With Boerenbusiness, the relatively new title in the agricultural media, is bursting with ambition and creativity. "We are a sexy company in a conservative world", says Wouter Baan, market expert Pigs and Milk.
In the 3 years that Wouter Baan (31) was Boerenbusiness works, he has already produced many articles and videos. "The challenge lies in the diversity of the work. You stand with the boots in the stable and then you interview the CEO of a large multinational, after which you inform visitors about the developments in the market via a video in our own studio. ."
What do you get satisfaction from?
"I get the most energy from properly and quickly informing the visitor of Boerenbusiness† Interpreting the market, analyzing events and making good stories, that makes me happy. It's great when your article has a big impact. That one first, parliamentary questions in response to your article, or the fact that millions of liters of milk are subsequently traded on the basis of an article about the spot listing (which we compile ourselves). That gives a kick."
"One of the great challenges of the profession is the broad public we write for. It has to be newsworthy and informative for farmers, agribusiness, politics and business. I am happy to take on that challenge."
Boerenbusiness is a young company. Do you see that reflected in the way of working?
"You can definitely see that. We sometimes call ourselves the Financieele Dagblad of the agricultural media. By this we mean that we mainly focus on financial and business news. We primarily write about the arable farming sector, pig farming, dairy farming and the surrounding processing industry. Our approach is unique in the sector."
"Creativity and curiosity are in the blood of Boerenbusiness† This is apparent from the launch of an app, the fact that we have our own studio, make quotations in-house and organize unique projects such as the Agricultural Sprayer Academy (ASA), the National Economic Agricultural Congress and the Crop Tour. It is very inspiring to be a part of that and take the company to the next level together. Boerenbusiness continues to develop every year, the ambitions and creativity are far from over."
What type of person do you have to be to work in the editorial office?
"We have at Boerenbusiness a relatively young team. It is therefore important that you can keep up with the dynamic environment. Here you get a lot of freedom and opportunities to develop yourself. There is no straitjacket you have to fit in, but that does require a certain degree of flexibility, curiosity and perseverance."
"The stories don't just come to you, but if you are proactive, creative and not easily discouraged, then you will find the place here to challenge yourself every day. The combination of sobriety, a team player and analytical ability is also nice bonus."
And all that from Lelystad?
"The editors of Boerenbusiness is located in Lelystad and from there we keep an eye on market developments around the world. Whether swine fever in China, trade restrictions in Brazil or a company takeover in New Zealand, we are closely monitoring developments and analyzing the impact on the market."
"As a market expert, you don't spend all day in the editorial office. You sit down with CEOs, visit a slaughterhouse, you are the point of contact at major trade fairs and get the latest news at press conferences."
You write about and for livestock farming. What is your background?
"I come from a rural village and have a background in business economics. This combination is ideal for working at Boerenbusiness† This, together with the internship at an arable farm in the United States and various summer jobs in the sector, mean that I understand the language of the farmer and can propagate it. Knowledge of the sector is not necessary, but it is a plus."
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