You have to try to be ahead of the stoppershoos

Stopping schemes for cows and pigs, no successors and a bad market situation. In the coming years, thousands of farmers will give up. In North Brabant alone, more than 2020 stopping pig farmers are expected by 1250. This brings us to a major problem. Because all those companies have a lot of industrial buildings and there has to be a destination for that.

The most obvious option is to start a new agricultural business in the buildings or to rent out the stables. The demand for organic products is increasing switch moving to an organic farm is an option for a number of livestock farmers.

A niche market such as insect farming can also sometimes offer a solution, but a niche market is a niche market for a reason. There is only room for a limited number of entrepreneurs. Anyone who waits until the end of the pig farming ban in 2020 and then still wants to invest in insects will certainly be too late.

There is also limited space for options outside the agricultural sector. What we are seeing quite a lot at the moment is pig farmers converting a barn into a multi-company building. We also see pig farms being converted into caravan sheds. Companies such as Stalling31 are seeing a significant increase in the enthusiasm of farmers for the storage facility owner. But there will be no 1250 caravan sheds in Brabant, nor will there be 1000 multi-company buildings.

That's why I'm surprised that farmers are putting off the choice to stop and use their buildings in a different way for so long. Many are orientating themselves, but are still putting off the real choices under the guise of 'it is not yet 2020'.

If all pig farmers participating in the stopper scheme wait until 01-01-2020 to actually stop, a large number of empty buildings will be added at that time. If there is no more space for multi-company buildings, dog boarding houses, caravan storage, etc., then as an entrepreneur you have to rely on demolition schemes and space-for-space. Options where the question is how much return it yields.

That is why my advice to entrepreneurs, who have already decided to stop in the coming years, is to make timely choices and to be ahead of the big stoppers rush. Do not put it off, but take the initiative and ensure that you remain at the helm of your future. 

DLV Advice

DLV Advies is an independent consultancy for entrepreneurs, companies and organizations in the agricultural sector. In addition to individual advice, DLV supervises study groups and is active in various Agri&Food projects.

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