История успеха: Штефан Доренбуш, RWG Rheinland
Stephan Dohrenbusch grew up in a farming family but chose a career in commerce. Today, as an agriculture consultant at Raiffeisen-Warengenossenschaft Rheinland, he supports farmers across the region. His work spans from small-scale farms with 30 hectares to large operations managing hundreds of hectares with near-industrial efficiency.
"Agriculture here represents the full spectrum," Stephan explains, drawing from his extensive experience and deep family roots in farming.
Challenge
As an agriculture consultant, Stephan faces a diverse landscape—both in crops and in the farmers themselves. His goal is always to provide the best solutions for his clients, many of whom rely on traditional farming methods and established practices. Introducing innovative strategies can be challenging in an industry often driven by experience rather than experimentation.
"I wouldn’t be satisfied not knowing the precise nutrient needs of a crop to achieve maximum yield and top-quality marketability," Stephan shares, emphasizing his high standards for advisory work.
Stephan's drive to stay ahead of the curve fuels his commitment to innovative solutions, especially as younger farmers in the Rheinland show enthusiasm for exploring new methods.
"We work in a region with many forward-thinking young farmers eager to try something new," he adds, highlighting the potential for progress in the sector.
Solution
To help his clients embrace innovation, Stephan relies on the Stenon FarmLab—a cutting-edge, sustainable tool that delivers real-time soil analysis. By lending the device to farmers, he enables them to assess critical parameters such as Nmin and pH levels directly in their fields.
The FarmLab’s results for Nmin, total nitrogen, and soil moisture are certified by the German Agricultural Society (DLG), ensuring accuracy and reliability. While traditional lab testing remains a requirement for compliance with fertilizer regulations, the FarmLab offers significant advantages. Its real-time data empowers farmers to develop comprehensive fertilization strategies, saving time and resources.
"The real-time analysis allows me to understand why my crops may not be performing as expected," Stephan notes, underscoring the practical value of the FarmLab.
Results
Farmers in Stephan’s network have seen remarkable benefits from using the FarmLab. By conducting multiple measurements across their fields, they gain detailed insights into nutrient distribution. This granular approach often reveals areas where additional fertilization isn’t necessary.
On all our fields, we had planned additional fertilization, but for 45 hectares of potato cultivation, we only needed to fertilize one 5-hectare section.
In his own family’s farm, the FarmLab demonstrated that their usual application of 100 to 150 kilograms of ammonium sulfate nitrate was unnecessary. This insight led to savings of approximately €2,500 across 37 hectares—an impactful reduction given current market prices.
The FarmLab also supports long-term field monitoring, allowing farmers to track changes in soil nutrient composition over the years.
"For me, the FarmLab has incredible long-term potential," Stephan affirms.
By integrating the Stenon FarmLab into their practices, Stephan Dohrenbusch and his clients are transforming traditional farming. The combination of real-time data, cost savings, and environmental stewardship positions the FarmLab as a game-changing solution for modern agriculture.
For agriculture experts like Stephan and his clients, the future of agriculture is already here—and it’s powered by Stenon.