Increase grazing to 80 percent by 2020

The report 'Measures to promote grazing' by CLM Research and Advice and Wageningen University & Research (WUR) outlines 6 ways to promote grazing on dairy farms. Former State Secretary Martijn van Dam sent this report to the House on 30 August.

The investigation was initially conducted in response to 2 motions in the House of Representatives. In addition, a letter to parliament about the legal anchoring of outdoor grazing was declared controversial. 

The report is intended to ensure that by 2020 approximately 80% of dairy farms will use grazing. In the report of the CLM and the WUR, 6 examples are elaborated on the basis of feasibility, feasibility and term. It concerns the following parts:

1. A targeted communication,
2. Providing benefits to grazers,
3. Increasing the pasture premium,
4. Pasture grazing as a condition for expansion,
5. A rebate on the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP),
6. Mandatory grazing from the government.

Text continues below the table.Targeted communication is considered most effective.
BRon: CLM

1. A gcorrect communication
Communication with livestock farmers, who do not yet graze, must improve. This is to ensure that they eventually go grazing. Several dairies are already trying to make the benefits of outdoor grazing clear. This also includes guiding companies that have recently started grazing. 

2. Providing benefits to grazers
The second point is to provide benefits to grazers. Some examples of this are a preferential position for additional leased land or the option of company-specific accounting for phosphate rights. The dairy farmers can then qualify for a judge from the phosphate bank. 

An exemption from the cracking ban or allowing manure application with a trailing foot could also be part of the benefits for grazers. 

3. Increasing the grazing premium
Increasing the grazing premium could also be one of the measures to promote grazing in the Netherlands. Dairy farmers would therefore be more willing to use outdoor grazing. 

The dairies must see how they can apply this measure and how high the grazing premium should be.

4. Pasture grazing as a condition for expansion
The financial consequences of this measure are limited in the short term. However, when expanding, companies will have to take possible financial consequences into account. Companies can then only expand their business by applying for an exemption or by applying more grazing. 

5. A rebate on the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP)
Under this measure, dairy farmers who do not yet graze, are reduced on their payment rights. Farms that do graze receive a higher premium than those that do not. 

The effectiveness of this measure depends on the size of the discount. A measure like this can be introduced with the new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) at the earliest. That is only from 2021. 

6. Obligation of grazing from the government
This measure is quite drastic. It means that all dairy farms must apply grazing for 120 days and 6 hours. This will create bottlenecks, because grazing is impossible for a large number of farms. An example of such a company is a company with a house plot that is too small or the lack thereof. 

It's the next cabinet's turn
Van Dam has stated in a response that he will leave a response to this research report to the new cabinet. 

The full report can be read here.

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