Blog: Leonie Bosch

LTO .'s best kept secret

3 May 2018 - Leonie Bosch - 49 comments

It almost seems like cursing in church when the question is asked how many members LTO Nederland has. If you look at internet forums, you will see that there is mainly discussion about whether or not to have a membership. However, it is also very interesting to know how many members they have, because they make quite a few statements from the sector. Leonie Bosch checks the numbers.

When asked further, the remark is always made: "We have an organizational degree of more than 70%." Marc Calon, chairman of LTO Nederland, did this in 2018 in an interview with a trade journal for dairy farming elucidate again. The journalist asked how many farmers LTO Nederland still represents. "That's 72%. I don't know how much that is per sector. However, it is just as much as in 1990. That surprised me." Later he says again that it surprised him.

The figures from 2013 show the following picture of the number of members per company: 3.000 at LLTB, 8.500 at ZLTO and 18.000 at LTO Noord. The source of the figures is LTO Nederland. The total number of agricultural holdings on April 1, 2012 is 68.500. That would mean that 43% is a member of LTO Nederland.

43

procent

is a member of LTO Netherlands

It is now the case that LTO Nederland indicates that they 'count twice' the members, ie per family. If we assume that 60% are married, we arrive at this calculation: 60% of 29.500 is 17.700. These are then counted twice; so 17.700 divided by 2 is 8.850 + 11.800 (40%) is 20.650. And 20.650 divided by 68.500 = 30%.

LTO Netherlands is most surprised
What strikes me is that Calon repeats 2 times in 1 paragraph that he is surprised that the degree of organization is so high. It's like hearing a dairy farmer say that he looked up how much milk he delivered this week and was surprised that it was the same as 1 year earlier. The organizational structure of LTO Nederland has become so inscrutable that they no longer even know what they are talking about.

The Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) also indicates that in the entire agricultural and fisheries sector there is a participation rate of 12% (2011) in the trade unions, trade unions and/or trade unions.

Organizational degree as a gauge
LTO Nederland has so many companies that they serve almost every sector. However, it is impossible for me to confirm the numbers that LTO Nederland itself mentions. It seems that they are very flexible with the concept of organizational degree. Statistics Netherlands gives the following definition: 'the number of employees who are members of a trade union, expressed as a percentage of the total number of employees.'

According to the statistics bureau CBS, approximately 170.000 people are employed in agriculture. A participation rate of 72% means that 122.400 people are members of LTO Nederland. Suppose this were true, then LTO Nederland would have to receive 122.400 times €1.000 is €122.400.000 million every year.

However, if we look at the profit and loss account, the turnover is approximately €24.000.000, based on figures from the Chamber of Commerce (KvK). That's 1/5 of that. That would mean an organization rate of 14,4%. I will assume that all income is membership dues, which is probably not the case. This would make the percentage even lower.

Decline in membership numbers
About 1 year ago there was an article in the farm, in which an inventory was made of the membership numbers of the various agricultural interest groups. They also did not get much further than estimates. LTO Noord indicated that it had 35.000 members, but adjusted this by saying that it also included sleeping members. Without those members, it was 25.000 people.

This also includes the family members; in practice it amounts to about 12.500 members with a company. ZLTO indicates that there are 7.126 companies members and LLTB indicates that there are 2.400 companies/partnerships and dormant members, which translates into 1.200 members.

According to Statistics Netherlands, there are currently 54.840 farms. This would mean that 38% of all companies are members of LTO Nederland. That is a small decrease compared to 2012 (-4%). Nothing to be ashamed of.

Dairy farmers
LTO Nederland has often been in the news lately, partly because of the binding advice land-bound. A number of times you could read that the members of LTO (at least, according to LTO itself) 'embraced' the plan. "NZO and LTO Nederland take the advice of the Commision completely over and work it out further. Both parties will investigate how they can encourage dairy farmers to achieve the desired land-related nature." Dirk Bruins: "The advice contributes to a number of objectives that we have already set ourselves. So it fits nicely."

