Agricultural organizations LTO Netherlands, NAJK, NZO and De Natuurweide have presented a plan to get out of the manure crisis in dairy farming. They want outgoing Agriculture Minister Piet Adema to go to Brussels with this plan for a transitional derogation. ‘We are convinced that the European Commission has no choice but to take this seriously. Otherwise, the Netherlands must indicate that it does not want, cannot and will not implement the current scenario,” says chairman Erwin Wunnekink of the LTO Dairy Farming department.
The need in dairy farming is great, Wunnekink notes. ’40 percent of dairy farmers have to deposit manure for the first time, 30 percent cannot dispose of the manure,’ he explains.
‘With regard to the phosphate and nitrogen ceiling, we must meet the 2020 standards in 2024 and meet that standard minus 20 percent in 2025. Without a derogation, there will be a cold restructuring in dairy farming on 30 to 40 percent of the farms. We shouldn’t want that,” the department chairman emphasizes.
From 2027
Wunnekink does see that all solutions proposed will only work from 2027 onwards. ‘But why are we going to pay a difference in manure disposal costs for three years only to then receive a possible discount on phosphate rights from 2027?’
Because many dairy farmers have their backs against the wall, the four agricultural parties are coming up with an alternative plan, involving a transitional derogation to solve the acute manure problem. This plan consists of three parts. For example, the skimming percentage for trading outside a family context must be increased to 30 percent.
In addition, the amount of protein in the feed is reduced as quickly as possible. ‘A lot of research has already been done into this, also within KOEen & Kansen’, says Wunnekink.
Shrinking dairy herd
‘Furthermore, a temporary emergency measure will come into effect, aimed at an accelerated decline in the number of dairy cattle. Dairy farmers who voluntarily participate in an accelerated reduction scheme pay an annual compensation and are partly relieved from a possible reduction on phosphate rights,” the department chairman explains.
Wunnekink also advocates a change in the eighth Nitrate Directive action program, whereby water quality is assessed in a realistic manner. ‘The Netherlands is seen as one area when it comes to nitrate leaching. Elsewhere you have sub-areas. I hope for a new cabinet that takes science as a starting point for policy. With a scientific test of areas where things are not in order. An entrepreneur on the Frisian clay has no problem with nitrate leaching. You should therefore not bother them with measures regarding this item.’
