoting areas and receive direct payments accordingly.

The ecological potential of rice cultivation is already clearly evident in Stetten, Aargau. Numerous species of dragonflies and tree frogs returned to the Neuhaus family farm with the rice plantation. “As a minor side effect, we no longer have mosquitoes,” says Lukas Neuhaus.

killjoy millet

But rice cultivation doesn’t just promise sunshine and roses. It carries many risks. If the water level in the field rises due to heavy rainfall, young rice plants are at risk of drowning during the growth phase. If it remains too cold for a long time, pollination will fail and the pods will remain empty.

Since the family buys water from Reuss, they have to get by without using pesticides. Weeds such as millet grow particularly well and are proving almost a boon in the Neuhaus. Suddenly it blocks the threshing machine, a part inside is defective. Lukas Neuhaus gets the machine back in operation during the night to complete the harvest the next day.

Lucky: Rain begins shortly after the harvest ends. “If it had rained before, we would have had to leave the remaining rice in the field,” says Neuhaus.

37 times more expensive than supermarket

The Neuhaus family harvests 900 kilograms of rice from half a hectare. After harvest, the Neuhaus family dries, polishes and packages the rice on the farm. 500 kilograms left. Labor-intensive methods are reflected in the price. The Neuhaus family charges 15 francs for 400 grams of risotto rice. For comparison: in large supermarkets a kilogram from Italy starts from two francs. Lukas Neuhaus: “Our product is aimed at people who are interested in the story behind the product.” Most customers pass by walkers.

Along with other rice farmers, he is part of a community of interests that refuses to work with large distributors. They sell directly to restaurants and homes. The Neuhaus family sold almost all of this year’s crop before harvest.

Rice cultivation is still a loss-making business for the Neuhaus family. A program for asparagus, tomatoes and work logic ensures that the bill will be valid at the end of the year. But rice must become a major mainstay. “We hope to double the yield in the same area in the future,” says Lukas Neuhaus. This will require hot summers.

Source :Blick