Market forced us to stop innovation

Toon Hulshof
Lievelde – the Netherlands

Dutch dairy Farmer Toon Hulshof

“Melkveebedrijf Hulshof” Dairy Farm
Herd size: 236 total, 113 lactating cows
70 hectares of arable land

In the current market scenario, which is the biggest constraint that you have to deal with?

“On our farm we can no longer plan investments. In the past we were always able to innovate, but with these market conditions we have been forced to stop”.

What is the approach of Dutch farmers with regards to renewable energies?

“We have a great interest for biogas, and in the past many farmers have invested in it; but the current price being paid for energy is no longer as convenient as in the past, so a careful assessment is now necessary to determine in which farms it may be profitable and in which not”.

With a total herd size of 236 do you use external labourers?

“Yes, we have one employee: he is my herdmanager (full-time)”.

How much does this employee cost you?

“Around €0.028 / kg milk”.

Were you aware of our famous Italian hard cheeses: Grana Padano and Parmigiano-Reggiano?

“Surely, but in the Netherlands we call them with the generic name ‘Parmesan cheese’, and we usually don’t buy them. They are extremely appreciated, but are usually valued by the richest sectors of society. All the other people eat Dutch cheeses”.

What do you do during your leisure time?

“Time is always scarce, but I’m in politics in my municipality, for the Christian Democratic Party”.

“Melkveebedrijf Hulshof” Dairy Farm