'Not only exclusion by LTO in case of fraud'

Marc Calon, chairman of LTO Nederland, is tired of well-intentioned farmers having to suffer from those who cheat with manure or livestock. He therefore wants to expel fraudulent members as members of LTO Nederland. However, other sector parties will have to follow his example. "It makes no sense if LTO is the only party that fends off fraudulent farmers."

In recent months, the agricultural sector has been portrayed in a negative light. This by pig farmers who cheat with manure and dairy farmers who commit fraud with the registration of their livestock. Calon now wants to clean up. 

How do you want to clean up?
“Farmers who knowingly break the rules and are members of LTO Netherlands are eligible to be disbarred. The benevolent farmers are tired of suffering from those who consciously do not follow the rules. I get a lot of calls about that."

What kind of offense should it be?
"It's not about the small bunglers or the farmers who made a small mistake. Anyone can make a mistake. I make mistakes too. It's about the farmers who have been criminally prosecuted and where that prosecution has led to a conviction. We want are a reliable partner for the government and such members do not fit in."

Have you already discussed this within LTO Netherlands?
"We are discussing this with each other. Not only within LTO Netherlands, but also with other sector partners such as Rabobank, the Dutch Dairy Organization (NZO) and other large buyers and suppliers of farmers. It is not entirely new, by the way. In the past the ZLTO has already expelled members because of abuses."

What role do the sector partners have in fraud issues?
"It makes no sense if LTO Nederland is the only party that fends off fraudulent farmers. Dairy cooperatives and banks also have a role to play in this. For example, no longer collecting milk from farmers who have deliberately broken the rules or have stopped. of the financing. We are discussing this with each other."

When do you expect to be clear about this?
"Tackling members is more complex than it may seem. The main thing is that we want to treat our members properly. We are working on a procedure for dealing with fraudulent members and where we draw the line. The statutes may need to be adjusted accordingly. This is going to take months. We have to be a reliable sector. That's what it's all about."

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