These are the 10 largest arable farms

The number of arable farmers in the Netherlands with more than 1.000 hectares is small. If you set the bar on 500 hectares, a much larger group will qualify. The number of 'large' farmers is steadily increasing. Who are these companies and how big are they exactly? Boerenbusiness figured it out.

What do we mean by arable farmers? In any case, the companies that have arable farming as their main source of income. Our list is based on data from the Common Agricultural Policy; for example, the amount a company receives as a basic payment scheme says something about its size. This can be calculated on the basis of the average value per payment entitlement and this is set annually by the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO.nl). online† The most current figures are for 2017.

Real picture?
The ranking of the highest subsidy amounts is not infallible. Significant differences can occur with reality, which in part has to do with the company history. For example, when a company receives extra rights because of a milk or beet quota. Also, leased land is usually not rented including payment rights. The highly specialized companies that rent a lot of land for, for example, potato cultivation, will not appear in this list.

It is almost impossible to find out who farms the most (rental) land. Most entrepreneurs who Boerenbusiness spoke, are not eager to share their figures. However, a number of companies, especially those with a 100-year history, choose to be open and candid about their (special) company.

Who is the biggest?
The top 3 largest arable farms in 2017 are Koninklijke Maatschap de Wilhelminapolder (KMWP), Schoorlemmer Agriculture and Exploitatie Reservegronden Flevoland (ERF). It is debatable who should lead the list. Based on the data from RVO.nl, this was in 2017 KMWP† With a subsidy amount of €354.979,36 (basic payment scheme) divided by the average value of €284,53 per hectare, the acreage amounts to 1.248 hectares. However, it itself mentions an area of ​​almost 1.600 hectares. Since KMWP is owned by 395 owners (sizes), we include the company in a separate ranking.

With an acreage of 1.745 hectares of organic arable land and 270 hectares of conventional agricultural land, ERF is larger than its colleague from Zeeland. However, according to subsidy figures (€330.262,94), the company is in third place. ERF also has a special history. The company originated from the Rijksdienst voor de IJsselmeerpolders and manages land owned by the government.

Schoorlemmer Landbouw BV is registered in Pekela, Groningen. It is the only one of 'the big 3' that does not share its numbers online. According to insiders, the umbrella AG Schoorlemmer Foundation owns a total agricultural area of ​​2.300 hectares. Looking at the subsidy figures, this would amount to 1.217 hectares.

Place 1 or place 4?
In place 4, and the number 1 in our ranking of family businesses, is Landgoed Scholtenszathe† This company is also special. The data from RVO.nl match perfectly with what the company communicates: 1.000 hectares, of which 700 hectares are arable land. The rest has been planted with forest and other nature. The company is run by 12 employees, but is still owned by the Scholten family. The estate is, besides the above 3, the only arable farm with more than 1.000 hectares owned.

The numbers 2 to 10 are often names that are less well known. You will also find 2 companies (HS Akkerbouw and Sandee) that are both contract workers and arable farmers. Novifarm, the agricultural entrepreneur of the year 2017, is a partnership of 5 families in the Hoeksche Waard. She burp 750 hectares, although the figures from RVO.nl are considerably lower.

Novifarm is certainly not the only company where arable farmers are joining forces. A little further south we find Nieuw Campen. Our list, based on figures from RVO.nl, puts the company at 557 hectares, but our own data states 400 hectares.

Financial results
At the National Economic Agricultural Congress on December 18, company size was also discussed. The number of large companies (more than 300 hectares) has increased in just 20 years tripled† However, the number of small farms (less than 25 hectares) predominates, as they represent 60% of the total number of arable farms. "The 5.000 largest companies together account for 50% of production", said Cor Pierik (CBS) at the conference.

Linda de Bie (Wageningen University & Research) supports the figures. During the Agricultural Congress she showed that large companies (with 250 hectares or more) have low costs and more to earn† 'Sustainable' companies (with low feed and animal health costs) are also doing much better financially. Arable farmers with 25 hectares or less have significantly higher costs. De Bie therefore sees collaboration as a solution. Not only in terms of production, but also, for example, in terms of sales.

Niels van der Boom

Niels van der Boom is a senior market specialist for arable crops at DCA Market Intelligence. He mainly makes analyses and market updates about the potato market. In columns he shares his sharp view on the arable sector and technology.

n.vanderboom@boerenbusiness. Nl

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