Minister Adema is working on a long-term cessation scheme for all farmers

NOS News•today, 09:31

Outgoing Agriculture Minister Adema is working on a new ‘broad’ scheme for farmers who want to stop their business. Sources from The Hague confirmed this after reporting in De Telegraaf. The proposal, which is not yet completed, involves billions of euros.

The idea is to use the package to prevent a cold restructuring of the agricultural sector, resulting in bankruptcies, for example.

Last year it was decided that the Dutch exceptional position in European manure policy would come to an end. For years, Dutch farmers were allowed to spread more manure than farmers in other countries. But that difference is being eliminated step by step; in 2026, the Netherlands must adhere to the same rules as the rest of Europe.

As a result, there is a manure processing problem that will only get worse without intervention. Adema is therefore coming up with a package of measures, of which the ‘termination scheme’ is one of them. This is a long-term scheme that is opened three or four times a year and to which farmers who want to stop can voluntarily subscribe.

In addition, stricter rules are being considered for farmers, who would be allowed to keep fewer animals per hectare. The intention of the entire package is that there will be fewer livestock (and therefore less manure) and that the water quality will therefore improve. An additional advantage is that nitrogen emissions will decrease.

The plans are still being worked on. One of the questions that still remains on the table is whether the ‘termination scheme’ can be seen as ‘disguised state aid’ under the Brussels rules. When the proposal is completed, a letter will be sent to the House of Representatives, which will then have to consider it.

There are already several stop schemes for farmers, but these are temporary schemes in connection with nitrogen emissions. There is currently a scheme in place for peak loads near vulnerable nature reserves. The new scheme is broader, for the entire sector.