Questions to Foppe Nijboer
'Extensive milking deserves incentive'
Network Grondig received positive reactions on Tuesday 20 March. This in response to the presentation of their definition of land-based dairy farming. They are previewing the advice of the land-relatedness committee, which is expected at the end of March. Foppe Nijboer about the worst that can now be held up to the extensive companies.
In response to the committee, in which LTO is involved, among other things, you drew up a definition for land-relatedness yourself. How has it been received by politicians?
"Very positive. All parties were present and there was great interest in the definition. Our definition is very simple and is based on what Cees Veerman, former Minister of Agriculture, told the Agricultural Congress in Friesland in mid-March. It's about counting tails and counting acres. This gives us a lead over the land-related committee, because we are afraid that they will come up with a complicated system."
What do you want to achieve with the definition?
"We argue for a simplification of the rules. The 3 northern provinces are in favor. Instead of feed-manure contracts, we come up with a proposal to use neighbor-neighbour's land for land-related purposes; many dairy farmers use their neighbor's land or rent it from third parties. To this end, we are introducing the Recycle Contract. This must be facilitated by the government, something that can be done by including it in the Combined statement† Basically, the Combined Statement and the Identification & Registration System are good systems. Very little fraud is possible."
You come with the Recycle Contract, but there is already a Recycle Guide. What do you think about that?
"We deliberately come up with a new term because the Kringloopwijzer has nothing to do with the cycle. You may not misuse it for that. It gives more intensive dairy farmers the opportunity to keep more cows. Another point is that the system is sensitive to fraud. "It was also not an incentive for land-based farms, because a higher share of silage maize had a more positive effect. The more maize, the more can be fertilized. If the system had been reliable, it would have had a test based on LCA system, from cradle to grave."
What action do you hope will take place?
"We hope that dairy farmers will finally be presented with a sausage to become more extensive. In recent years, intensification has mainly been stimulated. This from schools, but also from the advisors. We believe that when things are arranged in a simple way, this can help. We are putting a dot on the horizon by striving to have things arranged by 2020. There is a large middle group that is approaching extensive. then do less, because of fewer rules, and often earn more."
Herman van den Pol
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