Coen van den Bighelaar was the lone voice of caution when he and friends discussed taking over their family dairy farms. Fresh out of university and earning more at his comfortable desk job than his father did toiling twice as hard, he saw rejection in his friends’ eyes. Now, six years later, Bighelaar has followed his parents’ footsteps while his friends’ enthusiasm has dwindled. One surrendered to logistics, another opened a daycare to supplement their meager milk income, and the third contemplates emigration to Canada with a dream of owning land.
“It’s immensely challenging,” confesses Bighelaar, a fourth-generation dairy farmer in the Netherlands. He navigates a precarious path, burdened by both hope and fear for the future. “A lot of young farmers give up because they can’t see a future. “
Across Europe, thousands of small and medium-sized farms succumb to economic pressures, unable to compete with the dirt-cheap prices offered by giant agricultural conglomerates. This brutal landscape forces farmers into a painful struggle for survival, with many relinquishing their dream or seeking alternative income streams.
Małgorzata Maj, who runs a farm guesthouse on her parents’ 20-hectare sheep farm in southwest Poland, exemplifies this struggle. She reveals that profit margins on sheep are so thin that “we wouldn’t be able to survive” without the income generated by guests.
While average farm incomes are rising across Europe, a widening chasm separates the largest and smallest farms, a recent Guardian analysis of pay data reveals. Agricultural experts attribute the decline of small farms to the economics of scale and rapid technological advancements that favor larger operations. Big farms, with their vast resources, can distribute capital costs like massive tractors and automated milking systems across more crops and livestock, enabling them to undercut prices beyond the reach of smaller competitors.
“To earn a decent income, we would need hundreds of hectares and thousands of sheep,” lamented Maj, recalling her parents’ struggle to sustain a family of seven solely from farming. ”As children, we were unaware of the immense difficulties involved.”
Small farmers who attempt expansion or modernization face significant roadblocks. Securing loans to make essential investments becomes a Herculean task, leaving them perpetually lagging behind industrial agriculture.
“Banks are generally reluctant to lend to farmers,” explains Carlos Franco, a blueberry farmer near Lisbon. “Offering a sausage for a pig is a sure bet, but the reverse is not true. It’s exceptionally difficult for individuals to start without assets to offer as collateral.”
Franco, a city dweller drawn to the charm of his grandfather’s country farm, embarked on his own agricultural journey eight years ago. For the first time, he anticipates breaking even this year. Had he secured a substantial loan initially, he believes he could have acquired an automated watering system that would have expedited his path to profitability by years.
Big farms, he notes, possess greater capital reserves and tend to diversify their crops, minimizing their reliance on a single product. “They don’t put all their eggs in one basket,” he observes.
The financial crisis engulfing small farmers fueled violent protests earlier this year. Agricultural lobbies leveraged public sympathy for these struggling farmers to oppose regulations aimed at protecting nature and reducing pollution. Environmental campaigners argue that large-scale farms exploited this empathy to reject green measures that were within the reach of the broader agricultural sector.
Some small farmers acknowledge both sides of the debate. Bighelaar, tending his parents’ 60-hectare dairy farm, points out that complying with environmental regulations requires significant investments – a heavier burden for smaller farms compared to larger ones. Investing €100,000 in technology to mitigate nitrogen pollution, he explains, would be more manageable if it could be spread across 200 cows instead of his modest herd of 125.
“For small and medium-sized farms, transitioning to these environmentally-conscious practices is tremendously challenging,” Bighelaar acknowledges. “We want to participate… but currently, it’s beyond our grasp due to our limited size.”
In September, stakeholders throughout the food chain unanimously agreed on the need to reform the EU’s farm subsidy program, which disproportionately benefits larger farms. They proposed solutions such as needs-based support for farmers and the creation of a dedicated fund to help them transition to more sustainable practices.
Some farmers champion sustainable practices without costly investments and loans. Airi Kylvet, an organic beef farmer in Estonia, highlights her focus on deepening her knowledge of cows and land management rather than relying on expensive machinery. However, she laments the overwhelming bureaucratic burden, asserting that while she provides diligently for her animals and land, the regulatory system seems designed for an impersonal industrial model.
