Guest column – Ad van Velde

Growing the farming community

By Ad van Velde

Dairy Farmers in the Netherlands and, in fact, all over the world face the same challenges as Kiwi farmers, and that makes us friends and colleagues, the president of Global Dairy Farmers says.

As dairy farmers, are we to work even more efficiently and save colleagues or competitors? costs. If we apply slurry, we work with Maybe a little of both? And sensors, and levels of N, P and K are do I look at my neighbours continuously monitored and corrected. differently than I do to the dairy farmers We work closely with crop farmers in our in New Zealand? region; they grow seed potatoes at our

I am a dairy farmer in the Netherlands farm and we grow alfalfa and corn with and farming in my family goes back them. Plus we exchange manure. many generations. As an entrepreneur, I Protein is the hot topic right am always looking outside the industry, now. We are trying to increase the both nationally and internationally. My protein production of the land. We wife Annette and I run Hunsingo Dairy are succeeding but it is not easy. We and have been members of international now produce 68% of the protein on networks for many years, which has our land. I would like to bring that to benefited us and our business. 75% eventually, or maybe even higher.

I have been president of Global Fertiliser is becoming more and more of Dairy Farmers (GDF) since 2017. GDF is Ad van Velde, who is a dairy farmer in a limiting factor, but there are all kinds of a global network of inspirational and the Netherlands, is the president of innovations on the way. ambitious dairy farmers. Together with Global Dairy Farmers, a global network Over the past 20-30 years the other leading experts in different fields of inspirational and ambitious dairy sector has undergone tremendous related to dairy and key stakeholders farmers. development, and it will do so again over from around the globe, we exchange the next 10-20 years. Like climate-neutral, knowledge, experience and business antibiotic-free, genetic developments in opportunities. “Our products have crops and in cows, for example.

In the Netherlands dairy farming to be consumed and There are challenges though. But I has changed in recent years, with new regulations, more requirements, different milk flows and often no direct business society is constantly changing, so we have think that is always the case. I can take criticism of the sector, but I am annoyed that often the wrong arguments model attached. Some farmers like it and to listen to that and are used and that knowledge and some are resistant. Usually I can live with try to adapt.” understanding are sometimes totally it, see the opportunities and challenges. lacking. The demand for food is going Our products have to be consumed and to rise, including the demand for dairy society is constantly changing, so we providing a milk stream specifically for products. have to listen to that and try to adapt. the German market. The most important There are many challenges for

Hunsingo Dairy delivers milk to a thing in this stream is feeding GMO- farmers in NZ and for us too. Often they relatively small co-operative, which I free concentrates. But also grazing, not are the same challenges – technical founded in 2007. At our co-op we can overcrowding, ensuring cow welfare and developments, society, communication choose between five milk streams. more. This makes me quite satisfied. and climate change. The basis is the EU stream – standard Milk price in December 2020 was We have pride and passion, beautiful conditions, basic sustainability topics, 0.3630 Euro cents per kg milk, ex VAT, products, we feed the world and are but also the lowest price. At the highest 4.33% butterfat, 3.57% protein and 4.59% open and transparent – I think we can price you are not allowed to grow corn, or lactose. This excludes yearly post- and should tell our story better and in a plough/renew pasture, cannot have too payment from the co-operative, which modern way, worldwide. many cows per hectare and face a range usually fluctuates around 1c. I include this I think we are colleagues, that’s better of other conditions. This stream received as farmers are always curious about milk and that’s what we should do. five cents extra, it is the maximum prices. Take care, stay healthy, you are always premium. Land is our most expensive production welcome and the coffee is ready. n

We receive up to 5c more – we got 3c source, land prices are heading towards – per kilogram/milk, which is money in €100,000 per hectare. That is why we MORE: the pocket. are working on precision agriculture, To learn more go to www.hunsingodairy.

On our farm we are one level lower, targeted and accurate fertiliser spreading com or www.globaldairyfarmers.com