With a budget of almost €230 million, the provinces are expected to be able to buy up 130 to 180 livestock farms close to nature. No companies have actually been bought up yet, but talks are already underway from the provinces with potential candidates. The possibilities of a 'professional ban' are still being investigated
This answers demissions minister Carola Schouten to questions from the House of Representatives. The buyout should take place in the coming months. The minister is still wrestling with the question of how she should prevent livestock farmers, once bought out, from starting up new livestock farms elsewhere in the Netherlands. She doesn't have a ready-made solution for that yet.
Spring 2022 second round
In the spring of 2022, the Minister of LNV wants to open a second round for the Provincial Purchase of Livestock Farms Near Nature Areas (RPAV) Regulation. This must be done after an internet consultation, around April or May 2022. According to Schouten, there is sufficient enthusiasm among livestock farmers to participate in the purchase scheme. In total, she has approximately € 228 million in cash for the first round.
The land of bought-out livestock farmers can remain for agriculture, for example for extensification of other farms, but there is no longer any room for nitrogen.