Flemish pilot farmers eager to learn in Dairyman
The Flemish pilot farms and their advisers met for the first time at KTC Hooibeekhoeve (BE). Jo Bijttebier of the Flemish Dairyman team (ILVO) presented the aims of the Dairyman project. The farmers were informed on the different actions of the project and their role in it. After this introduction Frans Aarts (NL) gave a interesting lecture on ‘Cows & Opportunities’ (Koeien & Kansen) in the Netherlands which has been one of the driving forces behind Dairyman. The participants were very enthusiastic to hear about the successes attained over the years with this project.
To introduce themselves Lies Debruyne (ILVO) asked the farmers to prepare a short presentation of themselves, their farm, and their motivation to participate in the project. Some even brought an item which they strongly associated with their farm. One showed an organic cheese produced with his milk. Another brought an empty little box associating it with the bureaucracy that forced him to stop with on-farm milk processing. In general the willingness to learn and to participating in the social network with other farmers were important motivations to participate in Dairyman.
Hereafter Karoline D’Haene (ILVO) presented MOTIFS, a Monitoring Tool for Integrated Farm Sustainability. MOTIFS gives a clear view on the ecologic, economic and social sustainability on an individual farm. This tool will be used to present the results of the sustainability indicators and start the discussion during the farmer meetings.
The indoor presentations were followed by a guided tour on KTC Hooibeekhoeve. An Schellekens explained about the different grassland experiments. Inside Els Stevens guided the pilot farmer through the stable with the milking robot and different stable mattresses.
This first meeting was definitely successful, especially because of the enthusiasm of the pilot farmers. Everybody is looking forward to a promising discussion meeting at the end of this year.
