From an early age, Gydo van den Boomen dreamed of taking over the farm from his parents. They keep over 300,000 broilers and maintained the company in such a way that Gydo can move forward in the coming years. He realizes that with the Deurnese Peel nature reserve next door, he probably belongs to the peak loaders, but stopping is not an option for him. “If there is an alternative, I will go for it.”
On Friday, the cabinet announced what the nitrogen plans are. Farmers who emit too much nitrogen, the so-called peak loaders, will be paid 120 percent of the market value of their farm if they voluntarily stop. Gydo has not yet been approached for that buy-out arrangement, but that may still come. “Initially, it is a voluntary purchase scheme. But if we don’t participate and there are no alternatives, it’s in the public interest,” he says. “And then it can become a must.”
“The future is uncertain.”
Gydo is fed up with the uncertainty, because he can’t make plans for the future right now. “We were already in full development. We are expanding and renovating the shower facilities in the warehouse because of the bird flu. Whether that is smart is the question, but the intention was that we would use it for years to come. That is now uncertain.”
The young farmer has the feeling that his back is against the wall. If he does not opt for the buy-out scheme and the environmental requirements are tightened, can he still manage that? Or will he still see his dream go up in smoke? “I want to know what the possibilities are. I still prefer that I have to move, because I don’t plan to stop,” says Gydo. “I still want to invest a lot and earn it back. That is still my dream.”
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