The spring application of manure in arable farming is as good as completed. Expensive fertilizers and favorable weather resulted in a very good demand for slurry from arable farming. In the meantime, the uncertainty about the derogation is causing headaches in dairy farming.
The weather has cooperated well this spring for the spreading of slurry. Due to a dry spring and wheat that did not start to stretch too early, many cubic meters were deposited in arable farming. Logistics was the major challenge. Transport has always been a limiting factor and this seems to be getting worse according to various intermediaries. "At the beginning of April, we were still busy dragging the wheat in the wheat field when we received calls from customers who now insisted on spreading fertilizer for the potatoes or maize. Not because they already wanted to plant or sow, but because they were afraid of making a mistake. That doesn't make it all the more pleasant," said a contractor.
Near the edge
A few intermediaries noted that a lot of manure was applied at some farmers in the spring. This raises questions here and there as to whether that is entirely appropriate in terms of phosphate space. According to insiders, the application of slurry in the autumn is lower due to its popularity in the spring. Traders are cautious with statements about the sale of solid manure, but here too the picture is showing that there is more interest than in recent years. "Over the past few weeks, most farmers were mainly concerned with slurry. The trade in solid manure, but also other soil improvers such as compost and mushroom compost is only now really starting," says an intermediary.
The derogation still hangs over the market as a major uncertainty. That saves around 20 cubic meters of manure per hectare that may or may not be used. The first cut has been mowed at many livestock farmers and the grass is ready for the next fertilizer application. In many cases this can be filled in with slurry without going over the standard if the derogation is not granted. Partly because of this and because of the high fertilizer prices, many dairy farmers are hesitant about disposing, according to insiders. After mowing the second cut, it gets really exciting if there is still no clarity about derogation or if the exemption would then be definitively cancelled.