13,5

procent

of dairy farmers are members of LTO

In such a case it is very important to know what percentage of the dairy farmers are then represented. There are 17.000 dairy farmers in the Netherlands, approximately 3.000 of whom are members of the Dutch Dairy Farmers' Union (NMV) (source: farm, 2017) and approximately 2.000 are members of the Dutch Dairy Board (DDB).

Earlier research by the SER (2012) shows that 43% of dairy farmers are members of a trade union. That produces the following calculation: 17.700 divided by 100 times 43 is 7.310. About 5.000 of these dairy farmers are members of another trade union. So 2.300 dairy farmers remain, 13,5% of all dairy farmers. Which is a very nice number. Apparently the share of dairy farmers is about 12% of the entire membership base.

Confess
The problem with interest groups is that they often want to consult with all parties and then look for a middle ground. It's a nice goal, but it's difficult in agriculture. First, you have multiple industries, and second, you have industries with diverse interests. A clear example is organic livestock farming versus conventional livestock farming versus intensive livestock farming. Besides the fact that it is difficult, it seems as if LTO Nederland recently wants to represent the group that is in the most trouble (dairy farms with little land and high costs) the least.

Many members, few members, 10 corporate relations or 3.000 members; it shouldn't matter as long as everyone knows how it is and what you choose. At the moment, LTO Nederland speaks on behalf of 13,5% of dairy farming. That is not enough to say that the sector is behind something. A quick analysis shows that the relationship on social media is moving more and more towards negative sentiment, regarding LTO.

Transparency is a great asset to the members of a representative. I think LTO Nederland would like to go along with that. Let's start by simply answering when asked how many members there are and then don't juggle double members, dormant members, partnerships, corporations, individuals, employees, policyholders, or industries. Simply the figures on the table per industry, per agricultural company.

LTO North
After a few days of reading a lot of information about LTO Netherlands, I can't help but think that LTO North carries almost the entire stronghold (financially and in terms of member numbers). I don't want to disparage the other departments with this, because they also seem to perform well (ZLTO and LLTB). However, it is possible that the last reorganization only took place to allow all loose-fixed concerns to piggyback on the successes of LTO-North.

Leonie Bosch is an economist and farmer. on dairy farmingbosch.nl she keeps a close eye on developments in agriculture.

	Members (2012)	Members (2017)	Difference between 2012 and 2017
LTO	18.000	12.500	-30,6%
ZLTO	8.500	7.126	-16,2%
LLTB	3.000	1.200	-60%

Leonie Bosch

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Comments

49 comments

peter 3 May 2018

This is a response to this article:
[url=http://www.boerenbusiness.nl/ondernemen/blogs/column/10878431/het-best-bewaarde-geheim-van-lto][/url]

Good that this is being made public.
I just DO NOT understand that this party can still call itself a representative of all dairy farmers.

Claas 3 May 2018

Thanks for digging into the numbers Leonie.
I myself have not been a member for years and then you are often accused of riding on the luggage carrier. I have always found that an unjustified argument because you are unintentionally riding in a direction that you do not want.
These figures show that it has become very crowded on the luggage carrier and we can actually say that we as sectors are not doing ourselves any favors by handing over the wheel to such a small club.
However, that is a consequence of the choice to stay behind.
The worst thing at the moment, however, is that all kinds of authorities and governments still think they can talk to 'all' farmers if LTO is present at consultations.
I hope LTO will indeed be more open about its real limited scope in such platforms. Perhaps because of this, more people will come off that luggage carrier to send along.

Joop 3 May 2018

It's the same song for all organizations: Also at POV they dream about those 80% members according to Mrs. Jansen ....... Also has to do with PR. If you announce that less than half of the farmers are members, there will be even more cancellations.....

Arnold 3 May 2018

All well and good, if LTO disappears or decreases in meaning, who is going to fill the gap? We have to be careful that more and more regulations are organized without our participation, so again who is going to do that?
Or are we ready for a completely new structure based on a mandatory new organization?
Where are the people in the sector with a clear foresight, apart from the old model old thinking, with a clear vision?
Can the LEI do something about this?

