In a radio interview last week, former chairman Sjaak van der Tak of LTO Nederland looked back on the past year and his achievements at agricultural and horticultural organizations. Perhaps very predictably for a general broadcaster, most of the interview revolved around the failed Agriculture Agreement, which also included a lot of nitrogen policy.
In that conversation it became clear that Van der Tak regrets the cancellation of this agreement almost as much as outgoing Minister of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality Piet Adema. If the cabinet had not fallen last summer, Van der Tak would have been happy to join Adema again in the autumn.
Member consultation
It is not known what the members would have thought of this. It has not been studied. Broad member consultations are rare at LTO, just like elections. This does not distinguish the organization much from other agricultural organizations. There is a lot of administrative poverty. Getting tractors on the road is easier than setting up and maintaining a good advocacy club, with skilled and sharp administrators who are also well aligned with the supporters, and who are not also dependent on subsidies.
The dreams of Van der Tak and Adema did not come true. The cabinet fell. Van der Tak announced his departure last fall. The CDA director therefore mentioned that the main achievement of his chairmanship of LTO was that he had 'brought back peace' to agriculture.
Despondency
It sounds better than saying that despondency has now almost finally set in. In any case, there is not much cheerfulness to be seen among farmers. A large number therefore cast a fish at the purchasing counter, if only to be on the safe side. And a former dairy farm manager even decided to assist the province of North Brabant in reorganizing livestock farming.
It is also discouraging, because the outgoing ministers continue to unearth official documents that show that agriculture needs to be taken even stricter, in all kinds of areas. And if this cannot be demonstrated with current figures, then apparently that is also sufficient old dates. Apparently it is not stated anywhere that it is necessary to provide data that is as current and truthful as possible.
Ring the legal bell
Then there are the incessant lawsuits with which clubs such as MOB, Groen Kempenland, the Groene Schild and a whole host of agencies of the same stripe keep putting the livestock farming industry at risk. The legislative framework that is available for this makes it all possible and no House of Representatives has yet been willing or able to put a stop to the endless calls to the courts, with the argument that yet another farmer has the KDW exceeded by the smallest possible margin.
It comes on top of annual results that were suddenly very different last year than in 2022 and which do not help to persevere.
Inhibited person
The fact that some environmental organizations also try to tackle other sectors with regard to their environmental performance is little consolation, because things end differently there. Outgoing nitrogen minister Christianne van der Wal is strict towards farmers, but when she has to deal with Schiphol, she suddenly becomes a timid person, according to recently made public documents. The airport can use all regulations as toilet paper and still receive a Nature Permit. And who then hears an angry European Commissioner, the ultimate bogeyman in politics in The Hague?
A shame
According to the action group Schipholwatch, who has delved deeply into the matter, has even regularly lied to the House of Representatives. Normally such a thing is a political cardinal sin, but in practice it only applies if a majority in the House of Representatives thinks so. Moreover, she is already outgoing.
Van der Wal could even return as minister in a new right-wing coalition, because the reluctant VVD is considered indispensable for this. Politics can be very forgivable, but they rarely forget anything.
It is widely accepted that there will be a right-wing coalition, but it is not yet a foregone conclusion. There are still several hurdles to overcome. And although 'better thinking Netherlands' finds the right-wing result very questionable, the latest elections have also produced something positive, a regional newspaper reports: new parties such as the BBB and NSC have attracted voters to the polls who were at home before then. stayed. They still believe that it makes sense to make themselves heard.
This is also done by the Utrecht Nitrogen Collective, a broad agricultural partnership of farmers who do not accept the current situation. They do not want to continue to cooperate in the area processes in the province if the government keeps presenting them with new fait accompli, the club reports in a call.