CDA MP and farmer Eline Vedder also loses an exceptional position: ‘We are not going to survive this’

CDA Member of Parliament and farmer Eline Vedder is concerned about the survival of her company, now that farmers will no longer enjoy an exceptional position in European manure policy. “If nothing happens, we will not survive this manure crisis,” she expresses her concerns in Goedemorgen Nederland on NPO 1.

For a long time, our farmers were allowed to spread more nitrogen from animal manure on their land than their European colleagues. Dutch farmers were given this derogation – an exception to the law – because the Netherlands has a small territory. Dutch farmers were allowed to spread 230 to 250 kilos of manure, while other European farmers were limited to 170 kilos of manure. Brussels wants to get rid of this exceptional position.

Livestock shrinkage

This decision affects Vedder personally, who, in addition to being a Member of Parliament, is also a farmer. “We have never had to remove manure. That is now necessary. It is very difficult to find access to the manure market,” says Vedder.

Are you already receiving our newsletter? Register here now for free!

The farmer was forced to cut her herd, from 75 to 65 cows. “That is already on the small side for the Netherlands. We see no other way than to shrink our herd. In fact, every day, little by little, I am eating my own company. We won’t last long this way. I can’t live on this.”

Vedder and her husband recently let the cows outside for the first time. Always a lucky moment for farmers. “We grabbed each other and thought: this might be the last time we do this. That affects me very much. It’s very sad.” That is why Vedder considers it necessary to take steps. “To prevent thousands of beautiful family businesses from collapsing.”

Debate House of Representatives

Vedder hopes to take a first step in the House of Representatives, which will debate the manure crisis today. Like the PVV and BBB, Vedder will bang his fist on the table to summon Agriculture Minister Piet Adema to fight in Brussels to maintain the exceptional position. “In terms of sustainability, it would be very strange if we don’t do that. It will cost our grassland and it is bad news for water quality.”

Missed good morning Netherlands? Watch it now here via NPO Start.

The thought of fixing the problem in the short term in Brussels, and not having to do anything about it in the Netherlands, is “very unwise” according to Vedder. “Every day the chance of family businesses collapsing increases. Yes, we must continue to look at Brussels, but we must also take up our own work.”

BBB recently came up with a plan to store manure, much to Vedder’s frustration. In her eyes it is not a ‘solution’. “Then I have to fill my entire yard with bags to store that manure. What am I going to do with that next year? This doesn’t solve anything.”

European elections

With the European elections approaching, the CDA member expects a move to the right. “Member states that are more right-wing are mainly concerned with their own national interests. Then you have no interest in giving a country like the Netherlands extra space. I really don’t see it happening in the short term. If we want the next generation of young farmers to have prospects, we must do what we can do in the Netherlands now.”

Also read: