News Nitrogen
ZuivelNL wants effect study of agricultural plans
ZuivelNL is going to commission a new effect study to map out all the consequences of the government's plans for agriculture. This is stated by board member Henk Bleeker, also interim chairman of the Dutch Dairy Farmers Union (NMV).
The NMV first wants to have a complete picture of all the consequences before the organization joins the 'main table' in the consultation on an agricultural agreement. Vice-chairman Jeroen van Maanen is very reserved. "All these proposals threaten to halve dairy farming and you won't participate if a wrecking ball hangs in front of your window."
Clarity cabinet
Farmers Defense Force is in line with the attitude of the NMV, says spokesman Sieta van Keimpema. Farmers' organization Agractie has sent out a member consultation with the question whether it is wise to join. Chairman Bart Kemp is not very hopeful about the cabinet plans. "The cabinet must make clear what it wants with agriculture on sand, peat and loess. Does it still have a future?"
LTO Netherlands and the NAJK have already decided to join the main table. LTO only needs to consult the Council of Members for this. The main table should be where the real negotiations take place. Chain parties also participate in this. Van Maanen does not think this idea of a 'head table with side tables' is smart. "It suggests divide and conquer. You could almost say to the minister: Go ahead and make an agreement with half the agriculture. Then you already know what will happen."
Rough calculation NMV
Although an impact analysis of all cabinet plans for nitrogen, water and other proposals has yet to take place, Bleeker is already very gloomy about the own rough calculation that the union has made. A milk production that will decrease from 13,8 billion kilos now to 7,5 to 8 billion in 2035. A stocking density of 1 to 1,1 LU on peat meadows, an investment task for a family farm with 110 dairy cows of roughly €1 million, which amounts to about €70.000 in extra costs per year. This ultimately leaves about 3.000 very large dairy farms. "Is that what we want as a society?"
Van Keimpema also sees other sectors experiencing difficulties. "Take arable farming. The cabinet says that we have to adapt to climate change, which entails a longer growing season. And what are they doing? Shortening the growing season using schedules that date from thirty years ago, so that all potatoes reach the end of September? have to get out of the ground." The dairy industry is also not very positive about the cabinet's proposals.
Van der Wal not yet moved
Agriculture chairman Bart Kemp believes that the cabinet should also show a gesture of goodwill. Next week there will be talks from agriculture with, among others, nitrogen minister Christianne van der Wal. He hopes that this will also lead to a movement in a nitrogen registration system, so that no nitrogen leaks from agriculture elsewhere. He also hopes that the cabinet will distance itself more from the critical deposition value (KDW) as a normative instrument. So far, Minister Van der Wal has not moved on any point.
Klaas van der Horst
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