Cultivation with a Contract

As a farmer, it may be very interesting for you to grow lucerne or grass for Grasdrogerij Hartog B.V. Your own crop is sold to Grasdrogerij Hartog on the basis of agreements (contracting).

The advantages:

• One, two, or three-year cultivation
• Payment per kilogram of dried product
• Less labor intensive
• The roots of the lucerne plant improve the structure of your soil

In this contract cultivation, the entire process of sowing is to be distributed to the final consumer in charge of Grasdrogerij Hartog. The grower buys the seeds by consulting Grasdrogerij Hartog and sows it. In addition, the breeder is doing weed control and possible fertilization, this depends on the crop and soil condition.

Because Hartog harvests the green fodder, this can be done at the right time. Hartog cultivates the products as close as possible to the drying so that the time between mowing and drying is as short as possible. Mowing is done using mowers 10 meters wide which are almost immediately followed by the chopper. Following is the transport to the dryhouse in container cars. Due to the high degree of organization inside Grasdrogerij Hartog, this process of mowing up to drying is optimal because Hartog has all the links within the process itself.

Lucerne cultivation is a very good investment in the improvement of your valuable soil. The wide rooting with long roots, which can go deeper than one meter, ensures better drainage! Hartog Lucerne is extremely popular in the livestock and horse farm. Although prices of many crops are declining, we are able to reimburse our grass and / or lucerne growers durig the harvest season.

Experiences from growers

Harry en Ank Donker, Wieringermeer - Organic Farming Company
Size: 55 ha
''Every year, we cultivate a quarter of our building plan using organic lucerne. Not only does the crop provide a nitrogen supply in the soil, where potatoes and cereals are used as a follow-on fruit, but the crop also has a weed suppressing capacity. After two years of lucerne, the country is as good as clean. Steaks are cleared 90%, and I see hardly any leaves. An additional advantage is the fine soil structure after luzern cultivation. '' Country post - October - nr8

Biesheuvel B.V., Middenmeer - Farming Company
Size: 130 ha
'' In recent years, the yield of lucerne has significantly increased, so that the cultivation now also yields some. In our construction plan, lucerne cultivation is well suited because it is not a family of the crops we cultivate. As a result, we do not have any fruit follow-up problems. It can thus be grown after each crop. Lucerne is a very good structural enhancer, because the plant carries very deep roots. In addition, lucerne cultivation works well against potato storage and has an inhibitory effect on aalties. ''.

Fa. P.N. Slagter, ( Bas, Nico en Ton), Lutjebroek - Cauliflower Company
Size: 85 ha
"In the cauliflower cultivation, maintaining the soil is very important. We count 3 years of lucerne followed by 1 year bulbs. Using this combination, the country has rest during 4 years, after which we can grow cauliflower again. The lucerne ensures that the soil has a good structure and water permeation. The lucerne also promotes soil life (worms). As a result, the country after the lucerne is always very good for hiring for bulbs. Hartog has paid a higher price in recent years, which also made the balance attractive. "

D. Roodzant, Anna Paulowna - Potato Company
Size: 42 ha
'' Two-year lucerne breeding prior to the seedlings, ensures an optimum structure of my soil. With plenty of rain, the water drops well, because the lucerne roots serve as vertical drainage. After 2 years of lucerne, the land is considerably drier and is less likely to cause water damage. Another reason why we consume 12-13 hectares each year is the nitrogen supply that leaves the crop in the ground. As a result, spreading 80 kg of KAS on the seed is sufficient. ''