When the LLTB was founded in 1896, the great agricultural crisis was still reverberating. All of Western Europe had suffered from it for more than 15 years. Bankruptcies and expropriations were the order of the day. For the LLTB, then still under the name Limburgsche Christelijke Boerenbond, unconditional support for each other was literally a matter of survival. And that is not much different in our troubled times.
The invention of sowing and threshing machines, the construction of railways and the arrival of steamships meant that the United States and Canada could suddenly ship large quantities of cheap grain and other food products to Europe. Prices plummeted dramatically.
The crisis was not only catastrophic in economic terms, but also disrupted the rural population socially. Some farmers managed to modernise and work more efficiently. Others fell into poverty and emigrated or moved to the cities. We can hardly imagine this in these prosperous times. Although... even now, dark clouds hang over our agriculture and horticulture.
Peaks and troughs
The agricultural sector has seen turbulent but also prosperous times. Peaks and troughs. In seven-mile steps: the introduction of artificial fertilisers at the beginning of the last century that enabled strong population growth, the crisis of the 1930s, the boom after World War II ("No more hunger"), land consolidation, scaling-up, mechanisation, and automation from the 1950s onwards. Innovation became, and still is, the credo in all industrial sectors, but especially in agriculture and horticulture.
Can't we do a bit less? Surely the Netherlands doesn't have to feed the world? LLTB chairman Léon Faasen is resolute: "No, that's not the issue. Not in kilos, but in knowledge. As a rich, agricultural nation of global stature, we owe it to ourselves. And a strong, innovative primary sector at home is a prerequisite for that."
'Smart-farming' (self-thinking production and harvesting robots, precision agriculture) and efficiency are not the only answer to the challenges we face. Optimisation of food production depends heavily on climate, soil type, water resources, the presence of an agricultural infra-structure and regional socio-cultural identity. In our region, alternative forms of agriculture are catching on that yield less crop, but for which a limited group of consumers is willing to pay more. Bas Boots, LLTB director: "It is precisely this diversity and variety that we need to maintain. They are the best guarantee of cross-pollination of knowledge and experience."
Magnifying glass
Today's food production is under the magnifying glass of society. We all have an opinion on it and that is what farmers and gardeners need to listen to. "But it is also a profession. Today's farmers and gardeners are highly educated," says Boots. "For the younger generation, Higher Agricultural School is almost standard. Nowhere are there as many courses, long-term field trials and learning days as precisely in the agricultural sector, which has been a net supplier of electricity for more than a decade." It is also a risky profession. What will the market do, how will the weather behave? Flooding, hail, wind gusts or just extreme drought? And especially in livestock farming, it is difficult to quickly adapt production to changing demand. Faassen: "In that complex force field, the LLTB stands for an enterprising and viable Limburg agriculture and horticulture. In these tough 'nitrogen days', the organisation is of necessity more concerned with direct advocacy, but its eye always remains on society as well. We ask ourselves almost daily how we can be of value. After all, this dual focus characterises the modern farmer. In any case, it characterises our members. Precisely that makes the LLTB a vibrant organisation. For 125 years now."
The Limburg Agricultural and Horticultural Union (LLTB) represents all agricultural sectors:arable farming, horticulture (both open and covered crops), fruit, tree and perennial plant cultivation, and cattle, sheep, goat, pig, poultry and horse farming. The LLTB is also active in multifunctional farming, care farms (through the Coöperatie Limburgse Zorgboeren) and nature management by farmers (through Natuurrijk Limburg). The agricultural consultancy Arvalis is a subsidiary of the LLTB and is based in Roermond, Venlo, Nuth and Deurne.
