Jaap: 'Our relationship goes back years; we’ve known each other since 1998. The J. Ras & Zn. farm is a real family business. In the early years I was mainly in contact with the father, Leen, but later on his sons Jaap-Jan and Henk increasingly joined our discussions. After Jaap-Jan and Henk took over the company, Jaap-Jan became my main point of contact. I wanted us to continue the good relationship I’d always had with Leen. And based on the fact that the family is still a customer of our Center, we can conclude that we’ve succeeded!'
How would you describe your relationship with this farmer?
Jaap-Jan: 'It’s essential to understand the dynamics of a family business. I have a clear vision for our farm’s future and am driven to achieve it. However, one of my struggles is that I want to get there fast, sometimes too fast. That’s when my family steps in and says ‘Hey Jaap-Jan, take it easy!’. While these discussions can sometimes be tough, they really contribute to our farm’s sustainability. Our family is the strength and resilience of our farm. It is what makes our business strong and futureproof.
Additionally, communication with farmers is very important – especially in the case of family farms, where the boundaries between work and personal life are often blurred. Traditionally, farmers don’t find it easy to say what they think, and you often have to read between the lines. However, by opening the conversation, it’s possible to address challenges and really understand and support each other. I’ve seen this among young farmers in our community who struggle to navigate their challenges because they cannot discuss them at home. By discussing them openly and providing support, we can help the next generation to continue in this sector.'
What do you believe every Lely employee should know about family farms?
Jaap: 'If you want to help a customer, you have to be able to listen. Only then you will reach the best solution together. In my case, I maintain close contact with the family, including through frequent visits. I know that they are open to innovations, as long as they contribute to a good balance between cow health, profitability and sustainable operations. For example, when the family were building the new barn, I helped them move from three A2s to four A4s in the I-flow setup. That setup was revolutionary at the time, but it has worked out very well! It has improved the cows’ natural rhythm and increased the capacity of the milking robot. In fact, last December, a fifth (used) A4 milking robot was added to the I-flow setup. I see this as a good example of reaching the best solution together.'
How can Lely support the farmer with these challenges?
Jaap-Jan: 'For me, the main challenge is to break away from the traditional way of farming, while achieving economic health. The moment you start thinking about environmental cycles, everything becomes much more complex. It takes time to figure that out and to secure a profit margin. Due to investing in this approach, we have higher costs, for example for inputs such as herbs and better minerals to improve the soil quality, and this approach often also reduces the output. So, striking a balance between profitability and sustainability remains our biggest challenge.'
Currently, what are the main challenges for your farm?
Farm facts
Farm name: J. Ras & Zn.
Location: Den Bommel, the Netherlands
Start date: Lely customer since 1998
Number of cows: 260
Lely robots: 5 A4 Astronauts, 2 Discoveries and 1 Juno
Lely Center: Lely Center Zevenbergen
What are your ambitions on the farm for the next five to ten years?
Jaap-Jan: 'Over the next five to ten years, our focus remains on continuing the current business with a slight optimisation towards sustainable practices, particularly in soil management. Looking further ahead, I have clear goals for the next 30 years. I aim to get a lot more natural characteristics in our soil. By improving the soil year by year, we can steadily increase the quality of our products with a focus on nutrient-dense food.
Reflecting on our farm’s history, our focus has shifted from maximising quantity to prioritising quality. To achieve this, we look at animal welfare and sustainability. In summary, we’re continuously working on circularity: improving the health of our cows, optimising feed, nurturing healthy soil and managing manure efficiently. By making all these elements healthier, we can achieve even higher-quality, more sustainable and more responsible food that benefits both consumers and the environment. That is where I take responsibility as a farmer.'
Jaap Bakelaar (58)
Sales Advisor Astronaut
& Barn Products
Jaap-Jan Ras (36)
Co-owner family farm
in the Netherlands
FAMILY FARMER
Jaap-Jan Ras runs the family farm located in Den Bommel, the Netherlands, together with his brother Henk and other family members. They have 260 dairy cows under their care plus a 160-hectare arable farm. Next to that, they are active in innovative energy production through solar power and biogas. Jaap-Jan and his brother are true entrepreneurs, continuously seeking improvements in line with future goals. They believe being a family farm makes the business strong and sustainable. For this article, we spoke with Jaap-Jan and Lely Center colleague Jaap Bakelaar.
