'Rather invest in a milk tap than expensive phosphate'

They were once intensive dairy farmers in Brabant, but now the Van der Cruijsen family farms organically in Angerlo, Gelderland. At the end of the 90s, Wilbert (60) and Astrid (57) decided to change course and in 2007 the dairy farm was relocated. For six years now, the farm has had a Bed & Breakfast that is running excellently. A few years ago, a farm shop with a milk dispenser was added. "Thanks to our location, our company is ideal for this, but we understand very well that this expansion has less added value for a polder farmer."

_^.Dairy farm De Klaver, as the company of the Van der Cruijsen family is called, can be called atypical in many respects. In addition to passionate organic farming, the dairy farm is located on Landgoed Bingerden, which has been owned by the Van Weede family for hundreds of years. It is located in the beloved Liemersstreek, southeast of Arnhem. Wilbert and Astrid moved here in 2007 with their three children. They lease 50 hectares on the estate and the house and own the buildings themselves. In addition, land is leased from Natuurmomenten in the area. "I was a top fancier in Brabant with an average of 9.500 liters per cow back then", says Wilbert with a smile on his face. Nevertheless, he decided to radically change course by being one of the first in the Netherlands to switch to organic. "Something was gnawing at me, it was actually going too well. The production was great, but the vet had to visit us too often. Moreover, we farmed in a water extraction area and I felt that this could cause problems in the long term."
 

'They thought we were crazy'
As a result, the dairy farmer started to orientate himself towards organic dairy farming. That was still very unusual at the time, Wilbert recalls. Although he does not want to call himself a biopioneer. According to him, they had started earlier. The couple was advised from all sides to carry out their plans. "At the bar in the café in Brabant, they all thought I was crazy. And the DLV consultancy calculated that it would never be possible financially." However, the well-intentioned negative advice turned out to be germ seeds. Wilbert is someone who swims against the current and Astrid does not stop him. Coincidentally, during the interview he wears a shirt with the inscription: Embrace the unknown. “This kind of typifies me a bit,” he says with a smile.

After the move to Angerlo, farming continued in a less familiar environment. Although the environment and soil are different, the family did not really have to get used to it. Wilbert laughs: "They also celebrate carnival here, so we quickly felt at home. Moreover, our sixty cows came with us from Brabant, which also felt familiar." Wilbert doesn't have much to do with the machinery and the milking system, but all the more with the cows. In the meantime they milk seventy Fleckvieh cows. "This strong dual-purpose variety also produces good meat and can do without compound feed. The cows do get concentrates, by the way. We largely grow this ourselves via crops such as wheat, field beans and peas. The average milk production is 7.000 kilos per kilo at 4,3, 3,6% fat and XNUMX% protein. Of course it can be higher or lower due to the weather conditions. That is a lot less than we milk in Brabant, but we are very satisfied with this."

Instead of expensive phosphate rights
As a passionate organic farmer, Wilbert does not deny his origins. "I understand conventional dairy farmers very well and respect their way of thinking. In my study club I am the only one who farms organically, but our working method sometimes has snags. In my opinion, there is a lot in between conventional and organic. learn again." Wilbert and Astrid did not participate in the farmers' protests, but they can understand the dissatisfaction in the agricultural sector only too well. They themselves also have the necessary frustrations from a few years ago, when the phosphate rights were introduced. "We were in a pinch and we still have considerable overcapacity in the barn that had just been built at the time." Nevertheless, the family decided not to buy additional expensive phosphate rights. Instead, a broadening branch was introduced by starting a B&B six years ago and more recently a farm shop with a milk tap. According to them, this yields more than milking a few extra cows. Visitors come from all over the Netherlands and occasionally they also welcome foreigners. Especially in the high season it is full house with almost 90% occupancy. "Sometimes we deliberately don't book anything for a few days, to have some time off," says Astrid, who mainly focuses on the B&B. "Often our guests come to have a look in the milk pit and some even help. Those are beautiful moments, where a world usually opens up for them," Wilbert experiences.

On the dairy farm, visitors come and go on summer days. Both tourists and locals know how to find the dairy farm. We have a conversation with Wilbert and Astrid at the picnic table, just in front of the shop. A visiting couple decides to join us and listens intently. They come from the Achterhoek and are cycling for a day. They used to be dairy farmers, but have been retired for years now. The farming profession is still attractive. What do they think of organic production methods? "Organic is best, as long as it's paid for," says the former farmer. A little later they get back on their bikes, with meat and cheese from the farm shop in the pannier.

The farm shop that was realized two years ago has turned out to be a real crowd puller. The store has been realized in a log cabin and looks cosy, as you would expect on a farm like this. The raw farm milk is sold via the milk tap. They also offer meat and cheese, also from their own cows. The eggs of our own hobby chickens are also in great demand. Unfortunately, a visitor who comes in misses the point, because the leg of that day has already been sold.

"The milk tap is running like a train," Astrid says enthusiastically. "We supplement the range to be complete." On balance, only a limited part of the milk production is sold through our own farm shop. The rest goes to cooperative CZ Rouveen, which Wilbert and Astrid are very pleased with.

Earning capacity
To what extent the farm shop and B&B contribute to the earning capacity? "The B&B has become a necessary addition, you could say. The farm shop provides a nice extra; then you are talking about a few hundred euros per week in turnover." According to the couple, the extra benefits are a welcome addition, but you also have to like the fact that you are sometimes flattened by consumers. "Our dairy farm is ideal for this, as we are not far from civilization along popular cycling routes. That is why we have also invested €10.000 in a milk tap. For a farmer in the polder, a farmer's shop probably adds less, so realistically That's why I can't stand the fact that some politicians propose a farm shop as a generic solution for farm income," says Wilbert.

What is also bothering the couple is the action plan of Agriculture Minister Piet Adema to increase organic production to 15%. "In our opinion, organic production should follow the market and not the other way around. Otherwise, the additional price that is necessary to absorb the extra costs will disappear. Moreover, the existing organic farmers will then suffer. When we switched over in 1999, 3% of dairy farming is organic. I think that is now about 4%. So things are not going that fast."

In the coming years, Wilbert and Astrid want to continue on the current footing, but standing still is not an option. "We want to develop further. Keeping a calf with the cow would be great. But fitting this into your system is not easy. Furthermore, improving the soil is a continuous process, which is nice to follow ." The business succession is not yet guaranteed. The couple's three children chose different paths and did not take over the company. Wilbert and Astrid would like it if someone else continued the business. This could be done with relatively limited financial resources. "There may be a 'but' to leasing, but the other side of the coin is that as a starting farmer you don't have to invest in expensive agricultural land. Hopefully we will find a good successor in due course, because this company deserves that."

This series of reports is made in collaboration with platform Search farmer, which inspires citizens to visit the farmer.

Wouter Job

Wouter Baan is editor-in-chief of Boerenbusiness. He also focuses on dairy, pig and meat markets. He also follows (business) developments within agribusiness and interviews CEOs and policymakers.

w.baan@boerenbusiness. Nl

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