'Difficult that decisions come from behind the desk'

Boerenbusiness is 10 years old this year. In the context of this anniversary we publish on Boerenbusiness various interviews with loyal Boerenbusinesssubscribers. What developments, opportunities and threats do they see? This time it is Kees Oomen (58), an arable farmer from Biddinghuizen.

1. Who are you and what kind of business do you have?
"I'm Kees Oomen, together with my son I have a common arable farm (40,8 hectares) in the Flevopolder. We grow several crops: potatoes, onions, wheat, beets, carrots, garlic, chicory and spinach."

2. What motivated you to take out a subscription 10 years ago? Has this affected your business?
"I took out a subscription for information from the potato futures market 10 years ago. I think it is important to know what is going on in the potato market. This has not necessarily affected my business operations, but I do take the information with me for, for example, the right moment of selling my potatoes."

3. Which page of Boerenbusiness do you always open first?
"The homepage, for the latest industry news."

4. What development (in the last 10 years) are you most proud of in your company?
"We had deep plowing a few years ago. This has enabled us to look at other crops and more specialized crops, such as garlic, for example."

5. What hinders you most in your current business and why?"
"The loss of resources and especially the speed with which they disappear means that we have to constantly adapt. It is difficult that decisions are made by people behind a desk, I don't think they always understand it all."

6. Where do you see the most opportunities for your company and why?
"The most important thing is to stay healthy as a company and to see whether it can also be continued in the future. In terms of opportunities, we just have to wait and see what will be decided in the future."

7. Are you an 'online' entrepreneur or do you still attach great value to information on paper?
"I hardly read trade journals on paper. Online information is more often up-to-date and I can look up relevant information faster. Usually I have little time to quietly read a trade journal."

8. Who in agriculture compliments you?
"Jan Cees Vogelaar. He knows what is going on and stands up for the interests of the farmer. That is important in these times."

9. Where will your company be in 10 years and will you still be a subscriber?
"In 10 years' time, the company will probably have been taken over. I hope to still be involved and to be able to cooperate. We will definitely still be members of Boerenbusiness."

10. If I'm editor-in-chief of Boerenbusiness wash then...
"Would I continue on this footing."

© DCA Market Intelligence. This market information is subject to copyright. It is not permitted to reproduce, distribute, disseminate or make the content available to third parties for compensation, in any form, without the express written permission of DCA Market Intelligence.