NVWA inspectors have frequently checked contracting companies this year regarding the proper incorporation of slurry into arable land. Inspections were particularly strict in Flevoland. Even a minor violation results in fines of thousands of euros. It puts the sector on high alert. Want to know what effects this has and what the NVWA's response is? Read more about the manure inspections here.
The NVWA does not comment on inspections in specific areas or provinces, a press spokesperson stated. There are four areas of focus regarding slurry: De Gelderse Vallei, De Peel, Twente, and the rest of the Netherlands. However, the agency confirms that active monitoring is indeed being carried out regarding the incorporation of slurry into arable land. It does not disclose whether more or fewer violations are being observed.
Bottleneck on arable land
The bottleneck lies primarily in the fertilization of arable land. In the spring, fertilization is often carried out over the furrows, for example for potato or maize cultivation. Especially on clay soil and uneven ground, it is sometimes difficult to work the manure neatly into the soil. On clay soil, a drag hose applicator with disc coulters is used in almost all cases. This does not always manage to incorporate the manure neatly, which is the requirement. The manure must be fully incorporated.
Thousands of euros in fines
Every year, reports emerge from certain regions where NVWA inspectors are active. What stands out is that inspections are being carried out heavily in Flevoland this year. Several contracting companies have received a warning or a fine, they report. Boerenbusiness know. Incidentally, checks are also carried out in other areas, such as the southwestern clay region. For improper incorporation of manure, a fine of €1.500 is usually issued first, for both the contractor and the farmer. "For a second offense, that rises to €6.500," says a contractor. For the farmer, there is also the lurking danger that his CAP funds will be reduced. "It also depends on your history and whether you have made mistakes before," explains a fined arable farmer from Dronten.
The NVWA does not wish to comment on the amounts mentioned. "We report our findings and draw up an official report, but the handling and sanctioning are done via the RVO and the Public Prosecution Service," says the spokesperson. "The amount of the fines and the consequences for subsidy rights are not up to the NVWA."
Pre-processing
For both the farmer and the contractor, it is a costly undertaking. As a result, fields must always be pre-treated first to ensure level working conditions and to incorporate the manure neatly into the soil. The correct method of pre-treatment is a subject of some debate. This was also evident during a demonstration of arable land fertilization held in Zeewolde on April 16 as part of the "Bemest op z'n Best" project. If the soil is too fine, the operator may bulldoze before using the drag hose. In practice, however, only leveling the headlands and retaining as much compacted soil as possible yields the best results.
An alternative is to equip the fertilizer spreader with spring tines, which throw some soil over the manure furrow after injection. During the demo in Zeewolde, the possibilities and limitations became clearly apparent. If the land is uneven, as was the case on late-ploughed sprout stubble, the tines do not work sufficiently. On heavy soil, pre-treatment with a rotary harrow, possibly in the autumn or winter, is recommended. The tines also offer a small added value after pre-treatment.
Not every contractor is eager to work in this way. It entails extra work, wear and tear, and costs. An alternative is the use of an arable land cultivator. A disc harrow was demonstrated in Zeewolde. The disadvantage is that it brings up a relatively large amount of wet subsoil, which can dry out there into false clods. The capacity is also significantly lower.
Arbitrariness
What many contractors find annoying is the apparent arbitrariness of the NVWA inspectors, as also became apparent during the demonstration. During the first pass on the field, it is not possible to inject above the hose. The driver lets the raised manure run out of the elements onto the ground. "That is absolutely unacceptable," responds one of the inspectors present. Colleagues handle this a bit more practically. "Where one looks very strictly, the other is more lenient," is the experience of a contractor. "A single method of inspection would help us."
Meanwhile, the sector is on edge, and farmers are grumbling about the extra work involved in having to pre-treat everything. The researchers at Bemest op z'n Best emphasize another benefit. Well-incorporated manure has a much higher nitrogen efficiency. In times of high fertilizer prices, that is a significant advantage. Especially with applications of 40 cubic meters or more, losses can mount substantially with poorly incorporated manure. They believe there is money to be made there.