Opinions Jasper Carpenter
A gap year for farmers
The last few weeks have felt good again. The sun is shining exuberantly and the summer feeling is deep within us. For farmers, August is the month of harvest, as a reward for all their effort. It is also a time when many families go on vacation. Just do something different and leave it alone. Summer is beautiful, that's for sure.
But while the sun puts a golden glow on everything, there are plenty of worries that don't just disappear. Research by LTO, for example, shows that 80% of dairy farmers suffer from manure disposal problems. Manure disposal costs have increased by up to 50% this year. A 'heavy cart to pull'. Fortunately, the milk price has also risen, but that offers limited relief. The situation is not much better for arable farmers. Far too much water has fallen since October last year, which has seriously hampered the harvest. Planting and sowing this spring did not work, what now? The yields are low. For wheat, for example, yields are low, while normally they can be almost double. Many plots with mediocre beets, potatoes and onions give little hope of top yields. The corn also gives little reason for enthusiasm.
Gap year
Perhaps we should consider harvest year 2024 as a gap year. A year in which we do not set the bar too high, but focus on survival and adjustment. Gap years are apparently not just for students who want to broaden their horizons or work on their personal development. Research shows that such a year can actually be very valuable for making better choices for the long term. It provides space to reflect, to think about what is really important and then to continue with new energy and insights. In addition to entrepreneurs doing this themselves, parties such as agricultural organizations also do this. Recent reports from that corner, for example about solving the manure crisis, give encouragement.
Let's face it, such a gap year is certainly tough for the agricultural entrepreneur. It can also turn out well. It offers the opportunity to take a step back, look at business operations, reconsider the strategy and possibly shift focus. Perhaps this is the time to also invest in personal development. To build self-confidence and broaden horizons. Try to pause, reflect and evaluate. Then to continue with a renewed vision and approach, full of good courage.
foundation
As mentioned, 2024 does not seem to be the year of top harvests, but it could be the year in which the foundation is laid for a stable and successful future. Sometimes it is more important to work on the foundation than to want to see immediate results. The proverb 'if you want to reap, you must sow' applies almost literally. Let us use 2024 as a year of reflection and preparation, so that we can move forward stronger and more resilient.
Jasper Carpenter
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