Journey to the Netherlands

Journey to the Netherlands

By Betsy Osman

Illinois Field & Bean Magazine sat down with members of the ISA Board and Staff who recently embarked on an agricultural fact-finding research tour of the Netherlands.

This was the group’s first glimpse of the Netherlands, a nation that promised not just picture-perfect views but also invaluable insights into global agriculture. During their journey, ISA Chairman Ron Kindred, and Board Directors Nick Harre, Bryan Severs, Steve Pitstick, Betsey Emerick, Jim Martin and Brady Holst discovered a number of potential opportunities to bring new value to Illinois’ soybean industry, and challenges that have become part of Europe’s agricultural production system.

The first goal of the research mission, organized by the ISA Agronomy Team, was to explore increased market opportunities for Illinois soybeans and grow the teams’ levels of awareness on global sustainability practices.

As the group embarked on their exploration of the Dutch countryside, with farm fields punctuated by centuries-old homes, the scene was a living testament to generational sustainability and the nation's deep-rooted connection to the land.

“I was very impressed with the agriculture here,” remarked Steve Pitstick, an ISA board member. “The new land put into production in the last 30-40 years was created by draining inland seas, bringing extra land to feed the population. That’s not something we see much in the Midwest because most of our land was homesteaded in the 1860s.”

For the explorers, the complexities of the local farms, such as strip-cropping systems, were an eye-opening experience. “At the Farm of the Future, it was interesting to see the two-meter strips of different crops and how they plan their rotation and try to place one commodity beside another to benefit the other commodity,” said Ron Kindred. “Whether it works or not, I don't know. But if it does, I could see where you could scale that up and implement that on your farm if you had markets for all those different products.”

The mixture of crops grown and the equipment used for production also astonished ISA Board Member Bryan Severs. “The diversity of the farmers in the Netherlands just blows my mind how they can plant potatoes, carrots, onions, barley, rye, wheat,” he said. “We do two things and try to do them well. I don't see how they can do all the different things and do them as well as they do. I'm impressed with the farms we've been to, just from an equipment standpoint. Their equipment is specialized in small meters where ours is large and 80-feet wide.”

The Illinois delegation wanted a deeper understanding of the rigid regulations Dutch farmers face, such as the mandated reduction of pesticide use by 50 percent and fertilizer by 80 percent by 2030. They also wanted a better understanding of other government mandates enforced through fines, such as the imposition of a 5,000-Euro fine if their summer-seeded crops were not harvested by a set date in the fall. Such mandates, in addition to those presented by weather and market challenges, test the Dutch farmers on a seasonal and annual basis.

“Dutch farmers to me seemed very resilient, because I know they are under environmental pressure,” said ISA Director Nick Harre. “How they've been able to adapt and overcome and deal with public pressure on things is one thing I've found impressive.”

The Illinois explorers noted that the Dutch approach to agriculture was very much like the conservation ethic held by farmers in the U.S., with an emphasis on nurturing the land. In the Netherlands, the focus is on generations-old sustainable practices centered on soil health. And while soil health is rapidly rising on the ladder of importance in the United States, there remains a focus on maximizing yields.

While Dutch farmers may be applying farming practices from past generations, Harre also commented that he was impressed by the role research plays on modern farms.

At Wageningen University, the delegation engaged with experts at the forefront of agricultural research. Dutch scientists talked about the use of natural pest control, cover crops, compost, and reduced tillage to enhance soils through a sustainable mindset.

“Wageningen University and the research done there were impressive,” Harre said. “I was blown away seeing what Wageningen University and Research had at their disposal, the facilities, the lab space, greenhouse space, how good research can get performed at an institution like that.”

Kindred said many of the farming practices the Dutch farmers have adopted are the same ones U.S. farmers are beginning to introduce as mainstream innovations.

“We’re growing commodities right now—soybeans and corn,” he said. “And we're trying to produce them at as high a level as we can. But we're also trying to introduce cover crops on some of our farms and in our rotation.”

In addition to viewing field crops, the farmers visited Rotterdam, where they viewed the innovative Floating Farm Rotterdam. The futuristic dairy operation houses cows on a self-sufficient platform floating in the city’s port. The farm represents a localized, sustainable approach to food production and security.

Megan Miller, ISA Agronomy Programs Manager, was amazed by the forwardthinking technology and design supporting self-sufficiency. “Visiting the Floating Farm was interesting from an ag tech perspective. While this isn’t a business model that will become the norm in dairy production, this was a great opportunity to introduce folks from outside of agriculture to the importance of maintaining a resilient food chain.”

Steve Pitstick saw the farm as an example of what becomes possible when you bring together necessity, inventiveness, and a commitment to community. The unique operation exemplified how Dutch resourcefulness and pragmatism could converge to create local resilience.

Additional tour stops included the global headquarters of Danone, the multinational food company, where they met with managers leading efforts to implement regenerative agriculture by partnering directly with dairy and crop growers. They also visited the national Soils Museum, which featured soil samples from around the world and emphasized the point that vibrant soil is the essential foundation for agriculture.

The Illinois delegation also had the opportunity to visit farms that had deployed the latest in digital intelligence and robotic innovation.

Returning home, the delegation carried heaps of inspiration along with open questions. Could lessons from the Netherlands take root locally? What policies or partnerships would enable Illinois’ journey to a higher level of sustainable farming, both economically for the farmer and for the environment? How could they balance productivity and stewardship?

“Maybe we should look at diversifying just a little bit more, you know, adding wheat into our rotations in central Illinois,” Kindred said. “I think that would be a possibility. And maybe there's even another crop we could add to spread our risk out a little more. In the end, maybe our soil health improves, and we become more productive. That's what we want to do.

“We come over here, and we see the pressure that the farmers are under to meet sustainability standards. We're encountering the same thing back in the States. We're trying to handle that on a volunteer basis right now to address some of the issues. Nutrient loss is a big issue that we're attacking with a strategy where we’re trying to apply things at the right time, in the right place, using the right amount, and using the right product.”

As the group reflects on their research trip to the Netherlands, and the perspectives gained on futuristic innovation born from old-world wisdom, perhaps most important is a newfound appreciation for the freedoms found in our own backyard.

Laughs Pitstick, “Sometimes you have to travel to other corners of the world to be reminded just how good we have it back at home.”