Participate in the SEGRAFO study trip to the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium to discover innovative farms equipped with barn dryers, bale dryers and heat recovery systems around hay milk and forage self-sufficiency.
From Monday, September 7th to Saturday, September 12th, 2026, SEGRAFO is organizing a study trip focused on hay drying techniques in the Netherlands, Germany, and Belgium. This technical and convivial visit will allow member farmers, project leaders, and users of hay dryers to discover several innovative farms equipped with forage drying systems.
Through farm visits, exchanges with farmers and tourist discoveries, this trip aims to broaden technical knowledge around hay drying, food self-sufficiency and efficient grassland systems.
The program includes visits to six farms showcasing different hay drying techniques:
Barn drying with solar panels
photovoltaic panels with heat recovery,
air dehumidifiers,
hot air generators,
drying in bundles
self-construction of drying sheds,
valorization of hay milk and cheesemaking.
Participants will be able to discover various systems adapted to different dairy farming contexts and exchange directly with experienced farmers.
Departure and journey to Germany.
A visit to a 450-tonne barn dryer equipped with photovoltaic panels and an air dehumidifier. The farm also makes use of the fodder by repackaging it into bales for horse feed.
Discovery of a dairy farm with 120 cows equipped with a barn dryer with photovoltaic panels and an air dehumidifier, combined with a cheese processing activity.
Visit to a barn dryer using a hot air generator for drying fodder on a 90-cow dairy farm.
Tourist time spent visiting the famous Dutch windmills site.
The trip includes a canal cruise in Amsterdam followed by free time to explore the city.
Visit to a self-built barn dryer with solar panels and no auxiliary heating. The farm transforms the milk into raw milk cheese.
A visit to a farm equipped with a dryer featuring a solar panel and air dehumidifier. The farmer is also the president of the Dutch hay milk association.
Visit to an Agricompact bale dryer using wood gasification. The farm also processes milk into ice cream and participates in the development of hay milk in Belgium.
Return to France at the end of the visit.
The trip price is €950 per person. This price includes:
transportation,
accommodation,
on-site catering.
A picnic lunch should be planned for the first day.
To validate registration, participants must submit their registration form before June 30th.
Two payment methods are offered:
by checks,
or by bank transfer.
A deposit of €350 is required upon registration, then the balance of €600 must be paid no later than 15 days before departure.