But pilot continues
Manure fraud difficult for Kringloopwijzer
A maximum of 700 dairy farmers can participate in the pilot farm-specific phosphate fertilization based on the Recycling Guide (BEP). That's the bet. It is primarily a test of reliability. Something that is necessary, as has become apparent from the developments surrounding manure fraud. At the same time, the group should be as diverse as possible.
It has already been shown that the stories surrounding manure fraud are bad news for the Kringloopwijzer. This is because the guarantee has been a point of discussion time and again. Nevertheless, there will be a pilot with the Recycling Guide in 2018, according to the letter to parliament of Wednesday 20 December.
"There is room for this pilot, because the feed track will be continued by the compound feed sector in 2018", says Carola Schouten, Minister of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality (LNV). The pilot will start as soon as possible in 2018.
Testing reliability
"The core of the pilot is testing the reliability of the Kringloopwijzer", says Lubbert van Dellen. Van Dellen also made it clear at the National Economic Agriculture Congress that the Kringloopwijzer calls for watertight safeguards. "Due to the stories of manure fraud, there is now being asked for a guarantee up to the second degree. The fact that there will still be a pilot gives confidence."
Harm Wiegersma, chairman of the Dutch Dairy Farmers' Union (NMV), also emphasizes that assurance is the biggest challenge. According to him, this is emphasized by the stories with manure fraud. "I'm curious how we can make the Kringloopwijzer acceptable. A lot can be arranged automatically via the administration, but control is difficult on other points; for example, how can the contents of a silage be checked when the silage is empty?"
That roughage is indeed a challenge, confirms Wil Meulenbroeks, chairman of LTO Dairy Farming. "The challenge lies in determining the roughage production; in other words, what yield comes from our own land." According to Meulenbroeks, a system has been developed with which feed production is recorded.
Meulenbroeks mentions cross-checking as a method for checking the information. "We have used the tax world as inspiration. A system from the accounting system will be used for the audit. There will also be recording by means of samples."
Mixed group an advantage
The pilot is not only a test for assurance, but should also test whether the Kringloopwijzer can be used for every type of dairy farmer (on every type of soil and at every location in the Netherlands). Both Wiegersma and Meulenbroeks indicate that they strive for the greatest possible diversity within the test group.
A lot depends on the pilot, because behind the scenes people are already thinking about other possibilities with the Recycling Guide, for example an 'ecological' paragraph. There are also opportunities to tackle climate issues.
Number of participants?
In the letter to parliament of Thursday 21 December, a group of 700 participants is mentioned as a commitment. "This is also the maximum number that can participate," says Meulenbroeks. ZuivelNL is counting on the number to be finalized in the course of January, because Brussels must first give its approval. "The pilot is also part of the sixth Nitrates Directive Action Programme."
Herman van den Pol
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