Free to farm in a new world

It’s a decision they’ve never regretted.

Albert and Carin Pol and their children — Jacquelien, Nico and Harm-Jan and his partner Leonie — are now relishing the challenges and benefits of Australia’s open farming system.

There are still frustrations, but they no longer feel overwhelmed by the government regulations and restrictions that prompted their move to Australia in 2021.

They had been farming in the northern part of The Netherlands, milking 90 cows (below the average 120) on 43 hectares using a barn system.

The weather is similar to south-west Victoria, though the rain is more evenly spread across the year and the winters tend to be colder.

“We never grazed cows because we had the barn system, but no farmers would graze their cows over winter,” Albert said. Everything is set up on the flat, low-lying land to quickly get rid of rainwater.

Dairying in The Netherlands is primarily barn-based, but about 80 per cent of farmers graze their cows during summer or spring. Those grazing cows for at least 120 days of the year get a premium for their milk but the Pol farm wasn’t set up for that option.

However, they were self-sufficient with home-grown feed. “We made enough silage to keep the cows well fed across the year, with six separate harvests,” Albert said.

Although things escalated in the years before their move, the family had already experienced the difficulties of farming in a heavily-regulated environment.

When it comes to the problems caused by government regulations, Albert jokes that there are “too many to put in the paper”.

“When I was 18, we were on a different farm and the government would say you don’t have to leave but if you stay you have to follow the rules,” Albert said.

“All the farms in that area are now gone. At that time, we moved to the northern part of The Netherlands but five years later the same system started again. After a while you get sick of it.”

“They slowly push you out,” Jacquelien said.

“They make it more difficult and at some point, you will just go away,” Nico added.

“Land prices drop because no-one wants to move to your area, so if you’re the last one to leave, you’re not getting much. It’s a bit similar to what happens here with the blue gums — if they go up near your farm, your value drops.”

Harm-Jan added that the biggest problems in The Netherlands happened after the quota system ended in 2015.

“Everyone started milking like crazy and then there were problems with emissions and the government put in rules that you had to cut back to the numbers you had two years earlier. Some farmers even had to go 20 per cent below their previous numbers.”

During those two years, there were farmers that extended their barns to allow for more cows but were then told that number wouldn’t be allowed, leaving new barns half-empty. The government tracks individual farm herd numbers.

While The Netherlands exports its top-quality milk, it relies on imports for the “cheap stuff” that people want in the supermarkets.

“The cost of exports reflects the costs of producing milk in the country,” Albert said.

“It’s hard because you have to compete with other countries in Europe where the regulations aren’t as tough, but the milk price you receive isn’t any different.”

The regulations generally target environmental concerns. Among other regulations, farmers have been told they have to cut back from using up to 250 kg of nitrogen to 170 kg.

In April 2021 the family moved to Australia. They had visited in 2018-19, travelling across dairy regions in NSW, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania.

With its green pastures and relatively reliable rainfall, they chose south-west Victoria.

“There were more farms available in this area and the prices were better than Gippsland at the time,” Harm-Jan said.

Nico, who is now based in Melbourne and training to be a helicopter pilot, added that they decided to stay on the mainland, eliminating Tasmania from the equation, but Australia was the stand-out option.

“Australia is self-sufficient and it’s a real market system and we like that,” Albert said. “You’re free to make your own choices.”

“We know there have been hard times here — it was absolutely awful what happened with Murray Goulburn — but in terms of freedom you can do the things you like and not be told by government what you can or can’t do,” Nico added.

“Farming is a form of freedom, but you don’t have that anymore in The Netherlands.”

The family had planned to visit in July 2020 to select a farm but that was stopped due to the pandemic. Instead, they had to rely on photos and descriptions when bidding.

They were happy with the outcome.

“The first impression we all had was that it’s really hilly,” Jacquelien said.

“We’re used to it now and it’s not an issue but when we arrived and went on the motorbikes and saw some of the hills, we were worried about how we would farm it.”

It was like starting again, learning a new way of farming in a new environment, but the support of suppliers and local farmers made the transition easier.

The farm, previously leased for 17 years, covers 190 hectares. They took 90 cows from the departing farmer, bought 150 from Timboon and gradually topped up numbers to hit 300.

In The Netherlands they used three-way cross Holstein, Jersey and Fleckvieh cows but are concentrating on Holsteins in Australia.

“We want commercial medium-sized cows, because we think they are stronger and pug paddocks less in wet times,” Albert said. Although they have noticed less lameness with the cows on grass rather than concrete.

Adjusting to a new way of farming involved some research and plenty of listening to neighbours, suppliers and the Port Campbell and Cooriemungle discussion group.

“It’s not the way we’re used to, but you’re in another country and you have to learn the way they farm and leave what you knew at home,” Albert said.

“We used to harvest the paddocks six times a year when they were ready, now we have to lock up paddocks and work around one harvest.”

Apart from paddock rotations, they have also been trying to get effluent on paddocks at the back of the farm rather than just near the dairy, which has been difficult with the hills.

They calve in autumn and spring, different to the year-round calving in The Netherlands.

“The first time you think it’s a bit much but you get used to it. It’s nice to get it done in just two seasons,” Harm-Jan said.

They’ve had to work with new terminology — for example, ‘milk solids’ isn’t a thing in The Netherlands — and another big difference is milk factory shopping and changing banks which rarely happens in Europe.

While they have had to contend with three “not normal ... according to the locals” seasons, the Pols have embraced family and farming life in Australia.

They have plans for a larger feedpad and a new dairy in the future, but they’re sitting pretty with the farming system.

When asked the best thing about farming in Australia, the answer is unanimous. Freedom.

“There will be more regulation here but there’s more space for farming. There’s enough space here so I don’t think regulation will be as big an issue as it is in Europe,” Albert said.

“When we left The Netherlands there was enough milk, now four years later they’re asking for more farmers.”

“I think we came in at a good time with a rising milk price. It was a risky move as property prices were going up and to buy something without looking at it in person; but looking back it was the best decision we could have made,” Harm-Jan adds.

“You don’t have the pressure that you have in The Netherlands.”