Organic dairy farmer Wes Korrel (62) from Ouderkerk aan de Amstel is working in a cooperative context to set up his own dairy. Korrel tells how he looks back on 2017 and also looks ahead to 2018.
How is your company doing in terms of size and growth plans?
"We keep 75 cows with accompanying young stock on an organic basis, on 60 hectares of land in the Ronde Hoep. This is a polder just below Amsterdam, where the meadow birds thrive relatively well and for which we are also very committed. I am in general partnership with a 1,5-year-old partner, with the idea that he will continue the business in the long run My own children are not interested in it and our house plot is in 23 piece, a pity that it will be divided later and not here by someone else's company will be continued."
How do you look back on the phosphate legislation in 2017 and the introduction of the rights as of 2018?
"It may be known that we as organic dairy farmers do not participate in the derogation and therefore had to unjustifiably shrink with them within the reduction plan. However, it is swallow or suffocate and now it is ready for me too. You can continue to resist, but it will not bring you much. to nothing. The final decision has yet to be made, but I expect to be allocated rights for the current number of cattle. I am not going to buy more rights yet. We will see how that develops in the coming period and what the chances are then. "
What are your main goals and plans in 2018?
"From our agricultural collective in Amstelland, we are working on our own dairy line and the processing of our own milk into dairy. A building has now been rented for this. The goal is to first process more than 400.000 kilos and valorise them. This is done through the company Vroegop. in Amsterdam. We will start with a conventional milk flow, supplied by dairy farmers from this area. Stimulating herb-rich grassland and preserving the meadow bird and its habitat is central to this. We also want to market this concept. The intention is that Vroegop's participants pays a price for the milk that is equal to the organic milk price."
So is it also interesting for you as an organic dairy farmer?
"I hope that we will actually start production next summer and that we will be able to process and valorise an organic stream quickly afterwards. That remains to be seen. Furthermore, it concerns a maximum of 30% of my milk pool. From FrieslandCampina and other participants in the large cooperative I have received permission for this. This is in the context of a market initiative for which you have to get approval from the cooperative, because normally that is not allowed. At the moment we have 15 members who will deliver, we aim for at least 20. I strongly believe in the direct link with retail and consumers. It doesn't make farming easier, but it does make it more challenging."
How do you hope and expect your company to be in 5 years' time?
"I think our company is viable, so I think it will still be in good shape in 5 years' time. That doesn't have to be due to doubling in size or something like that. I don't believe in those kinds of jumps in scale. I also hope that our own dairy then fully and satisfactorily, and that we sell a conventional and organic flow of dairy products in Amsterdam for a good price."
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