News Nitrogen
LTO lets members give Remkes report grade
LTO Nederland will start a consultation tomorrow evening after a members webinar about the advisory report of Johan Remkes published today (Wednesday 5 October) among its members (more than 30.000 according to the organization). It's not about 'for' or 'against', but what the members of the report think and what grade it gets. The results will be released next Tuesday.
During a press conference of the interest group, LTO chairman Sjaak van der Tak gave Remkes 'a big compliment' for the report, which he believes 'aptly reflects the despair of our farmers' and also provides 'interpretation in a certain direction'. Before the cabinet responds substantively on 14 October, LTO wants to say what its members think.
LTO itself has a number of criticisms. According to Trienke Elshof, portfolio holder Countryside & Environment at LTO, the recommendation to have five to six hundred peak tax payers (voluntarily) terminate their business within one year is 'impossible'. She indicates that no further explanation is given, which gives 'a lot of uncertainty' about who belongs to that 1% of peak loaders. There is also the question of how the company closures will come about.
Remkes' idea for zoning cannot count on approval either, because of the 'top-down approach'. LTO advocates an area-oriented approach. And as far as the Plus Regulation (a financially more attractive buy-out scheme) is concerned, approval from the EU must be obtained, Elshof indicated during a press conference.
Remkes is rightly critical of government policy, according to LTO. LTO also sees a lot of input from the agricultural sector. LTO sums up in a press release: "The cabinet must stop the hyperfocus on nitrogen; The importance of a strong agricultural sector is put on the same level as ecology, including assurance in an independent authority; The critical deposition value must eventually be removed from the law; Legalizing PAS reporters and interim workers has absolute priority over all other matters; There must be plenty of room for innovation, stimulated and secured by a National Innovation Program; The infamous nitrogen card must formally be removed from the table."
The suggestion to come to an agricultural agreement feels doubly for LTO. "On the one hand, we are in favor of this and it offers great opportunities. On the other hand, the sincere question is what room there would still be for the agricultural participants in such an agreement not to be relegated to implementers of (undesirable) government policy."
Van der Tak also states that he has a 'good initial appreciation' from the new agriculture minister for Piet Adema.
Linda van Eekeres
© 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.
