Livestock farming will come under phosphate ceiling this year

At the end of 2017, Dutch livestock farming should not produce more phosphate from animal manure than is permitted. This means that the livestock will no longer have to grow in the coming months. The Ministry of Economic Affairs reports this on Friday, August 18.

The production of dairy cattle phosphate fell by 2017 million kilos in the first half of 8,3. That is enough to bring it below the European phosphate ceiling at the end of this year. That would be good news, because then the derogation would be maintained for the next 4 years. 

The condition is that farmers do not allow their livestock to grow again in the coming months. State Secretary Martijn van Dam of the Ministry of Economic Affairs wrote this in a letter to the House of Representatives on Friday 18 August.

160.000 fewer cows
The decrease in phosphate is the direct result of the phosphate reduction plan that was drawn up last year. The phosphate reduction plan has resulted in a reduction of no less than 160.000 animals in the past six months.

The phosphorus content in animal feed has also been drastically reduced. A private scheme, which encourages pig farmers to purchase low-phosphorus feed, is expected to result in a further reduction of 0,8 million kilos of phosphate. 

Before the end of the year
The Netherlands must come back below the European phosphate ceiling before the end of the year in order to maintain the derogation. With the reduction of 8,3 million kilos achieved, the goal of the phosphate reduction plan, to reduce a total of 2017 million kilos of phosphate in 8,2, is within reach.

However, there are still a number of risks that could jeopardize the achievement of the goal. An example of this is a possibly higher phosphorus content in roughage as a result of favorable weather conditions.

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