BO Arable farming out of concerns about nitrate measures

BO Akkerbouw is seriously concerned about additional measures on the 7^e Nitrates Directive action program (7^e AP), such as cultivation bans, broad buffer zones and the purchase of companies. Ministers Staghouwer of LNV and Van der Wal for Nature and Nitrogen have the additional measures announced in a letter to parliament on 20 January.

According to the ministers, the additional measures are necessary to meet the European targets for groundwater and surface water and to obtain a new derogation. An addendum is being prepared for this, which should be available in Brussels by mid-February. in the 7^e AP has (partially) opted for a customized approach and that is currently being worked out by the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality together with the sector according to the BO Akkerbouw. "In recent months, we have fully focused on a balanced package of measures that does justice to entrepreneurship in our sector and to the practical reality of processing arable crops," says André Hoogendijk director of BO Akkerbouw in the message. "That has led to a modified 7^e AP, containing still painful measures for arable farmers. Additional measures put a bomb under the support for the already announced policy."

rushed
Measures such as a ban on leaching-sensitive crops on soils prone to leaching, buffer zones in stream valleys and the buy-out and buy-out of companies are being worked out in an addendum that should be ready by mid-February. According to BO Akkerbouw, the timeline is so tight that there is no room for a proper impact analysis and proper consultation with the sector. "In areas where the water quality objectives are not achieved, additional efforts from the sector are necessary. We want to do this with the agreed tailor-made approach and the area-oriented approach. This requires careful processes in which we measure, among other things, to identify which problems there are in an area and how they can be tackled effectively. By anticipating far-reaching measures now, these processes are undermined," says Hoogendijk.

Jurphaas Lugtenburg

Is editor at Boerenbusiness and focuses mainly on the arable farming sectors and the feed and energy market. Jurphaas also has an arable farm in Voorne-Putten (South Holland). Every week he presents the Market Flash Grains

j.lugtenburg @boerenbusiness. Nl

© DCA Market Intelligence. This market information is subject to copyright. It is not permitted to reproduce, distribute, disseminate or make the content available to third parties for compensation, in any form, without the express written permission of DCA Market Intelligence.