From Pasture to Podcast: Unveiling the World of Dutch Dairy Farming! With Wilco Brouwer de Koning

In this episode we welcome Special Guest, Wilko Brouwer de Koning from the Netherlands, a third-generation dairy farmer.

• Discussing the significance of Holland as a dairy powerhouse globally and meeting Wilko at the World Dairy Summit in Chicago.

• Farm Operation: Brief overview of Wilko's dairy farm, location, and the scale of operation.
• Family Involvement: Mentioning Wilko's family, including his brother and three children.
• Farm Size: Highlighting the farm's size compared to the average in Holland. 
• Detailing the milking routine, including sheds, milking robots, and grazing.

• Grazing Importance: Discussing the significance of grazing in Holland and its impact on milk quality.
• Community Engagement: Emphasizing the importance of connecting with neighbors and the community.

Challenges in Dairy Farming:

• Land Restrictions: Explaining the challenges in starting a farm in Holland due to high land costs.
• Quota System: Discussing limitations on phosphate and the challenges imposed by manure laws.
• Future Challenges: Addressing upcoming challenges related to reducing the number of cows and managing manure.

Sustainable Farming Practices:

• Innovations: Noting the presence of innovations on Dutch farms but challenges in their implementation.
• Carbon Footprint: Discussing the need to address carbon, nitrogen, and phosphate levels on the farm.
• Grassland Importance: Emphasizing the role of grassland in sustainable dairy farming.

Generational Transition:

• Transition Story: Discussing the transition from the previous generation to Wilko and his brother.
• Involvement of Previous Generation: Mentioning Wilko's father's continued support after retirement.

Global Dairy Industry:

• Comparison with the U.S.: Comparing family farms in Holland with the diverse sizes in the U.S.
• Global Dairy Trends: Highlighting the alarming rate of dairy farm retirements worldwide.

Fun Questions!

Closing Statements

 

You can follow Wilco on X @boertercoulster  on LinkedIn @Wilco Brouwer de Koning   and on Facebook @Wilco Brouwer de Koning

 

Please, if you like this episode, please share it on social media or with friends and tag @DairyGalVal ! You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube @DairyGalVal and you can contact me via http://www.dairygalval.com

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