Soil-bound milking in 4 steps

The ultimate goal, the so-called dot on the horizon, is the aim to have a dairy farm by 2040 that is largely self-sufficient in feeding the animals. Due to this aim, the cycle becomes important again. In doing so, the Commission goes further than land-relatedness. Strong steps are needed to achieve this goal, according to the Commission. Implementation is done by the sector.  

Step 1
In order to avoid even more rules in certain areas, the Commission is introducing the indicator %protein from own country. "This index is the extent to which the livestock farmer is able to grow the food he needs from his own land or nearby for the feed of his animals. "The number is less simple, but gives the entrepreneur more room in his own business choices."

The aim will be a percentage of 65% home-grown protein. In 2016, 4% of medium-sized, intensive farms were able to obtain more than 70% protein from their own farms, compared to 67% of medium-sized, extensive farms. In the large, intensive farm type, less than half obtains 50% protein from their own land. 

Step 2
A house lot. The cultivation of grass is stimulated via the index number. After all, this provides protein and silage maize does not. "A sufficiently large house plot is required for the land-based character of a dairy farm." For this purpose, the Commission adopted the prefix from the Grazing Foundation. They state that there may be a maximum of 10 dairy cows per hectare of house plot in grass that can be grazed. Incidentally, grazing is not compulsory.

In addition, the Commission proposes a tightening of the standards of Stichting Weidegang. Something that would be good for grazing, meadow birds and biodiversity. At the same time, it is indicated that a more practical formulation of the house lot is helpful.     

Step 3
Become less dependent on global protein sources. If raw materials are nevertheless obtained from outside Europe, they must be certified. Specifically, soy and palm products are mentioned here. Prices are also expected to become more volatile and increase. By leaning less on these products.

The other side of the story is that livestock farmers will use more residual and by-products. So the products that are no longer suitable for human consumption. Potato chips are mentioned as an example. 

Step 4

In order to get more land under the farm without buying land, manure-feed cycles are introduced through a neighborhood contract. This concerns collaborations with companies within a radius of 20 kilometers. The advice is to set the requirement for this that at least 50% of the required roughage is grown on own land. "A neighborhood contract is a private-law three-year written agreement between a dairy farmer and a colleague."    

According to the Commission, acquiring land remotely is already made unattractive by the increased land prices and transport costs. This is still possible, but not desirable. 

Step extra
This is a point for attention and not urgent advice. In future, land-based dairy farming means that young stock is raised on its own farm or on a nearby farm. As a result of the phosphate rights, various dairy farmers have moved their young stock across the border in recent months. There are, however, the first indications that the start-up of heifers is so disappointing that the first dairy farmers are already returning, but it is still a point of attention. 

Dairy farmers have a total of 7 years to implement the steps and the aim is for the sector to be self-sufficient for at least 2025% of the protein by 65. To encourage this, the members of the Commission indicate that water boards, leasers, banks and processors of milk can help in various ways. Mention discounts on costs or, for example, a premium on milk. The money from the CAP can also be used and consideration can be given to redistribution of the margin in the chain. 

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