Knowledge that empowers: How WOERLE supports partner farms
High-quality hay milk is the result of experience, meticulous attention to detail, and ongoing professional development. That's why the WOERLE private dairy, in collaboration with around 500 dairy farmers from the Flachgau and Mondsee regions, consistently focuses on knowledge transfer. Courses, workshops, and webinars support the farms in further developing their daily operations, managing their farms more sustainably, and rediscovering time-tested, sometimes almost forgotten, knowledge. Many farms have been supplying the private dairy for generations, and some families are also connected to WOERLE through jobs or apprenticeships. This long-standing relationship facilitates open and respectful exchange.
For five years, WOERLE has offered its own professional development program for its milk suppliers. The program focuses on topics directly relevant to daily operations: animal welfare, sustainability, climate and energy, farm management, and social issues. The courses are free for farmers and deliberately designed to be practical. The goal is to strengthen farms in their daily work. The high attendance at the events and the approximately 1.500 participants already demonstrate the farms' openness to new ideas and professional exchange.
The course "Homeopathy in the Cattle Shed," held in November and fully booked, demonstrated what such educational opportunities look like in practice. Around 50 farmers explored how homeopathic and herbal remedies can effectively complement veterinary care.
The focus was on close animal observation, prevention, and strengthening the body's own defenses. For example, classic home remedies such as calendula ointment or herbal teas, which can provide support for minor ailments, were discussed. The underlying principle: Conventional medicine should not be replaced, but rather the aim is to better recognize early signs, keep a holistic view of the herd, and be aware of additional, gentle support options.
Many participants emphasized that knowledge was being revisited that had been somewhat neglected in farming practice and was now finding its place again in everyday farm life.
A key focus of WOERLE's knowledge transfer is sustainability on the farm. This involves solutions that can be implemented without significant additional time or expense and simultaneously enrich the operation. Topics include site-adapted meadow management, increased biodiversity in the fields, energy saving in the barn, natural structures for insects and small animals, and functioning nutrient cycles on the farm.
These topics are closely related to the 360° Sustainability Strategy WOERLE CONTINUES TO BE CONNECTED. WOERLE considers sustainability together with its suppliers, for example when it comes to more biodiverse hay milk meadows, lower emissions, or more efficient energy use. In this context, the company also supports the farms with a CO₂2 A bonus that rewards resource-saving measures within the company.
The practical workshops and webinars are deliberately designed to be interactive. WOERLE shares knowledge but also receives feedback from day-to-day operations. Which measures work well, where are the obstacles, and which topics are gaining importance?
These experiences inform the further development of course offerings as well as projects on biodiversity, climate protection, and farm management. This fosters a partnership in which knowledge is shared, practical experience is taken seriously, and future-oriented topics are shaped together. This is precisely where the focus begins. WOERLE CONTINUES TO WORK
