The farmer and the dilemma of the orange fields

You can set the clock to the fact that approximately 3 months after the 'black pete discussion' the discussion about the orange fields will start. These are plots of green manure and grassland that have been sprayed to death for the next crop. Just like in the Zwarte Piet discussion, here, too, 2 groups are diametrically opposed to each other.

The debate about sprayed-on grassland and green manures is not new, but it is increasing every year. Farmers and other rural people find it difficult to bear that ill- or uninformed concerned citizens have such firm opinions about their plots. This results in a lengthy discussion that rarely, if ever, ends pleasantly.

Conspiracy theories
Those with a little knowledge of the agricultural sector, and glyphosate in particular, cannot suppress the amazement when reading this. You soon get the urge that a plot of orange grassland is a killing pit for all living things. The surface and groundwater is being polluted and some opponents are even making it the link with 'Agent Orange', a dreaded chemical used by the US military during the Vietnam War. This product was produced by…. right, Monsanto. Do you put your aluminum hat stuck on?

Simply depicting these genuinely concerned citizens as 'green Twitter crazies' or 'alu-hats' doesn't get the discussion much further. But, is there a solution that will satisfy everyone? New. It remains to choose between 2 or more evils, in which no one is 100% satisfied. This is not a license to keep yelling at each other on the internet.

The emotion rules
Personally, I think emotion comes out as the winner in the end, purely based on past experiences. They offer no guarantee for the future, but they do provide a well-founded expectation. Take, for example, the ban on sugar beet seed treated with neonicotinoids. It is a fantastic solution to 1 problem, with very controllable and acceptable consequences. However, the emotion took over and 'neonics' were put in a bad light. The praised pill seed was on the wrong side of the line and had to clear the field on the basis of emotion politics, which Minister Carola Schouten (Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality) is guilty of.

The same is true with glyphosate. This stronghold is being demolished worldwide brick by brick, however impactful the consequences may be. Think of mega-challenges in global 'no-till practices', resulting in an enormous increase in diesel combustion, erosion, man-hours and the loss of biodiversity. And therefore no more orange fields. Mission accomplished.

Imago
As a user you can moan about the above, but I'm afraid it doesn't change the case; any more than shouting about the drug residues in the surface water is not a valid argument in the 'orange field discussion'. Are there things you can do? I think so. This way you do not improve the image of the sector and your own company, but it also provides much-needed experience in a life without glyphosate.

Do you know that spraying glyphosate is sensitive in your area? Then consider performing an operation as soon as possible after spraying. With the latest generation of agents, this can be done fairly quickly after spraying. Or, put your principles aside and try it without chemistry when the conditions are right.

Information first
However, the practice is unruly. At the end of February, much of the grass was sprayed to death, after which it rained continuously. A follow-up operation is then impossible, resulting in an unpleasant face. Apart from a small group of extremists who are active on social media, local residents are really concerned. Provide them with the facts and provide honest information. That is a glove that the sector itself has to pick up. For decades 'pr & marketing' has been neglected. That breaks 'us' now.

I can already hear you grumbling; I don't have time for that, it doesn't help, I work according to the rules. Understandable, but don't be surprised if the discussion then merely escalates. A while ago I was at the Veninga bulb company in Hijken, Drenthe. The cultivation of lilies and tulips is extremely sensitive in that province. However, this company does take up the obligation to provide information.

The local residents are informed and there are signs with information and a telephone number at plots. This sometimes even results in the landlords preferring to entrust their plots to this company, because they pay a lot of attention to contact with the neighborhood. Costs something, but then you also have something. This is how you turn a disadvantage into an advantage. This is not expected to preserve glyphosate, but it will provide a much better farmer's image!

Niels van der Boom

Niels van der Boom is a senior market specialist for arable crops at DCA Market Intelligence. He mainly makes analyses and market updates about the potato market. In columns he shares his sharp view on the arable sector and technology.

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