Beef cattle also get help
Hope arises in question soil-bound phosphate
The phosphate reduction plan 2017 entails a number of major challenges that must be resolved in the short term. It is crucial that companies that supply milk and companies with cattle that do not supply milk object before 1 April if the data is incorrect. There is hope in the issue of land-relatedness and the reference for non-dairy farms.
On the day of the elections, Jaco Geurts (CDA) again asks State Secretary Martijn van Dam by letter whether everyone is reference for the 2017 Phosphate Reduction Plan Regulation has received. A question that also Boerenbusiness wanted to know the answer.
Pay attention
Kees Romijn (LTO dairy farming department), Bart van der Hoog (NAJK dairy farming portfolio) and Lubbert van Dellen (Accon avm) indicate that dairy farmers can access basic information via Melkweb. Van der Hoog adds that the references for 2 July 2015 and 1 October 2016 are there, but that the current animal numbers based on the I&R are missing. You have to be careful, because the information is not correct for everyone'. Objections can be lodged until April 1.
It is important for dairy farmers to stay alert. Value phosphate rights from 2018 based on codes 100, 101 and 102 is determined, the scheme expires phosphate reduction 2017 via I&R† Van Dellen mentions a bull or heifer calf as an example. 'For the phosphate rights is that code 101, regardless of gender. This does not apply to I&R. Another example is a dairy cow. For I&R these are all cows that have calved once, but the code distinguishes between calving once and then grazing (120) and a regular dairy cow (100).'
Land-relatedness not yet settled
Something that has not yet been arranged are the transfers of dairy farms inside or outside the family and the purchase and sale of dairy farms. 'This has consequences for land-relatedness,' says Van der Hoog. Van Dam promised during the last Agriculture Council to come up with a solution quickly. The difference between land-based and non-land-based is a 4 percent discount for the reference date of July 2, 2015. The land-based companies will not be cut.
Van Dellen has hopeful news about this: 'At the end of this week we hope to have more clarity about registration, transfer and/or a specific reporting point.' He estimates that the digital reports will still have to be processed by RVO from September 2016. It doesn't seem like much, but it is a 'significant number'. 'There were also sales of dairy farms at the beginning of 2017 with transfer of LU references, for which matters still have to be arranged', says van Dellen.
Partly because of these loose ends, Geurts asks whether Van Dam is considering postponing the start of the phosphate reduction scheme. However, there is confidence from the sector itself that the problems can still be solved in time and objections can be avoided.
In response to the critical comments on the actions of the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO), Van Dellen states that it has to do with the structure of the service. 'The body was set up to register and process data afterwards. This usually goes well, but in the case of the phosphate reduction plan, topicality is required and the organization is not set up for that.' The sector is actively involved in solving issues in a timely manner and to prevent bottlenecks, a discount on milk money in April which is not justified.
15
December
Unexpected reference non-dairy farms
Another group that was confronted with an unexpected reference as a result of the ministerial regulation are non-dairy farms. To this end, the reference was moved from 2 July 2015 to 15 December 2016. This has major consequences for, for example, rearers of young stock and so-called fat grazers. Van Dellen also expects better news there soon. 'For non-milk producing farms, I expect further guidance within a few days regarding the date 15 December 2016 and several other alternative dates.'
In addition to these topics, Geurts draws attention to start-up companies, companies that find themselves in financial difficulties as a result of the scheme and the problems surrounding breeding stock days. There is also no news about the setting up of the committee that will give advice on the problems.
A lot of work is already being done behind the scenes, but there is still plenty to do. The most important thing for (dairy) farmers is that they can report to RVO before 1 April 2017 if they think they are a bottleneck for the phosphate reduction scheme. Hopefully there will be more information about data still to be processed at RVO in the coming days. Because of the size of the fine, incorrect data can cost a lot of money.
Herman van den Pol
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