Piet 3 May 2018

It has been a thorn in the side for years that (Z)LTO maintains "old" members. THIS ALREADY SHOWS THAT THEY CAN'T MISS THIS!! Perhaps the list of members will be put on the table during consultation. Then they can show off numbers

Piet 3 May 2018

It is good that there is a new structure for interest organization. Farming for farmers no longer works. There are currently farmers on departmental boards who know about certain things that are not right, but do nothing. Perhaps out of self-interest or fear. Take, for example, manure fraud. Certain department directors undoubtedly knew that transports were taking place that were not good. But no one takes steps

cow bunting 3 May 2018

What a nonsense calculation. Anyone who knows a little about the dairy farmers in their area and who occasionally attends LTO members' meetings will confirm that such a low estimate of 13,5% dairy farm members makes no sense.

Hans 3 May 2018

I too canceled my LTO membership a few years ago.
I'm certainly not proud of that.
I did this because I absolutely did not see my interests and those of the permanent generation of farmers being looked after.
Due to the current LTO, there has been far too much consultation with all organizations that consider themselves important in the Netherlands.
This has created a climate that is economically only suitable for retiring as a farmer.
In my view, you are a representative of the people who work in the sector and want to stay!
Sincerely hope that a new advocate will emerge with a strong back, so as not to bend with the wind of any silly organization.
In this way you also show that you have something to offer as a sector!

JW the fuck 3 May 2018

start an internet poll who is or is not a member.

Jb 3 May 2018

Setting up a new agricultural front and then in such a way that we are elected to the political 1 party instead of a fragmented organization

av 3 May 2018

Very interesting! And then still with the chest forward that they represent "the sector". When you look at production instead of at companies, so in kg of produced product, it will appear that LTO represents an even smaller %. To put it bluntly: a farmer who still milks 35 cows or has 300 sows (nothing wrong with that) remains a loyal LTO member, the one who wants to continue his business has long since left as a member. "Jip and Janneke; the farmer remains a member, the agricultural entrepreneur no longer puts money into this outdated club"

ex member 3 May 2018

they don't speak for the majority but they don't listen to the minority either

Karel 3 May 2018

This club is being completely eroded, as it turns out now that they no longer have a strong following. Also prefer to see clubs such as the NAV or farmer aware. At least they represent an opinion.

Jan 3 May 2018

Hans join the driving and pick up the ball. This money for all dropouts who know better. People stay organized. Individually you have no say at all!

Erwin Haveman 3 May 2018

It is a pity that our efforts are valued in this way, if the correct figures are used, the opponents of LTO Noord seem to be in the minority. As an illustration of the sandwich and the monkey: on November 1, 2017 we had 10.030 members in the western Netherlands. According to CBS, in 2017 there were 12.397 farms in FL, NH, UT and ZH. 'Unweighted' degree of organization is therefore almost 81%. Further explanation @LTONoord will follow later.

farmer 3 May 2018

I can pay a lot of praise for the local LTO board, they show themselves in many positive ways. For those ties in The Hague, they are massively beating us out of money.
it is true that they count entire families as members, I was approached last year, if our names could all be written down as members, it cost nothing.

Subscriber

chose 4 May 2018

Now LTO also lies about their own figures .... bad business of this organization !!!

Leonie Bosch 4 May 2018

Thank you for taking the trouble to respond. Its sole purpose is transparency. If you notice that there is unrest and you have the numbers to take it away, isn't it only nice to do that? In fact, 'embrace' the critical voices from society that keeps you sharp and shows you where the focus should be. It is more than nice that there is representation from the agricultural sector close to the fire. But it is noticeable that there seems to be a kind of irritation when asked about the right to exist of LTO, is that really a crazy question? Isn't that a question that should live with you. Why not just talk openly and make sure the unit stays (or comes back) instead of reacting to a critical note (rightly or wrongly) as to whether it is an attack! If your figures are correct and 80% of the agricultural companies are members, then that is something to be proud of, right? If those members are counted in pairs (family members) then it is still a nice number, but a different number. But still fine.

