Dairy farmers who are stuck with too much manure on their farm should be able to say goodbye to part of their livestock in return for compensation. This means that an accelerated decline in the number of cattle can be achieved in the Netherlands. This is stated by the four agricultural organizations LTO, Najk, NZO and Natuurweide in their own plan to tackle the acute manure crisis.
The proposal comes just before a crucial debate in the House of Representatives on Thursday about the problem that has gripped livestock farming for months. “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,” say the four agricultural parties.
In addition to voluntarily relinquishing part of the dairy cattle, the four organizations argue for a 30 percent skimming of the number of animal rights if a dairy farm is traded outside of a family context. A reduction in the protein content in the feed is also seen as a solution to reduce manure production.
Enlightenment, not a solution
“It is a voluntary scheme in which people who reduce their livestock receive compensation. We assume that this is an important step to help companies that are currently in acute problems,” said an LTO spokesperson. It is about relief, not about solving the problem, they emphasize. Because for that solution they refer to Brussels.
With the package of farmers’ proposals in hand, the cabinet should make another attempt to temporarily enforce more flexible fertilizer rules from the European Commission, according to LTO and the other signatories. The current manure crisis arose after Brussels deprived the Netherlands of its exceptional position (or derogation) in 2022 to be allowed to spread more animal manure than in the rest of Europe.
“We are convinced that the European Commission has no choice but to take this package seriously,” the four organizations say. According to them, Brussels cannot turn a deaf ear to the fact that the current phase-out path – the fertilization standards will be gradually stricter until 2026 – is ‘disproportionate’ and that its implementation is ‘unfeasible’. According to calculations, if the derogation were to disappear, there would no longer be room for the manure from 600,000 dairy cows.
Painful but inescapable
It is remarkable that LTO and the Najk, as a club of young farmers, have come up with a plan for a limited, voluntary reduction. “These are painful measures, but given the seriousness of the situation, we consider them unavoidable. We’re picking up that gauntlet. That’s not easy. But that does include a very important step that we are really longing for: an extended derogation.”
If the European Commission does not want to listen, the Netherlands should give up, say the agricultural clubs. “We cannot reorganize an important part of the dairy sector in this period and under these preconditions.”
Watch our most popular news videos in the playlist below:
Free unlimited access to Showbytes? Which can!
Log in or create an account and never miss anything from the stars.
Yes, I want free unlimited access
Tags: Farmers proposal voluntary reduction dairy cattle provide relief manure crisis Domestic
