'Every meter of land should yield money'

The mixed arable and pig farming business of the Van der Heijden family in Soerendonk (North Brabant) focuses on French fries potatoes. No more hectares, but more barrels of 1 hectare, that is the philosophy of Toon and son Twan. As it turns out, the calculator is an indispensable tool.

Soerendonk is a stone's throw from the border with Limburg and Belgium. Farmer's blood has been running through the family for generations. In 1979 Toon van der Heijden and his wife Tonny started their business at a new-build location, as a spin-off of the parental company. In addition to a small-scale arable farm with asparagus, fattening pigs were kept in 2 stables. Together with a colleague, they grew 20 to 25 hectares of potatoes. The asparagus plots are now rented out. The company also cultivated ginseng for a while. Via Hollandginseng.nl it still takes care of product sales.

Potato cultivation central
"The potato branch continued to grow," explains Toon. "In 2000, we built our first storage shed, with a capacity of 4.500 tons. Before that, the potatoes were stored in a pit on the land. I grew flaked potatoes for Nestlé in Venray, which was later taken over by Aviko Potato. We are still part of that cooperative. always. I have a good feeling about it."

When Twan, 1 of Toon's 3 sons, came to work at home, the potato cultivation shifted further, to the current acreage of approximately 85 hectares. The pigsties are still there, with berths for 900 animals. Father and son admit that this is not the focus. This gives a mixed feeling, because this industry is currently performing very well. "The results we are running are good. However, we don't see the point of expanding again," explains Toon. "Twan's heart is not in that. We feed CCM from maize that we grow ourselves and can use the manure. In that regard, it fits perfectly."

No future perspective
One of the main reasons for not making the finishing pigs the main branch is the lack of prospects for the future in their region. Twan: "We were fine until 2028, but now there will be new legislation on 1 April 2020. Expansion is not possible and the increased regulatory pressure has taken the fun out of it." This year we built a new insulated shed for machine storage. However, there is temporarily 500 tons of potatoes in it. There are also future plans for crate storage for ATR seed potatoes.

The 85 hectares of potatoes are divided into the Fontane and Hansa varieties. "The Hansas are processed in ready-made meals in a factory in Cuijk. The Fontanes go to Steenderen," says Toon. We grow the Hansas on less load-bearing soils, because you harvest them early. In the Hansa's, only 20% are allowed to sit 50 millimeters upwards. Then follow the Fontanes. An excellent harvesting spread, which can be put together by father and son with the help of relatives and friends. The same applies to the planting season.

Attention to detail
Despite a lot of potato cultivation in the region, the company has no problem obtaining (rental) land. "Every year we grow a little, so that it remains manageable," says Twan. "Again 1 hectares in one go is not an option. Planting, spraying and harvesting is still possible, but irrigating is the bottleneck. You miss capacity there. We are not going for more hectares, but for more tons per hectare. You have to keep an eye on that. "We can do that with the current size of the farm. The growing number of stoppers provides for land supply. Southeast Brabant already has 20 fewer cows. The maize cultivation has also shrunk, which means that renting is earlier."

A third crop would be suitable for spreading, but the entrepreneurs have not yet found it. Twan: "You can also see onions here, but this requires a lot of attention if you want to do it right. We are now geared to potatoes and prefer to focus on that. You have less work on canned goods such as carrots, but the contracts are not worth it." Toon continues: "Despite the fact that we have had top results in the past, we have not been able to calculate this. We make a fair cost price comparison, including the man hours. Hopefully the contract prices will go to a higher level. Now we are filling the acreage with extra grain maize, which we carry and/or sell ourselves."

Soil improvement
Van der Heijden's detailed approach starts in the winter. Toon: "We are making a plan for the coming season. Each plot requires its own approach, including weed control. Soil improvement is difficult with a lot of leased land, although you notice that land owners are more likely to go along with this. We can then rent the entire company and manage our land. Our sloping landscape is protected, which prohibits culling/other earthmoving. We supply compost to maintain the organic matter, which varies from 1,8% to 5%. The moisture balance on plots with a high content is clearly better. We do not have the illusion that the level can be significantly increased with permitted poisons. The goal is not to lower it. More organic matter produces more yield, so that more organic matter is used. In the stories that you can increase the level with We do not believe that 1% to 1,5% can increase."

