Fog around peak loaders and dissatisfaction with seating arrangements

Most of the fireworks in the nitrogen field this week came from the House of Representatives, where the NPLG and nitrogen policy were debated. Members of parliament went wild with a view to the elections for the Provincial Council on 15 March. D66 member Tjeerd de Groot often seemed to be the only defender of cabinet policy, while the other coalition MPs mainly emphasized their deviations from it. During that debate it also became clear that the uncertainty about the future of agriculture remains as great as ever. In our weekly section Nitrogen Mood, we give an impression of the nitrogen crisis in our own way.

A special website for peak loaders will be launched in April, but it will not tell you whether or not you are a peak loader. It should, however, help to reduce the number of peak loaders. According to Minister for Nature and Nitrogen Christianne der Wal, there is no such list. "At least I said I don't want a list. I don't know a list, I don't want to see one and I don't want to have one," she said Thursday night.

Well 3000 peak loaders, no list
Nevertheless, the government must somehow know who those 3.000 peak loaders are, because they are eligible for the Lbv+ (National Termination Scheme for Livestock Farming) scheme, whereby they are reimbursed 120% of the production rights. Provided that Brussels approves that regulation, but according to the minister, 'all signals are green'. She expects to publish the scheme in April. For the 'ordinary' LVB, 10.000 quitters are eligible and 100% is paid out.

Peak loader can also stay?
Peak loaders who do not take any action before December 31 of this year (choose to move, innovate or stop) are not automatically eligible for what is euphemistically called a 'mandatory set of instruments', according to the answers of the nitrogen minister. "That is out of the question, because that remains tailor-made for each area, depending on the state of nature (...) If there are many entrepreneurs in a certain nature reserve who use the Lbv, it could theoretically be the case that we have thus made a sufficient dent in the deposition and therefore do not have to switch to mandatory instruments for a peak loader that is present in that area and that has not made a choice until then."

More brightness towards summer
What that mandatory set of instruments (expropriation or withdrawal of permits) for peak loaders in nature areas where, in the opinion of the government, too little nitrogen has been reduced, should look like and when procedures are started for this, the minister wants more on that 'towards the summer' provide clarity. Then she will also outline what steps the government can take if certain provinces dig their heels in the sand. The provinces must submit their area programs on 1 July.

In addition to stopping, farmers can also choose to move and innovate. Van der Wal mentioned the Lely Sphere a few times, but had to admit that this innovation is not (yet) legally guaranteed.

'On schedule' with Agriculture Agreement
Meanwhile, consultations on a broad agricultural agreement continued. Not much exciting happened this week. Minister of Agriculture Piet Adema noted that everything was going according to plan. The participants at the consultation tables have noticed this more often in recent weeks. The schedule was strictly enforced by moderator Wouter de Jong, but there is less clarity about the substantive progress. Parties are asked to make their contributions, but the feedback leaves much to be desired. There are also complaints that there is too strict a separation of head and side tables. The parties grumble that they do not know what the state of affairs is.

Adema wants money from Van der Wal?
There are also signs that not everyone has confidence in the success of the official discussions at the agricultural tables and that consultations are taking place along even more lines. Moreover, Minister Adema would like to use part of Minister Van der Wal's billions of dollars to make agricultural organizations more accommodating. For example, by promising them compensation for 'green' and 'blue' services, say: for nature maintenance and water management. Van der Wal would not want that, according to media from The Hague.

Story is being adjusted
Van der Wal also seems busy in recent weeks to adjust her nitrogen story. She expresses herself more nuanced about Aerius, about the criteria for a good conservation status of nature, wants to look differently at peak loaders and the like. It seems that she wants to respond to the lawsuit about the nitrogen model that will be heard next week and wants to take the wind out of the sails of the complainants. Whether that helps remains to be seen.

© 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.