“If you aspire to be a successful farmer, you must be exceptionally shrewd,” she advises. “There are countless farmers who are skilled cultivators but struggle with the complexities of bureaucracy.”
Despite their concerns about increasingly stringent environmental regulations, small farmers simultaneously battle the growing threat of extreme weather events. Maj’s farm was recently devastated by the torrential rains that ravaged central Europe last month, destroying a significant portion of her land. Franco reports that the scorching heat waves experienced in recent years have led to his blueberry plants rotting and burning. Research indicates that both weather extremes are exacerbated by pollutants heating the planet, with food systems contributing to roughly a quarter of these harmful emissions.
Despite the numerous challenges, Franco finds solace in the simple pleasures of farm life: the joy of witnessing plants bloom, the gentle buzz of bees, and the revitalizing air. “In Portugal, we say that agriculture is a path to poverty, but happiness,” he reflects.
Interview between Time.news Editor and Coen van den Bighelaar, Dairy Farmer
Time.news Editor: Welcome, Coen. It’s great to have you here to discuss the ongoing challenges faced by small farmers in Europe. You’ve had a unique journey from university to becoming a fourth-generation dairy farmer. Can you share the key factors that influenced your decision to take over the family farm?
Coen van den Bighelaar: Thank you for having me. Initially, it was quite daunting. I was fresh out of university, earning a decent salary at a desk job, which made the decision to step into farming feel like a leap into the unknown. While my friends were enthusiastic about diving into agriculture, I sensed the weight of the challenges ahead. Ultimately, my dedication to continuing the family legacy and my love for farming prevailed, even though it wasn’t an easy path.
Editor: It sounds like a difficult transition. You mentioned that many young farmers, like yourself, struggle to see a viable future in agriculture. Can you elaborate on the current state of small and medium-sized farms in Europe?
Coen: Absolutely. The landscape is quite tough right now. Economic pressures are relentless. Large agriculture conglomerates can offer lower prices, making it difficult for small farms to compete. As a result, many farmers are either forced to give up or seek alternative income streams, like my friends who have pursued other careers or business ventures just to get by.
Editor: That’s a rather bleak picture. You also pointed out the struggles related to financial support for farmers. Why is it so challenging for small farmers like yourself to secure loans and funding for essential investments?
Coen: Well, banks are generally hesitant to lend to farmers, especially those with limited assets. Without significant collateral, securing loans for crucial investments, such as technology upgrades or expanded operations, feels nearly impossible. It’s like an uphill battle where large farms often have the resources to weather financial storms and diversify their operations while smaller farms struggle to keep their heads above water.
Editor: You mentioned the burden of complying with environmental regulations. How does this impact small farms differently compared to larger operations?
Coen: Complying with environmental legislation can indeed be a heavy burden for us. For example, investing €100,000 in technology to help mitigate nitrogen pollution is much more manageable for a larger farm with more cows. For a smaller farm like mine, with only 125 cows, such costs can be overwhelming. We genuinely want to adopt environmentally-friendly practices, but the financial reality often keeps us from doing so.
Editor: That definitely highlights the need for systemic change. Recently, there has been a push for reforming the EU’s farm subsidy program. What are your thoughts on these proposed solutions, such as needs-based support for farmers?
Coen: I believe creating a dedicated fund for small and medium-sized farms is a step in the right direction. We need support to transition towards sustainable practices without sinking under financial pressure. If done correctly, these reforms could help level the playing field, allowing us to not only survive but thrive.
Editor: It sounds like there is a genuine need for more equitable support within the agricultural sector. What gives you hope as you navigate these difficult times?
Coen: Despite the challenges, I find hope in the community of small farmers and supporters who understand our struggles. We’re resilient and adaptive. I firmly believe that with the right support and policies, we can transition to more sustainable practices and secure a future for the next generation of farmers.
Editor: Thank you, Coen. Your insights have shed light on the struggles facing small farmers today, as well as the importance of advocacy for meaningful reforms in the agricultural sector. We wish you all the best on your journey.
Coen: Thank you for providing this platform to share our story. It’s crucial to keep the conversation going about the future of farming in Europe.