'Young farmers should not give up too quickly'

Ruben Klein Teeselink is the new portfolio holder for dairy farming at the NAJK. He is thus following in the footsteps of Marije Klever, who has held this role for the past 4 years. As a young farmer, he is optimistic, but then there must be room for entrepreneurs. The nitrogen dossier currently predominates, according to Klein Teeselink, the other challenges should not be forgotten. "Land-boundness may be more challenging than nitrogen for dairy farming in some provinces."

Congratulations on your appointment, you can say that you are taking office in turbulent times…
"Thank you. These are indeed challenging times, but also a good moment to step in. I see it mainly as an opportunity. At first I was a bit hesitant to take up this role, but within the NAJK we operate with the entire team. So I'm not alone and that gives confidence."

Many young farmers give up or have serious doubts. Not you. What opportunities do you see?
"First and foremost, I have a lot of ties with our home company. I am the sixth generation and proud that I can continue this. In addition, I certainly also see opportunities. Young entrepreneurs should not give up too quickly. The world population is growing and with it the demand for healthy food. the many stoppages will hopefully create more entrepreneurial space for those who stay.And for the position of the farmer in the market, the current annual natural decline of the Dutch livestock herd is not bad either.As long as it is not a forced buyout, because I am averse to that ."

You make a point there. How do you stand in the overheated nitrogen debate?
"The goal is to retain as much room as possible for entrepreneurial perspective. Personally, I prefer to talk to the policymakers, but the limit has now been reached. The sector has submitted plans, but the gauntlet has not been picked up. Hopefully the impasse will be broken soon. We are now waiting for the answers from mediator Johan Remkes. We ourselves farm 1,6 kilometers from a Natura 2000 area, so that certainly makes us think. But there are more problems than nitrogen."

Such as?
Take, for example, the requirements for land-relatedness. In provinces such as Overijssel, Gelderland, Noord-Brabant and Limburg, that is perhaps a bigger problem for dairy farming than nitrogen. There is a need for clarity through a long-term vision. I am thinking of 15 to 20 years ahead, so that you can base the financing on that. The fact that we do not yet know whether or not the derogation will expire this year is very frustrating and creates a lot of uncertainty. We also now have to work on future dilemmas such as water quality, methane emissions, CAP policy and land-relatedness. All that is still to come in the years to come. The goals are often fixed, but the way how we get there is not clear. That's what I want to do in my new role."

What solutions are you thinking about?
"To cooperation. First of all, to work together as a dairy sector, but also to make good use of the entrepreneurial space. The problems must and can be solved on a national scale, for example by linking livestock farmers to arable farmers in the sale of manure. Land-relatedness can be tackled by to redistribute spaces nationally. In Friesland, for example, many companies are land-based, but not here in Overijssel."

Finally, do you still have faith that this cabinet will come up with solutions?
Let me put it this way: there is too much politics in the current cabinet. Not only in the nitrogen policy, but I am also thinking of the problems that exist about the allowances affair, gas drilling and the migration crisis that is now playing up again. That will not solve the problems."

Wouter Job

Wouter Baan is Head of Meat & Dairy at BoerenbusinessAt DCA Market Intelligence, he focuses on dairy, pork, and meat markets. He also monitors (business) developments within agribusiness and interviews CEOs and policymakers.

w.baan@boerenbusiness. Nl

© 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.