Profile: Dirk van der Kooij, VAN DER KOOIJ DAIRY

The challenge: Managing large volumes of silage plastic on a 180-cow dairy while keeping the farm clean and sustainable.

Dirk van der Kooij, along with his son Bas, runs VAN DER KOOIJ DAIRY in Nobleford, Alberta, where he manages 180 dairy cows plus young stock on 320 acres of land. Dairy farming is in his blood—he grew up on a family-run dairy in the Netherlands before moving to Canada in 1996, the same year his family started their home farm with just 60 cows. Since then, the operation has grown steadily. So much so that three years ago, Dirk doubled the size of his barn to keep pace with expansion.

Like most dairy farms, VAN DER KOOIJ DAIRY relies on silage to feed the herd. That means also managing a steady stream of plastic—silage covers and silage bags in particular. Until a few years ago, managing the plastic sustainably was a challenge.

“We started baling plastic in 2020,” Dirk explains. “As soon as the compactors became available through the Cleanfarms and Dairy Farmers of Canada project, I knew I wanted one. It’s worth the extra bit of effort to keep plastic out of the landfill.” Dirk estimates he produces roughly five full bales of compacted plastic a year.

Dirk shares a compactor with his son’s dairy operation, NIFERA HOLSTIENS, which is just next door to VAN DER KOOIJ DAIRY. Although taking the plastic to the compactor can take some extra time, together with his son, they’ve figured out a system that works. “I fit it into my week when it makes sense. Once the bales are made, they’re ready for pickup. It keeps the yard clean and it’s satisfying to know the plastic will be recycled.” Dirk sees the program as a step forward for both his farm and the industry.

For Dirk, the real reward in dairy farming is caring for the herd by doing what’s best for the farm and animals. “We love to take care of the cows to get the best product and quality from them,” he says. “Breeding, feeding, housing—giving them the best life possible.”

His family also shares the joy of farm life, love being around the animals and value taking care of the land. Watching the herd improve year after year is what motivates Dirk’s commitment to adopting sustainable practices like recycling. Partnering with groups like Cleanfarms through Alberta Milk and Dairy Farmers of Canada helps him uphold his values of stewardship and sustainability.