Ex member 4 May 2018

I canceled my ZLTO membership after 35 years some years ago. I was a very active but critical director. All (dozens of) critical administrators were gently but urgently expelled from their organization. The arrogant lying plush-sitters stayed put. A cow farmer represented arable businesses, a pig farmer represented manure interests for arable farming, etc. When I was invited somewhere for my company, I was insulted by the then director of the ZLTO who would be there on behalf of the sector; what I thought I was not going to do there. He represented me right??
Not then and never again.

calon fan 4 May 2018

why does lto itself not respond and make the figures public? they have nothing to hide anyway. or would they have expelled so many members from the calf fraud that they no longer dare to do it themselves. If Facebook Google must be transparent, then lto can do that too. now many only get a further uncomfortable feeling

GARDEN 4 May 2018

Why has the annual contribution (almost) doubled? (I put this question to LTO NOORD, but I did not receive an answer (a confirmation of receipt, but) ...

West Brabant 4 May 2018

Then I'll just stop

hans 4 May 2018

Why do so many still think that the LTO is a farmers' advocate? They are there for the sector, so for everyone from producer to consumer. That is why LTO's "policy" is often not in the interest of that farmer, but it is for the other links in that chain. In addition, LTO is a pass-through of the government, they are also heavily paid for it. So don't think that as farmers you can dismantle that organization, they operate at a higher level.

jpk 4 May 2018

As an lto member, I have been bothered for years by the blowing policy about eg GBM resources and not defending the facts about these resources well

jpk 4 May 2018

As an lto member, I have been bothered for years by the blowing policy about eg GBM resources and not defending the facts about these resources well

hans 4 May 2018

av wrote:

Very interesting! And then still with the chest forward that they represent "the sector". When you look at production instead of at companies, so in kg of produced product, it will appear that LTO represents an even smaller %. To put it bluntly: a farmer who still milks 35 cows or has 300 sows (nothing wrong with that) remains a loyal LTO member, the one who wants to continue his business has long since left as a member. "Jip and Janneke; the farmer remains a member, the agricultural entrepreneur no longer puts money into this outdated club"

Farmers with 35 cows or 300 sows can do much better financially than the growers. However, time and again, the growers are kept under wraps, especially because of the danger that threatens the bank. However, if the free market had to be farmed, which now prevents RFC, among other things, from their quota per farm, the selection would have been made quickly and the healthy farms would emerge quickly. And that could be very different from what you call "the one who wants to continue his business is long gone as a member".

farmer 4 May 2018

As an interest group, you can never please everyone... But a lot of respect for all farmers who do take their responsibility and stand for it! A great deal of work is done locally and nationally by LTO. And of course things also happen at the LTO that I don't agree with... And that despite the fact that my husband is on a department board ;-)But.... please fellow farmers, especially in this time we must unite! When it seems like the whole world is against you, you can't make a fist on your own! Very shortsighted not to be a member of an interest group purely out of self-interest. And yes, the best helmsmen are ashore (or shout here nice and easy and anonymously on the boerenbusiness forum!)

old farmer 4 May 2018

farmer's wife you are right, but from experience I know that many members and administrators have dropped out due to the arrogant dictatorship at the top, especially at the zlto, we have seen the result.

bookscook 4 May 2018

farmer wrote:

As an interest group, you can never please everyone... But a lot of respect for all farmers who do take their responsibility and stand for it! A great deal of work is done locally and nationally by LTO. And of course things also happen at the LTO that I don't agree with... And that despite the fact that my husband is on a department board ;-)But.... please fellow farmers, especially in this time we must unite! When it seems like the whole world is against you, you can't make a fist on your own! Very shortsighted not to be a member of an interest group purely out of self-interest. And yes, the best helmsmen are ashore (or shout here nice and easy and anonymously on the boerenbusiness forum!)

Dear Farmer, together we must indeed make a fist. But can you tell me when LTO has shown its fist again in the last 25 years? They don't even know what it is! They just polder and give everything away and listen to society (although those action companies are less than 5% of society)! The last farmer's campaigns and fists were about the grain price in the early 90s! The initiative came from below, mostly from non-members. LTO was then forced to join. Aaike Maarsing was the one who did it then, but this best man was not appreciated within LTO for this! So what do you mean with a fist? Open your eyes!

south commander 4 May 2018

I also canceled my membership a few years ago. They run for the dairy farmers and they abuse the farmers.
In addition, they have burned through a billion at the ZLTO within 10 years, without saying sorry.

