Today we are heading out to the country side northwest of Grenaa to see a large diverse farming enterprise partly on reclaimed land. It is called Overgaard Estate.
There are 5 Million people in Denmark and 20 Million pigs.
30 years ago there were 160'000 farmers in Denmark, now there are only 40'000.
Most of the cattle we see in the paddocks are dairy breeds. With so much yummy cheese produced in Denmark this stands to reason.
The crops are mostly winterwheat, some barley, some canola and of course rye for the wonderful rye bread. This was all sown last August and is now nearly ready for harvest.
We also see frequent potato fields at various stages of growth. Needless to say that we also get to eat lots of beautiful new potatoes.
Maize, being a summer grower, has only recently been planted and is hanging out for a shower of rain.
The upcoming wheat harvest should bring approximately 7 tons per hectare at a price of around A$200 per ton. All being well some might harvest up to 10 t/ha which would make very proud farmers indeed.
All the fields are neat and square and flanked by tall windbreaks, a very necessary thing in a flat country with so much wind as otherwise the crops would all be flat on the ground come harvest time. Most windbreaks consist of something that looks a bit like a very tall growing Maybush and most of them are in full flower at the moment. There are poppies, daisies, cornflowers, lupins and other wildflowers growing on the headlands. It is indeed a sight to behold, a sight that makes the artist's heart beat faster and flower loving Jenny Post take hundreds of photos from the moving bus.
These hedge roses in pink or white, yellow laburnum, white maybush, lilacs in all colours as well as azaleas and rhododendrons are also out in full flower everywhere. The country is truly awash with colour.
On arrival at the farm we are greeted by Rotarians from the Randers Rotary Club who are in charge of the day's events.
This is the'homestead' by the way! A castle, no less.
The Randers Rotarians get on the bus with us and we are taken over the property.
We are amazed to learn of all the things they produce here and what new ventures they have been tackling for years. One of those ventures is the production of energy by burning methane gas.
There are dams everywhere and irrigation is in place for all the cropping fields. We stop up here on this wall, looking out to the open sea and in one direction towards a fjord.
Here we are offered some beer and soft drink for morning tea. Apart from a cool sea breeze, the day is wonderfully warm.
After tis little surprise we slowly head back to the castle for lunch. How is that for a treat?
The luncheon consists of sumptuous smorrebrod
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