Cumela sees little benefit in the Adema fertilizer plan for the problem of full cellars

Contractors’ union Cumela does not count on the ‘Manure Market Approach Plan’ of outgoing Agriculture Minister Piet Adema to solve the current problems on the manure market. The real manure problem, that of full storage, is not addressed with this plan, says the trade association. The association is looking at other solutions. Adema mainly looks at the long term with his plan.

According to Cumela, the current manure problem is the result of two exceptionally wet springs in 2023 and 2024 in combination with an extremely dry summer of 2023. As a result, manure distributors were only able to spread manure sporadically. After two years, the manure cellars and storage facilities are overcrowded and it is impossible to empty them.

‘We have to find ways to be able to spread manure under these extreme conditions, both on dry and wet soils,’ says Cumela. The trade association expects that restrictive regulations and phasing out of the derogation, for which Adema wrote a plan, will cause major problems in the coming years. Now it is mainly the weather that is causing bottlenecks.

Clear trend

The increase in extreme weather events appears to be a clear trend. ‘With a view to the future, we must therefore take into account more frequent extreme weather and respond accordingly. We must find ways to spread manure under these extreme conditions, both on dry and wet soils,” says Cumela director Leo de Boer.

‘With the help of members’ innovative tools and their accumulated expertise, we look for ways to tackle the current problem. We investigate various solutions with several entrepreneurs from the sector. We are also looking at possibilities within the regulations of the use standard for animal manure and developing new export options,” De Boer explains.