The lap carousel is also in full swing there. Look at the cosun driver from our region (adri B).

If it is true that lto/zlto and lltb represent only 30% of the farmers, their role has been played out. That's a shame because we desperately need an advocate. Well, they made it themselves.

If they are holding a meeting, it is best to organize it in the retirement home at sunset, then they may still have some attendance. You will certainly not find the youth there anymore.

Look after!! 4 May 2018

young men and women must come into LTO. Get rid of the gray heads. Soon even more old LTOers will receive an undeserved ribbon!!

C.Early yr 4 May 2018

Am I glad I'm not a member, and never have been

reader 4 May 2018

curious if tomorrow in the new harvest there will be another interview with Marc calon in which he now explains how many members they really have

Subscriber

freebooter 5 May 2018

Just an organization such as the Belgian Farmers' Union pulls hard on the farmers' rope. They still drive there with red diesel, there they have their own license plates on the tractor (once €25.00), one bad milk price and the barrels are in Brussels, ...

Henk 5 May 2018

hi Leonie count the resting members again. just ask calon how many there are

noo(s)em 5 May 2018

Question:

I am a young farmer, my father canceled his membership at LTO 10 years ago. I also don't feel at home at LTO because I'm afraid that if something goes wrong with me, due to an administration or a technical error by a supplier I will be immediately expelled by the LTO/ In addition, they are more busy for the big dairy farmers as well as for an arable farmer.

Still, I think it's important to have an organized voice in important industry decisions, so what should I join?

old farmer 5 May 2018

Reply,

You're right, my successor says so too. Advice leave that old sinking ship full of job hunters for what it is, start with young motivated people use social media and keep costs low and ensure involvement we are at the beginning of a new era embrace it.

new crop reader 5 May 2018

I received a new crop today but there is nothing in it about this subject. I don't think it is that difficult for lto to respond about this fuss. just simply publish the member numbers, everyone is quiet again. or ...... would the truth still be worse.

????! 6 May 2018

new crop reader wrote:

I received a new crop today but there is nothing in it about this subject. I don't think it is that difficult for lto to respond about this fuss. just simply publish the member numbers, everyone is quiet again. or ...... would the truth still be worse.

Was this the last new crop?????
Or are you a 'sleeper'?

Agri 6 May 2018

Fortunately, given the many reactions, the lto story is still alive, I personally don't care who represents my interests as long as they are represented.

jpk 7 May 2018

As a loner, this left-wing 2 room cannot gain a foothold for our sector 7 out of 10 sector stop succession with a slice of bread with cheese is increasingly difficult aging is in agriculture 100%

hans 7 May 2018

Agri wrote:

Fortunately, given the many reactions, the lto story is still alive, I personally don't care who represents my interests as long as they are represented.

Do you also notice that when things go well you don't hear anything? The many reactions to this LTO soap therefore speak for themselves.

hans 7 May 2018

jpk wrote:

As a loner, this left-wing 2 room cannot gain a foothold for our sector 7 out of 10 sector stop succession with a slice of bread with cheese is increasingly difficult aging is in agriculture 100%

Yes, if you want to behave on the right, free competition, law of the strongest, self-interest first, each for himself, in a "left" country with a "left" chamber and a "left" cabinet, you lose it .
And the country doesn't just change overnight, so what would be a solution?

Subscriber

January 7 May 2018

old farmer wrote:

Reply,

You're right, my successor says so too. Advice leave that old sinking ship full of job hunters for what it is, start with young motivated people use social media and keep costs low and ensure involvement we are at the beginning of a new era embrace it.

Already happened, join the NAV

follower 8 May 2018

Haven't seen a response from Lto yet. is it arrogance or do they have something to hide

????! 8 May 2018

follower wrote:

Haven't seen a response from Lto yet. is it arrogance or do they have something to hide

Probably on TV tonight: LTO will expel all members with an opinion.

