Is there still a future for young farmers, now that the cabinet wants to drastically reduce the livestock? Certainly yes, think Livestock students at the HAS University of Applied Sciences in Den Bosch. Although the government’s nitrogen plans hit like a bomb last week. “We are going to be the piss pole for the umpteenth time.”
For Bram Romme, third-year animal husbandry student, a future on the farm had long been decided. “For me it is the most beautiful thing there is. Working with live animals and at the same time ensuring that everyone in the Netherlands has food. It has simply become my hobby. In addition, farming has been in our family for about four hundred years. I want that tradition maintain.”
Still, it is questionable how many years Bram can actually add to this, now that the cabinet wants to buy out a lot of farmers in order to reduce nitrogen emissions. But afraid of the future? “No, I’m not. Farmers will always be needed. We just have to keep eating.”
“Give us a chance.”
Bram does admit that the plans came in hard. “Every farmer assumed the worst. Well, it has come true. And yet it comes as a disappointment.”
The young farmer does have an opinion about that nitrogen policy. “Unfeasible, unrealistic and unreal. Instead of buying out farmers, they should focus more on innovations in The Hague. As a new generation, we can provide other solutions to reduce those emissions. Give us a chance.”
His fellow student Ido de Jong fully agrees with the latter, although he is a little more concerned about the future of the farmer. “I’m really looking forward to moving forward with my parents’ company. That way of life is so beautiful, I can’t describe it. When people see me at home, they are always impressed by how passionate I am about what I am doing But it’s all become a bit uncertain now.”
“Students talk about it at the kitchen table and have a lot of questions.”
Also from the training itself they wonder what the plans will mean in the long term and whether young people even dare to choose a future on the farm.
“We are not yet seeing a drop in registrations,” says teacher Kees van Vuuren. “But after that letter from the minister appeared, we immediately organized a walk-in moment for students. They talk about it at the kitchen table and have many questions. What does this mean for us? Can the company continue to exist at home?”
It was an emotional meeting. “My assignment as a teacher is to continue to offer everyone perspective. This often works, but I have to say that it was difficult now.” Van Vuuren does see a bright spot, though. “We not only train farmers, but also advisors who think about solutions for the enormous task we face. There is definitely a future for our students.”