Apparently on behalf of all dairy farming parties, ZuivelNL sent out a message on Thursday about a covenant with the aim of reducing the crude protein content in feed. However, two important chain parties, Agractie and the dairy farmers' association NMV, were quick to distance themselves from it.
It seems that ZuivelNL tried to apply a trick that is also sometimes used in certain types of government communication. Then it sounds: 'In good consultation with the parties involved...' Even if the parties involved do not agree with the content of what was discussed, the suggestion is still given that they agree with it. Sometimes it still works that way to a certain extent. It was also tried at the Agricultural Round Table consultation of former minister Adema. The big question is what you ultimately gain from it. Did ZuivelNL want to win the minister's favour, or did the organisation hope that there would be no dissenting vote?
Not just handing in
The parties behind the press release report that they have signed an agreement with the Ministry of LVVN to gradually reduce the crude protein content in feed to 158 grams in 2026. This is to reduce nitrogen emissions. In itself, the NMV and Agractie are prepared to participate, but only in exchange for a counter-performance, which the other parties do not mention, and which is also of less importance to some of them. Agractie and NMV only want to sign if the minister also closes the so-called 'nitrogen gap' at the same time. This is the gap that arises between the supply and removal of nitrogen on the farm and which other livestock farming branches are not affected by. The two farmers' organisations want the same treatment, especially because reducing the crude protein content actually increases the pressure on nitrogen sales.
Half-baked covenant
A covenant without the two obstructive organisations is ultimately a half-baked covenant, unless the minister declares it generally binding. However, that would come across as a heavy means of power and would not reflect well on her party. In order to give Agractie and NMV their way, the minister must nevertheless ignore a Wageningen advice. She also finds that difficult.
After a long delay, the minister has finally made a decision about the Stichting Stikstofclaim (SSC). This organization has been recognized and may now also participate in consultations on all matters concerning the nitrogen dossier. There was still some official resistance, but that has been overcome.
New light on old data
In the government science regarding nitrogen, something is also starting to change. This mainly concerns the (dry) deposition measurements. Renewed study of deposition data from 2009 and 2010 led a group of researchers from RIVM and Wageningen to conclude that nitrogen deposition in forests is considerably lower than previously estimated, to be precise: almost 2,5 times lower. Why this insight sank in so slowly is unknown, but the results are consistent with earlier results from measurements in the Westland dunes.
In the past week, the first results of nitrogen measurements in Lieftingsbroek in Groningen were also presented. The research group does not want to say much about it yet, except that it is now clear 'that measurements on the ground are possible', one of them said. And these local measurement results clearly deviate from the model science as practiced by the RIVM.
Netting for infrastructure
Finally, this week the Council of State published a somewhat enlightening pronunciation about external balancing. This also seemed to become extra difficult, if not impossible, after the ruling of 18 December last year. That is not the case, a spokesperson reports. With the ruling of that time, all internal balancing was made subject to a permit, external balancing is still possible under strict conditions. In the case of this week, a large infrastructure project in Brabant can at least go ahead, because nitrogen from a livestock farmer who has stopped farming may be used for this.
Lbv setback
Will this get the permits for, for example, the demolition of stables going again for participants in the Lbv and Lbv+ schemes? That is still unclear. According to chairman Erwin Wunnekink, the effectiveness of the scheme is 'horribly disappointing'. For example, only barely half of the intended number of kilos of phosphate is collected (approximately 3 out of 6 million). Does this mean that an additional discount is still necessary?
Manure envoy is also stuck
Someone else who has to wait for the permits to be granted smoothly is the manure envoy of Minister Wiersma, former minister Raymond Knops. He sees all sorts of opportunities for extra manure disposal, but the laws and regulations also put him in a bind.