'The crops have to do it themselves'

"We really have to start growing differently. With more eye for the soil and also a more targeted plant nutrition. This means we can do with fewer crop protection products – I am absolutely convinced of that." The company wants to go. A more resilient cultivation system with less dependence on crop protection agents. It doesn't bother him that he gives a slightly different sound than many of his colleagues. "Complaining that there are fewer and fewer resources does not help. You better prepare for it."

Peter Appelman is an energetic and passionate man. During the conversation in the company canteen, the words fly over the table. From the nitrogen problem to contemporary politics, from product prices in the supermarket to the fickleness of the consumer. Meanwhile, Agrifirm advisor Jelle de Nijs, who was also present at the meeting, was bombarded with questions about weed and disease control in cabbage. Because make no mistake about that: crop protection products are absolutely necessary to grow high-quality and storable cabbages, says Appelman. "What matters to me is that we need to become less dependent on it. And that is possible by paying more attention to the soil and feeding our plants in a much more targeted way. If you approach that correctly - and not immediately stop at the first best setback – then it pays off. That's not wishful thinking, but reality. We see it on our plots every day."

'Much more attention to soil and fertilization'
The 'change in thinking' – as Peter Appelman himself calls it – started about ten years ago. "The grounds where we grew cabbages continued to deteriorate. In productivity, in workability – in fact in everything. We were able to turn that process largely around with good leveling, fewer machine movements, working as much as possible under dry conditions and above all a lot of compost. Also we have started feeding the cabbage in a much more targeted way, especially with regard to trace elements. In practice, this mainly means: more trace elements and much less nitrogen. This year the white cabbage will only receive 90 kilos of nitrogen per hectare instead of the previously usual 250 kilo. So far we have not seen that this is at the expense of yield or quality. And the storability has even improved. We see less fungus, bacteria and rot than before."

According to Appelman, the focus on soil improvement has also helped to obtain sufficient (rental) land for his company every year. Every year the company grows about 350 hectares of broccoli, head cabbage and cauliflower in the area around Stompetoren. But the availability of land has not been a major problem so far. "Of course the rent plays a role, but if people see that you take good care of their land, it definitely helps to be allowed to return to their plots," he says.

Favorable starting situation
As far as diseases and pests are concerned, Appelman does not see any 'big bears on the road' for the time being. "Certainly, a lot of resources will disappear from the market in the coming years. And that makes cultivation more complex and also a bit more uncertain. But I don't panic so easily. If we have to grow with fewer resources, then so be it. And if that structurally increases the cost price, the market will notice that and then have to react to it. We have to grow more integrated left or right. And that just takes trial and error."

Appelman acknowledges that his 'starting situation' may be a bit more favorable than in regions with a lot of cabbage cultivation, such as higher up in North Holland. "The disease and pest pressure is usually lower here – and I also have some more options to stay away longer from fields where the disease or pest pressure is naturally high." Partly for this reason, the cabbage gall midge hardly plays a role on his farm, while it causes serious problems in broccoli more to the north. "I know that many colleagues can hardly do without a drug like Movento, while I actually don't need it here at all. And yes, that sometimes feels a bit sour..."

Integral approach
In his own words, Appelman can also control other harmful insects such as aphids, diamondback moths and thrips reasonably well. "Of course, we sometimes suffer from aphids or thrips, but we can keep the damage reasonably limited these days, partly due to all the soil and fertilization measures that we take. You have to make the crops happy in all areas, then they become more resilient anyway.” According to Jelle de Nijs – who leaves an important mark within the company on the integrated approach to disease and pest control – all measures taken are intertwined and often reinforce each other. For example, good organic fertilization (with compost) ensures a more active soil life – and that in turn creates more natural enemies. On the other hand, a lower nitrogen dose results in less attraction for harmful insects. De Nijs emphasizes that this is a continuous learning process, of which not all processes are yet fully understood. "But it's the only way. And the sooner we explore it, the better prepared we are for the future." Appelman agrees with these words and says: "Perhaps we will have to leave a big spring every now and then. For example by planting head cabbage a little later, which means that we have to sacrifice yield. I am willing to do it – with the conviction that the sooner or later the market will pay for it."

Full toolbox
Despite a broad, integrated approach to crop protection, Appelman likes to keep a 'toolbox' as full as possible in order to be able to intervene. "However well we are on the way to making crops more resilient and making cultivation greener, I can't envision cultivation without chemical crop protection agents for the time being. With a very high disease and pest pressure, you always have to be able to intervene to prevent crops from being completely destroyed. or partially lost. If you put so much effort all year round to grow a beautiful product, you also want to bring that to a successful conclusion."

He therefore applauds the approval of new agents, such as the recent Sivanto Prime against aphids (and also thrips) in head cabbage. "In any case, a new systemic agent with a long duration of action is welcome in cultivation. Although I have no experience with it yet, it is in any case a means to keep on hand against thrips and aphids. Because, as I said: cultivation without chemicals we just can't afford it." De Nijs expects that Sivanto Prime will automatically find its place in cabbage cultivation in the coming years – if only because several alternatives will be lost. Besides against thrips and aphids in head cabbage, he expects that the agent will also be given a place in kale and Brussels sprouts against whiteflies. "So a broad application, which all cabbage growers can do something with."

Finally, he also sees the admission of Sivanto Prime as a boost for growers. "Nowadays, so many resources are lost, so it's nice if a good one is added. In that respect, Sivanto Prime also offers some certainty for the future. Growers can also use that very well at the moment."

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