It almost seems as if farmers have a day job campaigning, where you can wonder whether work is still being done. Work on the farm always continues, says chairman Dirk Bruins of agricultural organization LTO Noord in conversation with NU.nl. The whole family helps out on the farm, which is certainly not the busiest time of the year at the moment.
“The farmers certainly have to work,” says Bruins, who is also a farmer himself. “But farms are family businesses. So if father or mother campaigns, the son or daughter takes over, or vice versa.” Employees or contractors also climb the barricades or work on the land.
“We are used to working with peaks on the farm, such as harvest time or lambing. Now there is no real peak, the crowds are just behind us.” Bruins, who also speaks on behalf of LTO Nederland, states that the farmers’ actions are widely supported.
And there is also a lot of sympathy for the actions elsewhere in the country. “You also see more and more flags along the road and handkerchiefs on car mirrors or windows, as a sign of solidarity.”
The grass has already been harvested on the farm and the seeds are in the ground. “The harvest of potatoes, beets, grain and onions is only in the autumn.” In theory, the farmers can continue to protest for a while. “Whether it’s busy or not, we will continue to make time for it anyway,” concludes Bruins.