The Scholtens family operates a 400-hectare arable farm in the Dutch Noordoostpolder, combining long-established practices with a focus on future requirements. "We do things our way," says Niels Scholtens. "Not to be stubborn, but because we always look for what works – for our farm, for the soil, and for the future of our children." Established in 1950, the business has developed into a large-scale operation investing in scaling, precision farming, and efficiency, driven by labour shortages, unpredictable weather, and increased sustainability demands.
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Within the family, tasks are divided with Daniël managing potato crops and Niels focusing on other crops. "It's all about being able to switch quickly when needed," says Daniël. "Whether it's new machines, new crops, or better box logistics, we seize the opportunities whenever they arise."
Daniël notes that the business aims to adopt new technologies early, citing optical sorting, spot spraying, and autonomous tractors as examples of investments aimed at reducing labour dependence and improving efficiency. Post-harvest automation is a core focus. "We spend about half the year in the barn, sorting, storing, and loading," says Niels. "That's when you need things to run smoothly. Thanks to the VHM machines, we can keep doing all this with the same people and do it faster too."
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The farm's relationship with VHM began with a Scrapr, still in use today. In 2023, a BigBagFilrPro was added, followed in 2024 by the Fully Automatic BoxFilr. This was expanded with an EvenFlow unit with roller cleaner, Turnr, Track, an elevated Stackr, and a lift. "This line has really become the beating heart of our box logistics," says Niels. "Full boxes in, full boxes out. We use it during the harvest as well as in the winter when sorting. The elevated Stackr allows us to buffer more full boxes during the harvest, keeping everything flowing and preventing downtime."
The automation has reduced forklift movements and staffing requirements. "What used to take two forklifts and two people can now be done by one person," says Daniël. The Scholtens highlight VHM's service approach. "You call, and you get someone on the line who knows what they are talking about. No middlemen, just immediate support. And most issues are solved within five minutes," says Niels.
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Looking ahead, the family expects to integrate autonomous tractors for tasks such as soil loosening. Sustainability efforts include solar panels, a windmill, and low-energy crop storage. "Performance is high, thanks to the many machines. In addition, the margin of error is low, and maintenance is nil," says Bennie. "Organic growth is fine with me, but I really don't need to double in size anymore."
© VHM MachineryFor more information:
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