Slurry is applied in the spring. When the demand for pig slurry is good, own manure is sold and cattle slurry is supplied for a fee. After plowing, potash fertilizer is sprinkled. "Kali is even more important for the potato plant than nitrogen," says Toon. "We went from Potassium-60 to Potassium-40 to prevent salt damage and spread after plowing so that the fertilizer is in the back when planting ridging. We put soil samples in 3 layers of 0-30, 30-60 and 60-90 centimeters. You are amazed at how quickly fertilizers sink deeply. You should actually separate the slurry and apply the fractions separately. Maybe that will be the future, just like fertilizing with a NIRS sensor."

Small gifts
"During the season, we pick leaf stalks every week to measure nitrogen in the plant," Twan adds. "We fertilize in small doses. In the past with liquid fertilizers, during disease control. However, via our Greenseeker crop sensors we learned that this caused leaf burn. This is not perceptible to the eye, but it is evident. Moreover, the fertilizer did not come. at the roots in time. Now we spread everything in granular form. This dissolves through frequent watering and it quickly reaches the roots. Thanks to small doses, nothing is washed out. Nitrate measurements confirm this. We like to plant early, from the end of March, because our sandy soil warms up quickly. With small doses you have a long growing season and a good yield. Deep planting (19 centimeters of soil above the seed) is also part of the philosophy."

Irrigation is part of the standard cultivation approach. This year it was rained 4 times and last year even 6 times. "Twice is normal", Twan judges, "but not irrigating seems to be a thing of the past." He notices that plant-based fertilization is less effective in dry years. In terms of disease control, the company is reaping the benefits of a dry year. "We don't hesitate to wait a long time with the phytophthora spraying if the conditions are right", Toon agrees. Look at your crop, the environment and the weather forecast is his motto. "At 30 degrees, spraying is unnecessary. Even after watering, at a RH of 30% to 40%, the Phytophthora fungus dies quickly. That poses no danger. We check with citizens whether there is no source of infection, work with a computer program and have a Our field sprayer with Wingssprayer is important. We bought the first in the Netherlands years ago, and are now on the fourth. The environmental impact is always number 1, which stands or falls with effective spraying."

Potato Futures Market
The potato market is largely sailed on its own course. At the Fontane, Aviko's French fries guarantee contract is used. "Within that contract form, 10 tons per hectare is fixed (all hectares), at the fixed price of €10,50 per 100 kilos (delivery in January-February)", he explains. "The next 25 tons per hectare is traded via the potato futures market, with a fixed floor of €7,10 (week 13). The excess kilos go into the pool. The futures market offers the advantage that trading can be done early in the season. Always the market will rise briefly to € 18, which you can take advantage of. It is important to remain sober and to chart your own course, sometimes against the general sentiment. The potatoes in our area grew unexpectedly well last summer. you elsewhere too. I expected a falling market price, but that is not happening now. The great thing is that a higher pool price compensates for a lower futures market result. Over the last 10 years I have always been able to earn money. It is important to know exactly your cost price. sales result below the contract price, then you better stop."

Future vision
While Toon is busy with the trade, Twan takes care of the farm work. Starting next year, that will change. "In 2 years our dad will be 65 and he will take it easy." Next year, Twan will start with its own futures market account. They don't like forming 1 sales strategy together. "By doing it side by side, we can nicely compare who has earned the most. You keep each other on their toes", Toon laughs. Twan is not really concerned with a long-term vision. "Business development depends on the land supply. I want to maintain our acreage and seize opportunities where possible. Looking ahead in the pig sector is difficult. Even if I want to build a new barn, the rules can change again after a year. Only the permit application already costs € 6.000. Precision agriculture is becoming an integral part of cultivation. Samples are a snapshot. They differ per location and per office. Precision agriculture provides thousands of measuring points. This way we can earn more per square meter and handle fertilizers and crop protection products more precisely. "

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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