Farmers and agricultural trade donate 200 bales of straw to flood victims

Solidarity in action in Krefeld, Willich and Nettetal
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200 bales of straw for flood victims

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The farmer Andreas Overings from Hüls checks the wheat straw bales that are driven to a riding stable in the Vulkaneifel.
Photo: Andreas Overings

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Nettetal / Krefeld / Willich Seven farmers tackled the task of making 200 bales ready for transport in an unbureaucratic way. They are made available to a riding stable affected by the flooding. Dry straw has become a precious commodity.

The path from a good idea to its implementation can be very short. This has now been proven by farmers from Krefeld, who spontaneously decided to help their professional colleagues in the flooded areas. In just half an hour, they organized a donation of 200 bales of straw. Also on the team was Johannes Weyers with his agricultural trade on the K24 in Nettetal. He had delivered straw worth 10,000 euros from his own stock to horse stables in the crisis areas. The call from Krefeld met open ears.

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Farmer Ralf Pauelsen from Hüls came with his baler on Sunday and started right away.
*Photo: Andreas Overings*

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Farmer Heinz Overings from Hüls came up with the idea at breakfast on Sunday. “What are you going to do with the straw on our plot?” He asked his son Andreas. What was meant was a six-hectare piece of land whose wheat straw had been promised to horse host Klaus Dahlhoff, who runs a riding stable in Kempen. Background to the question: Shortly before, Heinz Overings had heard the call from the German Farmers’ Association to help the farmers affected by the flood disaster with feed and material. “My father therefore suggested that the straw be transported to the flooded areas in the Aachen district and donated to the farmers there,” recalls son Andreas, who immediately thought the idea was great.

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The farmers collect the freshly pressed straw bales and carry them together.
*Photo: Andreas Overings*

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The 33-year-old therefore immediately contacted Klaus Dahlhoff, who spontaneously gave up the straw that had actually been promised to him and agreed to help with the fundraising campaign. Less than half an hour later, the entire action was organized, and the helpers from seven companies in and around Krefeld lend a helping hand.

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There were a few things to consider. Who has time to bring in the harvest? Who brings the bales to the affected areas? Who pays for the diesel? Who has the necessary machines? “I think it’s great how quickly and unbureaucratically everything went. The cohesion among the companies is something special, ”praises Andreas Overings, who runs a farm with his father that specializes in the production and marketing of table potatoes.

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A little later on this Sunday, all formalities are cleared. Theo Tolls, heating oil supplier from Willich, donates the necessary fuel, the RWG Raiffeisenmarkt from Kempen donates the bale twine to tie large round bales. Farmer Ralf Pauelsen from Hüls approaches with his baler. The Driehsen family from the Luisenhof riding stable in Krefeld and the farmer Karl Fly from Tönisvorst also come to the Overings farm on Sunday to collect the freshly pressed straw bales. In the evening the work is actually done and 200 bales, each one with a diameter of 1.50 meters and weighing more than 200 kilos, are neatly stacked on the field.

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“We pressed extra round bales because they don’t get wet because of their round shape. The rainwater just runs off. This means we have no time pressure and the farmers on site are also flexible in terms of time, ”explains the 33-year-old. The transport is taken over by Georg Dahlhoff, owner of Café Kornblume in Hüls, and Johannes Weyers, owner of the agricultural trade of the same name in Nettetal. Weyers will load the bales onto a truck. He is currently in talks with the distribution point, which coordinates all offers of help. Since Wednesday it is now clear where the journey is going. “The straw is still being transported to a riding stable in Niederehe this week,” says Overings. The riding stables had been completely flooded. Niederehe is located in the Vulkaneifel district in Rhineland-Palatinate and belongs to the community of Üxheim. A good 150 kilometers lie between Krefeld and Niederehe, which must be bridged by the Krefeld helpers. According to the route planner, the actual travel time takes just under two hours. Each vehicle will be able to load 34 bales, making 68 bales per trip, for which the farmers plan a little over four hours including unloading. On-site helpers who also have a front loader with them to unload the bales are available.

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Georg Dahlhoff and Johannes Weyers will have to make three tours before all 200 bales have reached their destination.

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With the elaborate campaign, which has an estimated value of around 7,000 euros, the farmers want to set an example. Andreas Overings emphasizes: “We as individuals are not in the foreground in the fundraising campaign, but the farmers as a whole who stand up for one another:”

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