NOS News•today, 02:40•Amended today, 09:31
Four farmers’ organizations have presented their own proposal to tackle the manure problem. In their plan, the organizations propose, among other things, that it should be possible for dairy farmers to voluntarily reduce their herd, in exchange for, among other things, an annual payment.
There are also calls for a reduction in the protein content of cow feed and farmers propose an additional skimming of phosphate rights traded outside the family. They also want a transitional derogation, which means that they can use a scheme to spread more manure for longer than in other EU countries.
The proposal includes the names of LTO Netherlands, the NAJK (Dutch Agricultural Youth Contact), the NZO (Dutch Dairy Organization) and Biohuis/Natuurweide. The organizations presented their plan on the eve of a parliamentary debate on the manure problems.
End of exceptional position
These problems arose when it became clear that the Dutch exceptional position in European manure policy was gradually coming to an end. As a result, farmers are allowed to spread much less manure than before and an acute manure processing problem has arisen, which could grow even further in the coming years. As a result, farmers incur sky-high disposal costs.
At the beginning of this month, outgoing Minister of Agriculture Adema presented his fertilizer plans, including a buyout scheme. In doing so, he wants to prevent a “cold restructuring” of livestock farming, which, according to him, will irrevocably lead to a series of “bankruptcies of essentially healthy companies”.
The House is sharply divided over his plans, which should cost billions.
The four farmers’ organizations hope to break the impasse with their so-called ‘crisis plan’. “In our opinion, the fertilizer letter that Minister Adema sent to Parliament earlier this month does not offer sufficient prospects for the short term,” LTO – the largest farmers’ organization in the Netherlands with 35,000 members – writes on its own website.
“But the severity and urgency of the manure crisis are so great that postponement is not an option. Farmers have their backs against the wall and now need a solution for the stalled manure market.” The proposals for livestock are temporary in nature and, unlike those of Adema, do not contain anything about a grassland subsidy.
Back to Brussels
The organizations call on the parties in Parliament to adopt their proposal. “These are painful measures, but given the seriousness of the situation, we consider them unavoidable,” the authors write about their proposal.
If the plan is adopted, another attempt could be made to temporarily enforce more flexible fertilizer rules in Brussels, the proposal states. Minister Adema has previously said that in his view such a new route to Brussels is virtually hopeless.
Not all farmers seem to support the plan from their own sector. For example, action group Farmers Defense Force wrote on X last night: “The farmers are being betrayed today by their own advocacy.” The House will debate the manure problems on Thursday.
