Veterinary work in the Netherlands, 1953 : lectures, delivered to the participants of the Intra-European T. A. training course on livestock disease control, May 18-June 12, 1953.
- Netherlands. Veeartsenijkundig Staatstoezicht.
- Date:
- 1954
Licence: In copyright
Credit: Veterinary work in the Netherlands, 1953 : lectures, delivered to the participants of the Intra-European T. A. training course on livestock disease control, May 18-June 12, 1953. Source: Wellcome Collection.
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![A SURVEY OF DUTCH AGRICULTURE IR J. M. A. PENDERS Inspector for Agricultural Advisory Services at the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food The serious European agricultural depression at the end of the last century, induced by the large scale overseas imports of arable products from the ‘New World’, had a far reaching effect on the development of agriculture in the Netherlands. This country adapted itself to the changed conditions by alterations in the customary modes of husbandry. Arable produce was gradually but largely converted on the farm into more valuable animal products. | Another trend of the development was the expanded production of horticultural products to meet the increased demand of foreign markets. This greater demand was due to the development of manufacturing industries in neighbouring countries and their need for imports to balance the manufactured exports. On account of that trend the smaller holdings were afforded an opportunity of intensification. Production of some arable products, as for instance cereals and oilseeds, is insuf- ficient to meet home demands. About two thirds of the total demand for bread grains is met by imports, and of the total quantity of coarse grain required, more than one third is imported. Of the home grown agricultural produce, one third is exported and two thirds of the total exports are intended for West European countries. Of the typical converted and specific commodities, a much larger fraction is exported viz. 90 per cent of the flowering bulbs, 66 per cent of the cheese, 60 per cent of the butter and about 50 per cent of all vegetables, fruit and eggs. Since the turn of the century the Dutch farmer has specialised more and more in production for marketing abroad and has become more dependent upon the conditions prevailing in such markets. In general the Netherlands adopted a free trade policy affording to her agriculture and horticulture a certain rate of resisting power and it fostered a rational intensification in farming. On account of the agricultural depression in the thirties and the financial confusion since 1945 the free trade ideas were, from sheer necessity, pushed to the background. Now that the post-war period of scarcity has passed and Europe has recovered with the support of Marshall-aid, the free trade of commodities may begin again and, through the European Payments Union, the problem of monetary intercourse may be solved. 1]](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b32178256_0015.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
