Phosphate reduction plan bears fruit

Dairy farming has already achieved the majority of the mandatory phosphate reduction for 2017. Figures from Statistics Netherlands show that dairy farming has succeeded in significantly reducing phosphate emissions in the first quarter. On April 1, that was a decrease to 175 million kilos.

The 3 measures from the phosphate reduction plan (the LU scheme, the feed track and the stopper scheme) should provide for a decrease of 8,2 million kilos of phosphate. 1 million kilos of this has already been realized on 4,5 April. The ultimate goal is to end up well below the ceiling of 172,9 million kilos this year.

Already 90.000 cows are shrinking
In total, the dairy herd has shrunk by more than 90.000 animals in recent months. For the reduction of 4 million kilos of phosphate, a total of 100.000 cows must disappear. Dairy farming is therefore well on track with regard to the LU scheme.   

The feed track is also bearing fruit. In the feed track, the phosphorus content has been reduced from 4,5 grams to 4,3 grams per kilo of concentrate. In the first quarter, the phosphorus content was between 4,2 and 4,3 grams per kilo. The pig farming sector also contributes to the voluntary feed track scheme. This will probably result in a reduction windfall of 1 million kilos of phosphate in the course of this year. 

Tightened target
Due to the good results, it has been decided to increase the reduction target still to be achieved from 4 to 5 million kilos of phosphate. In the coming weeks, it will be examined which measures are necessary for this. One possibility is that the feed track is further tightened. The exact reduction program for the third period is then also recorded. Up to now it has been indicated that this will be a maximum of 20 percent, compared to 5 and 10 percent in the first 2 periods of this year. Dairy farmers who have grown by more than 10 percent can already respond to this in good time.

Stoppers Regulation
497 companies, with a total of almost 33.000 LUs, have already registered for the stoppage scheme. The number of LUs on these farms has since been reduced by almost 4.000 units. The stoppers scheme does, however, produce fewer stoppers than originally thought. This is because there will be no third line-up.

Due to a slight growth in the poultry and pig sector, phosphate emissions outside the dairy sector are increasing slightly.  

Wouter Job

Wouter Baan is editor-in-chief of Boerenbusiness. He also focuses on dairy, pig and meat markets. He also follows (business) developments within agribusiness and interviews CEOs and policymakers.

w.baan@boerenbusiness. Nl

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