Gerrit 13 May 2018

not a member for years
it is very easy money.
and they still ignore you while it is clearly stated in the statutes that they have to stand up for the members.
it is only self-interest.

Eric Hubers 16 May 2018

Striking that BoerEnBusiness considers it so important to bring down LTO. We live in a free country and also BoerEnBusiness has the right to pull out all the stops to make its own revenue model stronger. BB insiders respond to maintain the tenor. I hope that most farmers who have been confused by reading this article and the anonymous comments will do their own research to find out the facts.
As a member of a democratic club, you must have your say and choose your representatives. If they don't do well, pick new ones or run yourself. As chairman of the LTO poultry farming department, I ask the members what my task is. Members of course do not all have exactly the same interests and therefore choices and compromises will be necessary. I am convinced that we can provide very essential guidance to processes that affect agriculture. It is often "damage control", because politics and society are usually no longer on our side. I would like to invite any critical member or hitchhiker to come up with a better plan of action.
Anyone can complain about what is wrong. Fighting for a better future for agriculture and really going for it is a completely different order.
Moreover, as a result of this article, you can look at LTO in two ways. If they really have so few members, then it is extra clever that they are always at the front of the negotiating table on behalf of those members. But if they do have a much higher affiliation rate than is suggested here, then too many farmers are still evading the responsibility to jointly make the costs of good advocacy possible. Moreover, all farmers in the Netherlands are only really strong if they are all members of LTO and have their democratic voice there.
So,.................. now the next wave of criticism can start again. Fine, but also have the guts to just say who you are.

????! 17 May 2018

Eric Hubers wrote:

Striking that BoerEnBusiness considers it so important to bring down LTO. We live in a free country and also BoerEnBusiness has the right to pull out all the stops to make its own revenue model stronger. BB insiders respond to maintain the tenor. I hope that most farmers who have been confused by reading this article and the anonymous comments will do their own research to find out the facts.
As a member of a democratic club, you must have your say and choose your representatives. If they don't do well, pick new ones or run yourself. As chairman of the LTO poultry farming department, I ask the members what my task is. Members of course do not all have exactly the same interests and therefore choices and compromises will be necessary. I am convinced that we can provide very essential guidance to processes that affect agriculture. It is often "damage control", because politics and society are usually no longer on our side. I would like to invite any critical member or hitchhiker to come up with a better plan of action.
Anyone can complain about what is wrong. Fighting for a better future for agriculture and really going for it is a completely different order.
Moreover, as a result of this article, you can look at LTO in two ways. If they really have so few members, then it is extra clever that they are always at the front of the negotiating table on behalf of those members. But if they do have a much higher affiliation rate than is suggested here, then too many farmers are still evading the responsibility to jointly make the costs of good advocacy possible. Moreover, all farmers in the Netherlands are only really strong if they are all members of LTO and have their democratic voice there.
So,.................. now the next wave of criticism can start again. Fine, but also have the guts to just say who you are.

Of course, please, directly:
By making it clear that you like the chickens, you clearly indicate that you are purely one-sided. Not farmers' interests, but self-interest first. And democratic: Most interests count: in short: dairy farming will ALWAYS be the only (audible) voice to the outside world (public/political).
Because there is more that goes wrong than righteous, LTO must always agree with politics in everything.

Also: how many members were expelled after the chairman's decision? ZERO!!!? And not the best man himself???! What a cool club!

Disband before you can expel the last member! Will prevent a lot of agricultural damage!!!

Subscriber

wig maker 17 May 2018

I do think you have to be a member of something either LTO, ZLTO, LTBB or some other union, free riders are profiteers in my eyes.

LTO membership was canceled years ago because people are fighting not for but against arable farming.
Arable farming does not come into play in the livestock farming violence.

Also the deal with Tennet for LTO glass power to which the ground-bound
companies to be sacrificed is below all standards.

You can no longer respond.

Blog: Leonie Bosch

LTO .'s best kept secret

43

procent

13,5

procent

Leonie Bosch

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