'Farming is adapting, it has always been that way'

Jan Kolhorn, who is participating in the Gewastour for the first time this year, has been running an arable farm in Uithuizermeeden in North Groningen with his wife since 2020. The company consists of 130 hectares of private land. Previously, Jan Kolhorn worked with his parents in a partnership, but since 2020 the company has changed to its current form, in which he and his wife fully manage the company themselves. However, his parents still work on the company and provide support where necessary. 

Jan Kolhorn grows a total of 35 hectares of potatoes. Last year he switched from a 1 in 3 to a 1 in 4 rotation. Growing Innovator is becoming increasingly difficult for him, because he is in an NV area, where the total nitrogen use standard will be reduced by 2025% in 20. Innovator needs a lot of nitrogen, which is a limitation. He may choose a different variety in the future, but he thinks that is a shame, because the Innovator is a popular variety in the French fry industry.

For the Gewastour, Jan Kolhorn uses a plot of 15 hectares, of which 11 hectares for Innovator and 4 hectares for Cardyma. The plot was grassland for three years and has now been ploughed. The soil type varies, with an alternation of heavy and lighter soil, with siltable percentages of 30% to 10%. Jan works partly with HZPC contracts and part of the cultivation is without a contract. According to him, the contract price is not always optimal, but it does offer certainty. "A little bit of speculation about the trade also makes it interesting," he says.

One of the biggest challenges for Kolhorn is the changing regulations. The ever-changing government policy makes long-term planning difficult. "Every few years, the policy changes, which makes investments uncertain," he explains. According to him, this means that farmers have to continuously respond to new challenges and uncertainties. The climate also requires adaptability, especially in connection with drought, he believes. Although irrigation is an option, it is not always easy: "The water contains a lot of salt, and in some areas you are not even allowed to irrigate." These restrictions force him to be creative with water management and crop selection. 

Kolhorn sees the rising land prices, caused by inflation, as a development that he does not allow to be influenced by. The demand for land is enormous, which he experiences as a threat. "It is just made up, and you have no influence on it." He also points to the situation in which a cable is being laid through his land towards a wind farm in the North Sea. Although it concerns his own land, he has little influence on it as a farmer. While nature reserves are protected, this does not apply to arable land, he indicates. 

Collaboration with fellow arable farmers is important for the Gewastour participant. He shares knowledge and experience with other farmers in the region about cultivation methods, costs and sales, in order to learn from each other.

Despite the uncertainties in the sector, Kolhorn remains positive about the future of agriculture, provided that farmers are given enough space to be enterprising. "Farming is adapting. That has always been the case," he says. He also emphasizes that there will always be a need for food: "People will continue to eat. We cannot do without agriculture." 

Kolhorn advises young farmers to broaden their horizons and to continue learning. "Look around at others and dare to make choices." He thinks that he himself should have gained more experience abroad before settling down fully in the Netherlands. 

Kolhorn gets the most satisfaction out of seeing the results of his work. "The highlight of the season is the harvest. Then you see what you've worked for all year." 

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