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Class of 2000 International Travel Seminar
Class Diary |
Date:
2/19-20/2000 |
IALP Class of 2000 |
Chicago, IL to
Frankfurt,
Germany |
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| I.A.L.P. Class of 2000 departs for
Germany. Begins International Travel Seminar . . . |
 The Illinois
Agricultural Leadership Program, Class of 2000, saw the sun set and rise during our
eight-hour flight to Frankfurt, Germany. The class met at Chicago's O'Hare Airport,
where they received details of the International Travel Seminar, cleared customs and
boarded Lufhansa flight #431 at 4:40pm to Germany. After landing in Frankfurt
Germany at 7:58am Frankfort time, the class claimed their baggage, boarded a motor coach
and traveled to Nierstein, Germany and checked in to the Wein Park Hotel. |
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| The Wald Farm visit: Leeheim,
Germany |
 We took a short break at the hotel and at 1pm boarded the bus to Leeheim where we visited
the farmstead of the Wald Family. The Wald family raises hogs (25 sows), wheat,
barley, sugar beets, fennel, peas, and corn (total 366 acres -- considered a large
farm). Mr. Wald is a 6th generation farmer; the barn and other buildings date back
to the 800s and have significant historical character. Mr. Wald is also a member of
a 22 farmer cooperative (totaling 1500 hectares -- 3750 acres) that pools machinery
purchases to be used to harvest the crops. This allows the cost of machinery to be
around $25/acre. |
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 Mr. Wald produced BT
maize last year and came under many pressures from Green Peace. Due to the high
controversy surrounding GMO crops in Europe, police protection was needed.
Helicopters patrolled the the area to allow the crop to be planted; police guarded the
field during growth; and; and 50 police cars blocked off the area during harvest.
New regulations will not allow Mr. Wald to produce GMO maize next year despite a yield
increase of 3 ton/hectare (3 ton/2.5 acres). |
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