Jaap Bakelaar (58)
Sales Advisor Astronaut & Barn Products
Jaap: 'If you want to help a customer, you have to be able to listen. Only then you will reach the best solution together. In my case, I maintain close contact with the family, including through frequent visits. I know that they are open to innovations, as long as they contribute to a good balance between cow health, profitability and sustainable operations. For example, when the family were building the new barn, I helped them move from three A2s to four A4s in the I-flow setup. That setup was revolutionary at the time, but it has worked out very well! It has improved the cows’ natural rhythm and increased the capacity of the milking robot. In fact, last December, a fifth (used) A4 milking robot was added to the I-flow setup. I see this as a good example of reaching the best solution together.'
How can Lely support the farmer with these challenges?
Jaap-Jan Ras (36)
Co-owner family farm in the Netherlands
What are your ambitions on the farm for the next five to ten years?
Jaap-Jan: 'Over the next five to ten years, our focus remains on continuing the current business with a slight optimisation towards sustainable practices, particularly in soil management. Looking further ahead, I have clear goals for the next 30 years. I aim to get a lot more natural characteristics in our soil. By improving the soil year by year, we can steadily increase the quality of our products with a focus on nutrient-dense food.
Reflecting on our farm’s history, our focus has shifted from maximising quantity to prioritising quality. To achieve this, we look at animal welfare and sustainability. In summary, we’re continuously working on circularity: improving the health of our cows, optimising feed, nurturing healthy soil and managing manure efficiently. By making all these elements healthier, we can achieve even higher-quality, more sustainable and more responsible food that benefits both consumers and the environment. That is where I take responsibility as a farmer.'
Jaap: 'Our relationship goes back years; we’ve known each other since 1998. The J. Ras & Zn. farm is a real family business. In the early years I was mainly in contact with the father, Leen, but later on his sons Jaap-Jan and Henk increasingly joined our discussions. After Jaap-Jan and Henk took over the company, Jaap-Jan became my main point of contact. I wanted us to continue the good relationship I’d always had with Leen. And based on the fact that the family is still a customer of our Center, we can conclude that we’ve succeeded!'
How would you describe your relationship with this farmer?
Jaap-Jan: 'It’s essential to understand the dynamics of a family business. I have a clear vision for our farm’s future and am driven to achieve it. However, one of my struggles is that I want to get there fast, sometimes too fast. That’s when my family steps in and says ‘Hey Jaap-Jan, take it easy!’. While these discussions can sometimes be tough, they really contribute to our farm’s sustainability. Our family is the strength and resilience of our farm. It is what makes our business strong and futureproof.
Additionally, communication with farmers is very important – especially in the case of family farms, where the boundaries between work and personal life are often blurred. Traditionally, farmers don’t find it easy to say what they think, and you often have to read between the lines. However, by opening the conversation, it’s possible to address challenges and really understand and support each other. I’ve seen this among young farmers in our community who struggle to navigate their challenges because they cannot discuss them at home. By discussing them openly and providing support, we can help the next generation to continue in this sector.'
What do you believe every Lely employee should know about family farms?
Jaap-Jan: 'For me, the main challenge is to break away from the traditional way of farming, while achieving economic health. The moment you start thinking about environmental cycles, everything becomes much more complex. It takes time to figure that out and to secure a profit margin. Due to investing in this approach, we have higher costs, for example for inputs such as herbs and better minerals to improve the soil quality, and this approach often also reduces the output. So, striking a balance between profitability and sustainability remains our biggest challenge.'
Currently, what are the main challenges for your farm?
Farm facts
Farm name: J. Ras & Zn.
Location: Den Bommel, the Netherlands
Start date: Lely customer since 1998
Number of cows: 260
Lely robots: 5 A4 Astronauts,
2 Discoveries and 1 JunoLely Center: Lely Center Zevenbergen
Jaap-Jan Ras runs the family farm located in Den Bommel, the Netherlands, together with his brother Henk and other family members. They have 260 dairy cows under their care plus a 160-hectare arable farm. Next to that, they are active in innovative energy production through solar power and biogas. Jaap-Jan and his brother are true entrepreneurs, continuously seeking improvements in line with future goals. They believe being a family farm makes the business strong and sustainable. For this article, we spoke with Jaap-Jan and Lely Center colleague Jaap Bakelaar.
FAMILY FARMER
