'I don't understand criticism of the Kringloopwijzer'

Different dairy farmers have different business situations. In this summer series, a number of them explain how they view the elaboration of current legislation and regulations, and how they intend to deal with this in their business operations in the coming years. This time it is up to the intensive dairy farmer Erik van Grinsven (48) from Sint-Michielsgestel.

How has your company developed in recent years?
"We now milk more than 250 cows, with 165 young stock, on 90 hectares of sandy soil. This means about 32.500 kilos of milk per hectare. We work without derogation. In 15 years we have gone from 600.000 kilos of milk per year to 2,8, 20 million kilos grown. This by milking about 25 to 295 more cows every year. This year we wanted and should have been at XNUMX cows, but the current regulations are putting a stop to that."

"Intensive farming was not necessarily a conscious choice for us. We took over the company with 27 hectares. It was and is not possible here in Brabant to make big leaps in soil. Moreover, farming with a reasonable degree of intensity is still the The most economical way to farm. You can buy the feed that fits best and work more efficiently. That advantage can be clearly demonstrated via the Kringloopwijzer. I therefore do not understand the criticism of the Kringloopwijzer."

Are you annoyed by colleagues who criticized the Recycling Guide?
"I do indeed. What do many of my colleagues have against that? Now you can show what you have to offer as a dairy farmer, I think. Those who try to undermine the Kringloopwijzer do so purely out of their own interest. "I think they are doing something very stupid for the sector as a whole. That others were born in an area where land is easily available is good for them. We have rowed with the belts we had. And got the most out of it. "Pure economics. How you get used to it, that's what it's about. Dairy farmers are too easily satisfied with earning a little bit."

"I often wonder with many land-bound farmers whether they have ever had an economics lesson at school. It is wonderful to have a large plot of land that is worth capital, but it is only useful if you are between 6 planks. If you have roughage left over or you can't use it, what are you doing? Then you shouldn't complain that you don't earn anything. And certainly don't criticize colleagues who have chosen a different path."

How do you anticipate the future with your own company?
“I was stupid enough not to immediately fill the entire barn before July 2015. Because I was careful with my technical results, I wanted to grow gradually. I hope and expect to regain the efficiency advantage via the Kringloopwijzer, but that remains to be seen. It is possible that we will soon be punished for 1 kilo of phosphate that we do not produce. We currently live in such a strange world. We have not bought anything yet, but soon we will have to buy additional phosphate rights. The stable will have to be full at some point. Renting rights, if that becomes possible, I will not start. That should also be banned. Renting or leasing rights has never made a farmer better."

How do you expect and hope that your company will be in five years' time?
"Despite all the obstacles, I expect to fill the barn and make full use of it. By then probably together with my son Daan. On average, inflation continues to rise by 2,5% annually, so growth remains necessary to maintain income. Investing in The land will probably only become more difficult. The phosphate rights also have to be paid for and you can only spend your money once. You can see it in the milk quota era: barely a barn was built for 1 years, all the money was spent on rights. there is little you can do other than to keep the kilos of milk at the right level or to run it as efficiently as possible. And to optimize the technical results. But I do worry, especially with the current situation in Brabant."

You are critical of politics and some of your colleagues, but are you also critical of sector representatives?
"Certainly, at FrieslandCampina in particular. When I read their recent sustainability proposals, the first thing I think is: how do you manage to choose such an unfortunate moment to announce these plans? We, dairy farmers, have already We have had so much over us, especially in Brabant. I find it unbelievable that the board of FrieslandCampina seems to ignore this. Then you really miss what is going on. Dairy farmers here are completely knocked out. The milk price may be good, but the feeling is that is certainly not at the moment. That is a dangerous development."

"It may still be positive for the pricing of the phosphate rights. I expect that there will be many dairy farmers who will say: just look at it, I'll stop. As far as I'm concerned, FrieslandCampina sets the tone, also towards politics, in the wrong way in the wrong I understand the sustainability story and I also see the importance. But that does not mean that they should and may lock up intensive farmers."

© 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.