2023-12-13 19:02:46
Bart Kemp had only just become a sheep farmer when he emerged as one of the faces of the farmers’ protest. ‘I see more and more awareness in politics and society that we must retain a sector with prospects.’
With a bucket full of feed, sheep farmer Bart Kemp (46) walks into a meadow, not far from his farm in Ede. “Are these still healthy?” ask two passers-by, who clearly have the bluetongue epidemic in mind. “Yes, but they are grumpy,” Kemp responds. “They’ve pretty much run out of grass here. And it is cold and wet.” That is why the dozens of animals are waiting for him right at the fence. “If they are having a good time, they continue grazing quietly.”
The ewes can go to another pasture later today or tomorrow. But Kemp is now concerned regarding the three rams in the company. “We are now removing them,” he explains. “A ewe that has just been fertilized will lamb at the end of April.” Then an intensive period awaits him as a farmer, starting at the beginning of March. “Then we spend a lot of time among the sheep at night. That’s fine, but it’s also nice when it’s done once more.”
Kemp sprints and grabs one of the rams from behind by the harness he is wearing. This is not only for recognition: there is a kind of stamp with green paint on the belly of the ram. It ends up on the ewe’s back during mating. “This way I can see whether they are doing their job.” The ram that has grabbed Kemp protests for a moment, but then willingly allows itself to be led to the trailer behind the car. He is first allowed to stay in the stable for a while, then back into the meadow, following which he can enjoy himself among the ewes once more next year in the autumn.
Transition area
This scene takes place in what might rightly be called a transitional area. The forests of the Veluwe begin a few hundred meters to the east. “Farmers once started farming here because you can access the groundwater with a well,” says Kemp. “It slowly rises towards the Veluwe: the water is too deep there. And if you go two kilometers in the other direction, to Ederveen, you almost drown: it is too wet there.”
It partly explains why the Gelderse Vallei has become such an agricultural stronghold. An agricultural region that has come under particular pressure in times of nitrogen crisis. For example, the government’s stopper schemes are specifically aimed at the intensive poultry and veal farms around Ede and Barneveld.
These are companies that Kemp stands up for as leader of the farmers’ organization Agractie Nederland. Remarkable at first glance, because Kemp himself has a company that fits well with the government story of recent years: more extensive agriculture and livestock farming, especially around large nature reserves such as the Veluwe. His sheep are in the meadow all year round, preferably on herb-rich grassland. Kemp does not use artificial fertilizers or chemical pesticides. He grows the grains that serve as concentrates for his animals himself.
Extensive and intensive
Isn’t a company like his the future of Dutch agriculture? “I think this is a nice way of life for myself, but the return is very low,” he responds. “I love the outdoors and wouldn’t want to be in stables day in and day out. The character of a sheep suits me. They are manageable. And if you treat them well, they will do what you want.”
In sheep farming, extensive farming – with animals that mainly graze outdoors – is the norm. “That’s good for me, but you might wonder whether the sheep themselves are best off this way. I don’t know if you just noticed, but there were a few ewes that were lame. This is due to the soaking wet weather. A sheep prefers to be dry, at a temperature of 15 to 20 degrees. Animals can have a great time in a stable.”
Moreover, Kemp believes, his company plays a role here within the overall picture. “My sheep graze alternately on dozens of plots of land, often owned by efficient chicken farmers in the area.” Kemp prefers to talk regarding ‘efficient’ rather than ‘intensive’ companies. “If we want to retain a sector with prospects, we also need that. If you see how much food I produce compared to my land use, that is actually very little.”
Polluters and poisoners
Kemp himself is a lateral entrant into the agricultural sector. He followed an agricultural education and, as a boy, enjoyed being among the sheep. But he finally became a farmer regarding ten years ago, following a career in facility services. “When I returned to the sector following fifteen years, I was struck by how differently politicians, media and society talked regarding us than fifteen years earlier.”
How? “We were polluters, poisoners. While I actually saw that companies had fully developed. With better stables, more free range for chickens and calves. In the past, you were taught at school to spray the ditch side with crop protection products. That is really no longer an issue.”
The simmering dissatisfaction finally coalesced in 2019, when the nitrogen crisis erupted. “I had never campaigned for anything before and barely knew regarding the existence of LTO (the traditional representative of the interests of the Dutch farmer, ed.).” Kemp sent the app that sparked the massive farmers’ protest on October 1. The name Agractie was suddenly established, just like that of Farmers Defense Force (FDF).
Turbulent years without progress?
While FDF gradually shouted itself over and isolated itself, Agractie became a party with a lot of support within the sector and a serious discussion partner for the government. For example, Kemp participated a year ago in discussions regarding an agricultural agreement between the government, farmers and other parties involved. After three months of difficult negotiations, he saw no point in it anymore. It was too much regarding new rules and restrictions. About agricultural land that must make way – partly or completely – for nature. Without it being clear how farmers are rewarded for the contribution they make to nature and landscape.
Another quarter later, the talks finally came to a standstill, when LTO drew roughly the same conclusions as Agractie had made earlier. The situation seems quite hopeless, more than four years following the large farmers’ protest in The Hague. The nitrogen crisis has still not been resolved and farmers and the government are still unable to get on the same page. And this means that the much-desired perspective for farmers is still lacking.
Still, Kemp looks ahead with optimism. “Look, there are targets in the areas of water quality, nitrogen, CO2 emissions and biodiversity. I think the last one is perhaps the most important: nature and biodiversity are essential, also for my company.” These goals, Kemp thinks, are ultimately quite achievable. “When I look at this area, a substantial number of farmers will stop there in the coming years. Create a clear policy around this, showing annually that nitrogen emissions are actually decreasing.”
Kemp does not see the fact that livestock farming is gradually shrinking as an insurmountable problem. Of course, it has been said in recent years that the sector does not want to give up a cow or a pig. “But that is also an anti-reaction. What matters is that we don’t wipe out entire areas with the blunt ax.”
Wolf in de wei
At his own company, Kemp recently had to deal with another major discussion surrounding agriculture and nature. One morning he found two dead sheep in the meadow, a third sheep was so badly damaged that it might no longer be saved. “Terrible to see. The province’s expert immediately said: this was a wolf. He saw this from the traces of the hole he had dug under the fence.”
A risk of the profession? Or especially his own responsibility, because as a sheep farmer he must ensure good protection with wolf-resistant fences and flock guard dogs? “People forget that we graze sheep in 60 to 70 different locations each year. It also applies that you are not allowed to use electric wire on the grounds of organic farms. There is also often no grid along a watercourse because the water board has to mow there. Then there are very few lands left: landowners we work with shy away from so much hassle.”
But is it nature that stands in the way of the agricultural sector here, or the other way around? Politics is very much regarding agriculture, Kemp believes. “While the question is also what kind of nature we actually want. If we strive for a very poor, nitrogen-poor nature in a densely populated country, we will continue to reach limits.”
And is there still room for the wolf in Bart Kemp’s nature? He keeps quiet regarding that. “In any case, management is needed. Just like what happens here with the fox. But if we continue to treat the wolf in this way, I don’t think I will still be a farmer here in ten years.”
Also read:
Agraction united: ‘Better no agreement than a bad agreement’
The supporters of farmers’ organization Agractie massively support the decision to no longer participate in discussions regarding the agricultural agreement. But they also fear that other farmers’ organizations, such as LTO, will sign. With all its consequences.
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