New purchasing scheme should alleviate pain caused by manure problem

Update: Livestock farmers will soon be able to take advantage of a new purchasing scheme that should take the pressure off the manure market. Outgoing Agriculture Minister Piet Adema will submit a plan to the House of Representatives within two weeks. Sources from The Hague confirm this. Jos Verstraten of LTO Melkveehouderij calls the scheme positive. ‘Take advantage of the aging population.’

Adema has previously said that he is working on a package of measures to cool the overstressed fertilizer market. The purchase scheme now mentioned is part of this. This scheme is set up as broadly as possible so that all livestock farms are eligible, regardless of size or type. The costs of the new scheme could run into billions of euros.

The arrangement takes time, because the proposal will have to be approved by the Senate and the House of Representatives. The European Commission must also agree to it.

Hard measures

In addition to this arrangement, Adema is also developing other plans. It cannot be ruled out that tough measures will have to be taken, such as skimming phosphate or animal rights, feeding measures or stricter grassland standards for the number of animals per hectare.

Due to the expiration of the derogation, the introduction of buffer strips and the designation of additional nutrient-contaminated areas, livestock farmers can use less manure on their own land. More companies have to dispose of manure at higher costs. The installation space will be further reduced in the coming years.

Small companies in particular are in trouble due to the extra costs. Adema is also looking for a solution for these companies. He hopes to present his proposal later this month. The debate on the manure problem that was to be held next week has been moved to April 25.

‘Cold fair’

Verstraten, member of the LTO Dairy Farming group, states that it is clear that something has to be done. ‘The sector had previously put forward solution-oriented proposals, but Minister Adema always comes home from Brussels with a rude awakening.’ According to him, the government always has options to manage with legislation, money and counter-policy. ‘It is clear that the problem cannot be solved by a gentle hand alone.’

Verstraten calls the purchase scheme positive, LTO has wanted this for some time. ‘Take advantage of the aging population, help farmers to stop earlier to make room for others who want to continue.’ Verstraten is less enthusiastic about a standard for livestock units. ‘That announcement is a means of turning a potential stayer into a mover. Farmers who are above that standard have no other way to meet it than by keeping fewer livestock. Land is simply not for sale and the question is whether every entrepreneur can keep his head above water with fewer livestock.’

BBB requests clarification

BBB leader Caroline van der Plas wants clarification from outgoing Agriculture Minister Piet Adema about his plans to tackle the manure surplus. The BBB leader wants to hear from the minister what the story is true and ‘what the urgency is’ of the measures mentioned. She also disputes that buying out farmers offers a solution to the manure surplus. “What we are doing now is completely crazy.”

The House of Representatives had asked Adema to come up with a plan to offer prospects to farmers affected by stricter European fertilizer rules. Van der Plas calls it ‘bizarre’ that he instead wants to allocate billions to encourage farmers to end their businesses. For BBB that is ‘unacceptable’, she says. “He should just stop buying out farmers.”