Where have dairy farms grown the fastest?

The dairy farm in 2002 consisted of 2.261 farms with more than 100 dairy cows. In 2016, that number rose to 7.024, an increase of more than 210%. But in which province has the number of farms with more than 100 dairy cows grown the fastest? That gives a new top 5 of Boerenbusiness, compiled by CBS, answer to.

The total number of dairy farms in 2002 stood at 26.393. That number fell to 2016 companies in 17.910, a decrease of 32,1%. It is obvious that there has been an increase in scale in dairy farming. In which province was it the largest?

The golden slice
The highest step of the podium is for the province of Overijssel. In 2002 there were 4.841 dairy farms in that province. That number dropped to 2016 companies in 3.175. This means that the total number of dairy farms in that province has decreased by 34,4%. 

However, the number of farms with more than 100 dairy cows has increased sharply. In 2002 there were 212 of these large companies in Overijssel, but in 2016 that number increased to 1.071 companies. That is an increase of no less than 405,1%. The number of farms consisting of more than 100 dairy cows (in Overijssel) has thus increased from 4,3% to 33,7%. Over 5,9% of all dairy farms with more than 100 dairy cows in the Netherlands can be found in Overijssel. 

The middle step
The second place is for the province of Zeeland. In 2002 there were approximately 309 dairy farms in that province. That number fell to 2016 companies in 227, a decrease of 26,5%. However, this province has also had to deal with companies that have grown in size. 

In 2002 there were only 21 dairy farms with more than 100 dairy cows. That number has increased in 14 years to 105 farms with more than 100 dairy cows. That's an increase of 400%. This has also increased the ratio to the total number of companies in the province. In 2002, 6,7% of the companies could be called large-scale, but in 2016 that percentage increased to more than 45%. 

Third place
The bronze medal goes to the province of North Brabant. There, the number of farms with more than 100 dairy cows has increased by 283%. In 2002 the province consisted of 283 farms with more than 100 dairy cows. In 2016, that number increased to 1.084. More than 6% of all farms with more than 100 dairy cows in the Netherlands can be found in North Brabant. That is a significant increase compared to 2002, when that number was only 1%. 

However, the total number of companies has also fallen sharply here. In 2002 there were 3.633 dairy farms in North Brabant. That number has fallen to 14 companies in 2016 years, i.e. until 2.427. That is a decrease of 33,1%. 

Number 4
The province of Gelderland is just missing out and comes in fourth place. This province increased from 261 dairy farms with more than 100 dairy cows in 2002 to 982 farms in 2016. That is an increase of 276,2%. This also increases the ratio in relation to the total number of companies in the province. In 2002, 5,3% of all farms had more than 1 dairy cows. In 100, that increased to 2016%. 

The total number of companies has also decreased in this province. In 2002 there were 4.878 dairy farms in Gelderland. That number dropped 14% in 37,6 years to 3.039 companies in 2016.

The closing of the list
The province of Utrecht is in fifth and last place in this top 5. In 2002 there were still 1.732 dairy farms in Utrecht. Until 2016, that number has fallen rapidly to 1.164, a decrease of 32,7%. Here too it has become clear that there are fewer companies, but that they have all become much larger.

The number of farms with more than 100 dairy cows has increased by 254,4%. This increases the number of those companies from 79 in 2002 to 280 in 2016. 

Bottom of the list
The province of Flevoland is at the bottom of the list and therefore scores the worst of all provinces. In that province, the number of dairy farms decreased from 333 in 2002 to 268 in 2016, a decrease of 19,5%. That is the smallest decrease in the whole of the Netherlands. 

However, the growth in the size of the company has not increased extremely as a result. The number of farms with more than 100 dairy cows increased from 91 in 2002 to 171 in 2016. That is an increase of 87,9%. As a result, only 0,9% of all dairy farms with more than 100 dairy cows can be found in Flevoland. 

Another province that stands out is Friesland. That province is second to last on the list. Here too, the growth in the number of farms with more than 100 dairy cows is not significant. This rose from 635 to 1.369 in 14 years. However, in Friesland you can find 7,6% of all dairy farms with more than 100 dairy cows.

Number of farms with more than 100 cows, per province

Kimberly Baker

Kimberly Bakker is an all-round editor at Boerenbusiness. She also has an eye for the social media channels of Boerenbusiness.

k.baker @boerenbusiness. Nl

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