Background nitrogen mood
G7 becomes G1 when new cabinet takes office
The installation of the new Jetten cabinet has led to numerous changes. For the LTO dairy farming sector, it has prompted the withdrawal from the G7 consultations. This consultation, which brings together most of the agricultural interest groups, was established under the last Rutte cabinet and was intended to ensure maximum joint action on nitrogen, manure, and other related issues.
To be honest, the G7 meeting didn't yield many concrete results. It would be difficult to list any clear achievements, but the meeting did bring together most of the agricultural organizations and served as a communication channel with the government.
Chief Communicator
Former State Secretary Henk Bleker acted as chief communicator. It was already known that the Dutch Association of Youth Care (NZO), which provided his compensation, no longer wanted to be assessed for this. The Netherlands Youth Care Association (NAJK) had also withdrawn, but this week the Dutch Federation of Agriculture and Horticulture (LTO) also made the decision, and director Jos Verstraten sent a message confirming this. According to him, the new situation requires a different form of lobbying and communication.
Fork pricking
It must be said that the ministers of LVVN readily join LTO and vice versa. Just this week, State Secretary Erkelens attended an LTO event in The Hague, and the chair has met several times in recent weeks. Other agricultural organizations seem less prominent, but they exist nonetheless.
Taskforce
Contacts are important, but results must be achieved. The preparatory phase for this has already begun, and Prime Minister Jetten also wants quick results, especially in the area of nitrogen. This is evident in Jetten's mandate and the establishment of new Taskforce Agriculture, Nature and Nitrogen.
Talking to the LTO about issues like target management is a good thing, but more is needed than just dwelling on generalities. Besides the LTO, there were other organizations in the G7, and there are also interest groups representing farmers outside of that group. Unfortunately, there are quite a few, but a similar situation exists in the House of Representatives, and this minority government has to deal with it as well. The difference with agriculture, however, is that in politics, a support survey is conducted every few years.
Action day
On March 7th, the new minister of LVVN was invited to speak to a large group of farmers and rural residents. He was asked to attend the Day of Action for the Countryside in Barneveld. Unfortunately, the minister couldn't find time in his schedule to attend. He also wanted to be present at his son's birthday, so the story goes. Perhaps it was a bit early in his new job, especially with a fresh assignment from the prime minister. He could have addressed a large audience: 4.000 to 5.000 people had already registered for the initiative by Agractie and the Union for Rural Residents on Friday.
Parties come and go, countryside remains
Although the voice of the countryside is fragmented, many farmers and rural residents have an opinion about government policy for this region. The Dutch Federation of Agriculture and Horticulture (LTO) isn't the countryside, the BBB isn't necessarily the countryside, and other parties aren't synonymous with it either, but it's definitely there. While the media in The Hague and Hilversum are happy to do so, it's also undeniable.
BBB schism
It's sad, by the way, how things are going from bad to worse within the BBB. The party is sinking further and further due to a lack of internal direction and clarity. (Former) party leader Caroline van der Plas also apparently didn't have a good exit strategy; otherwise, the current succession drama wouldn't have happened. The party leadership is currently divided between, on the one hand, the Van der Plas and Vermeer camps, and, on the other, the Keijzer and fans camps.
PAS reporters and province
Next week will be an interesting day for the PAS reporters in Flevoland. A lawsuit will be heard in Almere between them and the Stichting Stikstofclaim (Nitrogen Claim Foundation) and the province. At issue is the legalization that, according to farmers and the SSC, the government should have secured. Similar lawsuits will be filed in other provinces at a later date. The foundation has also sued Minister Van Essen regarding the NV areas, but that case will not be heard until May. The SSC believes that, now that there is no longer a derogation, there is no longer a need for NV areas (nutrient-polluted areas). The minister disagrees.
Klaas van der Horst
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