Grower in focus

Meirink Akkerbouw in Oosternijkerk, Friesland, started using a Steketee camera-controlled hoe this season. The tractor is guided by GPS, and the camera ‘sees’ the onions and steers the tractor towards them. Meirink farms around 21 acres of seed onions under the PlanetProof seal of approval. PlanetProof is a sustainable method for growing onions that allows you as a grower to stand out from the competition. The onions are mainly sold to retailers. Meirink grows red and yellow onions for Waterman.

Yme Meirink explains: “We use the hoe because it allows us to control weeds with less GBM, which makes our crops even more sustainable. We also hope that the market will see the added value of the PlanetProof seal of approval. It also has the benefit of putting a bit more oxygen into the soil.” The loamy sand of the Meirink farm can form a crust after heavy rainfall.

Photo: The tractor of Meirink is guided by GPS, the camera ‘sees’ the onions and steers the tractor towards them.