Pieter Potters addresses the province: ‘I see the opposite in our region’ | Stal-en-Akker.nl

Potters runs an arable farm together with his parents in Heerle. They grow arable crops, vegetables and starting materials. He is also administratively active within the AJK West-Brabant.

BAJK is concerned about the one-sided focus on extensification. Insufficient attention is paid to the value of agricultural land, which limits the future prospects for the young farmer. That is why Potters sent a letter to the Provincial Council.

Letter Pieter Potters

“First of all, I am bothered by the following sentence: ‘Soil quality has also deteriorated, making future-proof agriculture, water and nature goals more difficult to achieve.’ This suggests that the quality of the soil has deteriorated over the years. I see the opposite at my company and at companies in the region. A lot has been invested in techniques to prevent soil compaction. Inorganic fertilizers are also replaced by organic soil improvers to increase the organic matter content,” Potters begins.

“Secondly, agricultural plots are divided into three categories: ridges, flanks and stream valleys. Where the ridges and stream valleys need to be expanded. This is based on the water and soil system of both categories. This extensification is unnecessary; due to measures in the 7th Nitrate Directive Action Program, a more extensive construction plan is already being maintained on plots:

– Construction plan with 1 in 4 dormant crops (1 in 3 in 2027)
– Buffer strips around water bodies (1.3 or 5 meters)
– Catch crop after main crop

Farmers have been applying these measures since last season, but there are no substantiated results. The 7th AP Nitrate Directive runs until 2025, only then can a realistic picture be formed of the effect of the measures. Further extensification now is premature and may not produce the desired result.”

“Thirdly, farmers have invested a lot in recent years. This in techniques in the field of soil, water, nature, environment and climate. Many farmers have also participated in the eco-scheme within the CAP. These actions show that farmers are taking steps towards extensification and improvement of the environment and climate. The specific indication of extensification of ridges and stream valleys is not an incentive and appears very compelling. This does not provide any future prospects, because it may impose restrictions on the cultivation of certain crops.”

Read Pieter Potters’ full contribution here.