'Common farmer knows more rules than organic'

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 the word is given to organic dairy farmer Jaco de Groot (31) from Kamerik.

How has your company developed in recent years?
"We are currently milking 280 cows, which we keep on 240 hectares, together with the accompanying young stock. The smallest half of those hectares is owned, the rest is lease. In addition, there is another 30 hectares of natural land, where certain restrictions even apply to grazing. day and night and all the land is used as pasture." 

"In addition to the organic dairy branch, we rent out apartments, care for people with dementia, we provide farm education and we will soon open a shop at home. We will sell cheese produced in-house, among other things. I do this under the name 'BoerBert' It is a general partnership with my parents, who both also have a job outside the home. My brother works with us at the company, as do 2 permanent employees and some volunteers. When I went to the Hogere Landbouwschool in 2005 and was sure to want to go with farmers, we opted for growth. In that year we delivered organic for the first time and we milked about 70 cows. On 2 July 2015 we milked 245 cows, after that we expanded the number of animals even further."

That is now causing problems within the phosphate reduction plan?
"It seemed like that at first, but we got the opportunity to take over a company in the area. That entrepreneur emigrated to Poland, after which we were able to buy his company as a whole. This also applies to the phosphate reference and the phosphate rights as of 2018. The rights that applied when we concluded the sale amounted to approximately €5000 per cow.With the accompanying land that belongs to the purchase, we now actually have too few cows for the milk.As organic farmers we do not participate in Previously I was therefore excited about the fact that we were also linked to the reduction plan, but personally I see it this way: we fought against it and we lost, then you have to accept that and find a solution. It is their right for colleagues to litigate. I am also a board member of Eko Melk Holland and from that position I also support them, but we have found a different interpretation for our own company."

Do you not think that organic dairy farmers are being disproportionately affected?
"I think so, but because of the purchase of the other company I don't have to deal with that. I don't want that either, because it only costs negative energy. That is of no use at all. Moreover, it is almost time that the conventional farmer must comply with more rules than the organic one. Even though we consciously choose to supply a specialist and smaller market. A cycle indicator or participation in BEX is not mandatory or necessary at our factory. That saves a lot of hassle."

Does it also bother you that solidarity among dairy farmers is under great pressure?
"I think that's a shame and unnecessary. Every dairy farmer stands where he/she stands because of strategic choices that have been made before. The government now thinks something about it. That turns out quite differently for some people than for others, but let's I think the question is how we, as a sector, ensure that the government does not act everywhere in the same way as in Brabant. That is an approach that is undesirable and is also not in line with normal business practices. often would not think, the government and sector still work well together. I have explored agriculture worldwide with a Nuffield world tour and I dare to make that statement based on my experiences and stories."

"When I read the election manifesto of the Party for the Animals, I think: with 70% I agree, with 30% I disagree. Our problem, however, is that we focus on that 30% from both sides. The core of the 70 %, however, is that the system has to be turned upside down in order to realize a fair price for naturally and healthily produced food. This so that farmers have a good income. I can support that. With the current phosphate problem, we mainly focus on kilos of phosphate and what is and is not too much. But let's rather look for the answer to the question of what society and what the majority of the sector really want. From there you can work on consistent policy."

How do you expect and hope that your company will be in 5 years' time?
"In the coming years I will focus even more on my direct customers. Opening my own store is a start of that. I want to know even better who my customers are and how I can best serve them. That includes finding and training staff. In fact, the entire company needs to optimize. Enough challenges for the coming years."

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