"The days are shortening, but with us they just get longer. Fortunately, we are well on schedule." That says Peter Houtepen of contracting firm De Baronie B.V. The company helps Dutch growers throughout the country with the crop rotation. At this moment they are working in Etten-Leur and in Brielle.
Peter: "In addition to the crop rotation, we are busy with the excavating work in the greenhouses. This has increased dramatically during the last few years. By now, many greenhouses are quite a few years old, so it's time to re-level and to excavate the soil, so that the greenhouses will be in perfect condition for next season."
Wet stone wool
Cleaning up the greenhouses varies from easy to difficult. Because the pepper prices were somewhat disappointing last season, not all peppers were harvested. As a consequence, the stone wool did not have enough time to dry well. The removal of wet stone wool is a very strenuous job. "In places where you usually can drive out the stone wool by two tracks at the time, now you sometimes need to do it track by track. That's a pity."
For more information:
Peter Houtepen (e-mail)
Loonbedrijf de Baronie
Grintweg 3
4823 ZC BREDA