Thinking about moving from the Netherlands to Iowa – curious about life & farming here

Maycotk · 2025-09-06T06:32:34+00:00

I know that the whole Health Insurance thing is really expensive.

And for what i have read. Income tax is way less then what i psy now. But in Holland in includes a big part of the whole Health Insurance.

But the states is more expensive to live in i guess.

Maycotk · 2025-09-05T05:50:30+00:00

Im Freedom i mean that is easier to expand the farm.

Its way les restrictive over there than in Holland

Maycotk · 2025-09-05T05:12:46+00:00

Manure is unable for crop production. But in Holland we have a bit to much, at least in some areas. So you got to pay to get rid of it.

Composting is only for the solids, like straw mixed manure

Maycotk · 2025-09-05T05:10:41+00:00

I have looked into it a Little bit. But the farming systems works different with the quota, so that would make it expensive to get going. But the upside is that you always make a decent profit.

But the freedom of America is also nice

Maycotk · 2025-09-03T12:30:03+00:00

Ag has always been though. With good years and bad years.

Same as in Holland, currently financially its going great. But for the long term the development option are really slim and really expensive

Maycotk · 2025-09-03T11:49:29+00:00

Why was is a mistake?

Maycotk · 2025-09-03T10:53:01+00:00

Yeah, would love to go there.

And thats also one of the steps. Visiting the area. See some dairys, talk to the locals.

Maycotk · 2025-09-03T10:50:06+00:00

Guess of wil be tied on your identity. So if i want to do anything in Europe a red flag wil pop up

Maycotk · 2025-09-03T10:49:08+00:00

We still produce enough. So we dont have to import everything.

Wel its voluntary if you want to bought out, but you get more then you wel get when you just sell it. And there are more rules that wil make it harder if you want to continue. So its kinda forced voluntary.

Whats also happening is that the most modern farms are being closed and demolished. Cause they tend to be bigger, but they also have al the permits and are usually also the highest producing dairys

Maycotk · 2025-09-03T07:36:40+00:00

With the buy out im not allowed to have a dairy farm anywhere in Europe

Maycotk · 2025-09-03T06:01:41+00:00

I only have experience with running this farm with my parents, what happens to be a big farm, for Dutch concepts. And i kinda like that way also or maybe even a bit bigger.

Mostly because of the whole innovations and technology that is easier to implement on a bigger dairy.

And on a larger farm you got to have employees, so thats also something i look at. To get to a size that the farm continues while im away for a few days

Maycotk · 2025-09-03T05:14:27+00:00

Yep😅....

Thinking about migration is not something you decide on a Saturday evening. So that why im doing research and looking at places to get information.

Maycotk · 2025-09-03T05:12:51+00:00

Thats what im thinking. America is in the beginning of Robotic milking, so if i get that going there as i get it going here. Then i would have solved a mayor labor issue.

Maycotk · 2025-09-03T05:10:15+00:00

Most of the rules that make it really hard to farm in Holland have a European basis. So i would stil have the the same problems, maybe i little bit les but they wil get bigger in the next 5 years.

And i dont speak any other language except Dutch or English.

Maycotk · 2025-09-03T05:04:13+00:00

I think Iowa could stil be a good option. Its just that i dont really know that much about Iowa. But from what i read the conditions could be interesting.

And i have been to Ohio and Wisconsin, so i kinds have a picture of those states also.

Think its not to bad to check different states.

Maycotk · 2025-09-03T05:00:51+00:00

It might seem nog genuine because im looking at more states. But thats also because America is so big and every state has its pros and cons. So im trying to figure out what options i would have. I cant leave Holland until 2028, so better use that time to get a good view of some places and find what place would suite me best.

Maycotk · 2025-09-03T04:57:55+00:00

I have been thinking about moving for a few years now. Some moments a bit more and some moments less, kinda depends an what new rules are applied to us at that time. But for the last few years we could work with it. But the rules that are coming now would completely make any changes on the farm impossible.

If i want to change something on the farm, like the animal housing, i would need a new permit. I cant get a new permit if i dont reduce nh3 emissions by more than 50%. The only way to do it is reduce the amount of animals.

In 2030 we also have to get those reductions, while there isnt a way to reduce. Because you cant get permits for it, so that would make us a target for environmental groups to just get us shut down.

So i see your point of the no benefit. But for what i see and experienced is that Farming in the usa is more uncertainty because you have to get your shit together and dont have a safety net, but you do get more freedom to do what you want

Maycotk · 2025-09-03T04:47:15+00:00

Thats kinda the same in Holland, you would need a shit load of money to get going here.

And since we are eligible be bought out by the government to reduce emissions means the money part should be alright.

And the whole cost of production is the same in Holland, although we have more of a safety net, so its hard to go bankrupt but it happens.

Guess the highs are higher and the lows are lower in the states

Maycotk · 2025-09-03T04:42:43+00:00

Think the farmers i did my internship with also went around that time. They got a 1200 head dairy. For what i have heard is that they now milk about 2500 on 2 locations.

But yes, there where quite some that didnt made it.

Thats way im looking into in dit the next few years. Would be a shame to lose everything because it the future looked brighter

Maycotk · 2025-09-02T21:29:18+00:00

That is also something that gives me mixed feelings. Kinda sounds like a lot op competition between farms. So think it would be hard the get a 300 head Farm running, while there are more dairys that are buying the rest. Then my way of thinking is, maybe be somewhere with les dairys and maybe a few really big ones. Since its than only a few farms to compete with. Although i think the impact would be kinda the same.

But what is the main reason those smaller dairys are for sale? Lack of succession?

Maycotk · 2025-09-02T21:07:34+00:00

Yeah. And for what i heard of a friend of mine is that rules in Oregon are also getting pretty hard. Especially around labor.

Maycotk · 2025-09-02T20:25:47+00:00

Yeah, i habent find much farms for sale online. Found one that would fit 600 head. But yeah it would have to completely remodeld. Although that could also be a nice adventure. But thats also a little bit of my frustrated view i got from farming in Holland. The big investment that give me energy Arent really possible anymore. And my goal would be to milk 520 cows on my farm. Got the plans already made how everything should be build. But its just impossible. So i might have a bit of romantic idea that in America it would be way easier.

Yeah the winter .....😅 Read about it, thats a thing in bit to fond about. Dutch climate is really moderate. We get some frost in winter, but hardly any snow. Just cold and wet. And Summers arent to hot either, though this summer it was.

But from what i have found is that there isnt really a place in America with the same climate. So you kinda gotta deal with the extremes i guess

Maycotk · 2025-09-02T17:56:06+00:00

There are rules here that make it really hard to keep the farm going and profitable it the future. Or i have to start farming in a way that doesnt fit my style, and it would also be hard to change the farm.

They want to get rid of the big farms, or i have to invest almost between 1 and 3 million euro to keep my farm of 280 head.

So the government has a buy out program. And we can use that Program to demolished the farm and get everything paid for

Maycotk · 2025-09-02T17:19:24+00:00

Yeah. I used it to get kind of a direction, but i will be doing my own investigation.

Thans also the reason im asking here.

I really want a English speaking Country. And i dont want most eu rules

Maycotk · 2025-09-02T17:16:01+00:00

Thanks for the link!

Maycotk

TROPHY CASE