The Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality (LNV) has indicated for the first time that there is room for a higher derogation for grass. There is also talk of a limited derogation for wheat and the use of a thin fraction of separated pig manure under the derogation. This means that the Mesdag Fund sees its research being translated into policy.
A new derogation for broader use standards for nitrogen is in sight. Carola Schouten (Minister of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality) uses the minimum starting point of 250 or 230 kilograms of nitrogen from grazing animal manure per hectare per year on farms with at least 80% grassland. But this is the minimum commitment, because the letter to Parliament shows that Schouten sets the bar higher than maintaining the current derogation.
Derogation companies score well
The argument for this is that the average groundwater quality among agricultural companies is better than the average for all agricultural companies. Nitrate leaching among derogation farms also appears to be lower than 50 milligrams of nitrate per liter. Here Lubbert van Dellen, secretary of the Mesdag Fund, refers to a study that the fund published during a Boerderij symposium. "With that research we showed that the leaching of nitrate when using animal manure is lower than the leaching when using artificial fertilizer."
This means that broader manure standards can be justified from an environmental point of view based on this science. "I have asked the Fertilizer Act Experts Committee (CDM) to issue advice on the expected environmental and agricultural effects of these wishes," Schouten said in a letter to the House of Representatives. She refers to the request for a broader derogation for grass, a derogation at plot level for grass, a derogation for winter wheat plots and the request to use the thin fraction of separated pig manure under derogation.
More space on grass is possible
Van Dellen indicates that the research carried out by Herman de Boer (WUR) on behalf of the Mesdag Fund has also been explicitly submitted to the CDM. Van Dellen emphasizes that if, at the same fertilization level, less fertilizer and more company-owned liquid manure are used, the circular cycle can be better maintained. This benefits soil health and fertility. This can also be reflected in more organic matter capture, which is also positive for the reduction of the CO2 food print of dairy farmers. The indirect energy use of dairy farmers also decreases with less use of fertilizer.
The manure surplus in the Netherlands - partly created with the old standards - decreases by 20 million kilos of phosphate per 6 kilos of nitrogen derogation standard throughout the Netherlands, making it 20% smaller.
Schouten expressly states that he will ensure that discussions about substantively new elements do not delay the process of obtaining a derogation. It underlines that the derogation is in sight. Van Dellen once again emphasizes that Schouten has also indicated that the most difficult questions concern manure fraud and how to achieve a more robust policy in the Netherlands.