Where did the number of organic farmers increase?

In 2017, the number of organic farms amounted to 1.604, a significant increase compared to 2011. In that year, the number of organic farms amounted to 1.400. This is according to figures from Statistics Netherlands. But in which province has this increase been strongest?

Between 2011 and 2017, the number of organic farms increased by 204. In addition, the number of arable farms (+46), cattle farms (+137) and the number of pig farms (+55) also increased.

Which province grew the fastest?
The number of organic farms rose the fastest in Flevoland. In 2011, that number amounted to 141 companies and in 2017 it rose to 195 (+54 organic companies). The organic arable farming sector grew the fastest in this province. The number of organic farms there rose from 110 in 2011 to 153 in 2017 (+43). The number of organic pig farms increased from 2 to 4 (+2) and the number of organic cattle farms increased from 16 to 25 (+9).

Gelderland is in second place, where the number of organic farms has increased by 52. In 2011, the number of organic farms amounted to 269 and in 2017 that number increased to 321. The number of organic pig farms shows the largest increase in this province; from 24 in 2011 to 53 in 2017 (+29). The number of cattle farms increased from 88 to 94 (+6) and the number of organic arable farms increased by 8 farms (from 87 to 95 farms).

The bronze medal is for Overijssel. Here the number of organic farms in 2011 amounted to 132 and in 2017 this increased to 161 farms (+29). The number of organic cattle farms rose the fastest in this province; from 55 to 81 companies (+26). The number of organic pig farms increased from 17 to 31 farms (+14). However, it is striking that the number of organic arable areas showed a decrease; from 48 to 44 organic farms (-4).

Friesland finishes in fourth place. Here, the number of organic farms in 2011 amounted to 130, after which this increased to 2017 organic farms (+155) in 25. In this province, the largest increase was visible in the cattle farms; from 83 companies in 2011 to 113 companies in 2017 (+30). Organic arable farms showed no increase and remained unchanged at 19 units. The number of organic pig farms showed a small decrease; from 3 to 2 companies (-1).

Fifth place is for Drenthe, where the number of organic companies rose by 18. In 2011, there were 70 organic companies in this province and in 2017 that number increased to 88 companies. The number of organic cattle farms rose the fastest in this province (+19); from 27 in 2011 to 46 in 2017. The number of organic arable farms increased from 28 to 36 (+8) and the number of organic pig farms increased from 4 to 5 (+1).

The cattle farms
If we look at the increase in the number of biological cattle farms, then we see that Friesland leads the list. Here the number of organic cattle farms increased from 83 in 2011 to 113 organic cattle farms in 2017, an increase of 30 farms. A large part of that increase was due to the increase between 2016 and 2017, when the number of organic cattle farms increased by 14.

The second place is for Overijssel. In this province, the number of organic cattle farms in 2017 amounted to 81, in 2011 that number was 55. This means that the number of organic cattle farms has increased by 26. A large part of that increase was achieved between 2016 and 2017, when the number of organic cattle farms increased by 13.

Third place is for Drenthe. The number of organic cattle farms in this province amounted to 2011 in 27. That number increased to 2017 in 46, an increase of 19 organic cattle farms. Between the year 2016 and the year 2017, the number of organic cattle farms increased by 11 heads, which is just under half of the total increase.

The largest decrease in the number of organic cattle farms was in Limburg. The number of organic farms in this province amounted to 2011 in 16. That number fell to 2017 in 13, a decrease of 3 companies. Between 2016 and 2017, the number rose again by 1 company. It is striking, however, that this is the only province that shows a decrease during this period.

The arable farms
The largest increase in the number of organic arable farms is for Flevoland. Here, that number increased by 43 companies; from 110 organic arable farms in 2011 to 153 organic arable farms in 2017. Between the years 2016 and 2017, the number of organic arable farms increased by 13. This means that the largest increase was not achieved in those years.

The silver medal is for Drenthe. In this province, the number of organic arable farms in 2011 amounted to 28. In 6 years, that number has increased to 36 farms in 2017 (+8 organic arable farms). Between 2016 and 2017, the number of organic farms increased by 4 units. Again, the largest increase was not achieved during this period.

Gelderland continues with the bronze medal. Actually, the province is equal to Drenthe, because here too the increase amounts to 8 companies. In Gelderland, the number of organic companies in 2011 amounted to 87, and in 6 years that has increased to 95 companies. Between 2016 and 2017, the increase amounted to 6 companies, by far the largest part of the total increase.

The largest decrease is attributable to South Holland. In this province, the number of 25 organic arable farms fell from 2011 organic arable farms in 17 to 2017 in 8 (-2016 organic arable farms). Between the years 2017 and XNUMX, the number of organic farms did not decrease, so the decrease has already started before that.

The pig farms
If we look at the increase in the number of organic pig farms, we see that the largest increase comes from Gelderland. Here this increased from 24 companies in 2011 to 53 organic companies in 2017 (+29 companies). Between 2016 and 2017, the number of organic pig farms increased by 12 farms, almost half of the total increase.

The silver medal is for Overijssel. Here, the number of farms increased from 17 farms in 2011 to 31 organic farms in 2017 (+14 organic pig farms). Between 2016 and 2017, this increased by 9 companies. That means most of the increase took place last year.

Noord-Brabant is in third place and can take the bronze medal. In this province, the number of organic pig farms increased from 16 in 2011 to 25 in 2017, an increase of 9 organic farms. In the years 2016 and 2017, the number of organic pig farms increased by 2 farms, which means that most of the increases already occurred before that period.

The largest decrease in the number of organic pig farms is in South Holland. This decreased from 8 companies in 2011 to 4 pig farms in 2017 (-4 organic farms). Between 2016 and 2017, this decreased by 1 company. This province shares the last place with Groningen, where the number of organic pig farms also fell by 4 units. In 2011, the total was still 9 farms and this dropped to 5 organic pig farms.

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

© DCA Market Intelligence. This market information is subject to copyright. It is not permitted to reproduce, distribute, disseminate or make the content available to third parties for compensation, in any form, without the express written permission of DCA Market Intelligence.