LTO very concerned about the drag foot ban

Claude van Dongen, director at LTO Netherlands, indicates that LTO is very concerned about the announced drag foot ban. There are also concerns about the lack of alternatives. In the meantime, LTO, Nevedi and the NZO are working on a program of feed and management measures to achieve a further ammonia reduction. This can come into effect on August 1. 

In the run-up to the end of May, it was announced that applying manure with the trailing foot will be prohibited from 1 January 2019. It also means that there must be alternatives, but LTO Nederland doubts whether this is feasible and that is a cause for concern.

Discussion about assurance
Van Dongen, portfolio holder for Soil and Water Quality, indicates that the method of safeguarding the alternatives is a point of discussion. "These must be sound and workable for farmers." The alternatives mentioned are: pulse track technique, application via the trailing foot with the drag hose supply (subject to guaranteed dilution), application via the trailing foot provided extra grazing is applied and a first and second fertilizer application with water dilution.

"The implementation of the alternatives, as the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality now envisions, is unworkable in order to be able to be used as of January 1, 2019 as an alternative to the trailing foot on cattle and clay soil," said Herman Bakhuis, director. of LTO Dairy Farming.

Follow new measures
It does not mean that the ammonia reduction is not important for LTO Nederland. For example, the livestock emissions requirements have been tightened for expansion and new construction. Together with Nevedi and the NZO, the representative is working on an extensive and intensive program in the field of feed and management measures. "If it is decided to do so, this can start from August 1, 2018."

Herman van den Pol

Herma van den Pol has been with us since 2011 Boerenbusiness and has developed over the years into a market expert Milk & Feed. In addition, she can be seen weekly in the market flash about the dairy market.

h.vandenpol@boerenbusiness. Nl

© DCA Market Intelligence. This market information is subject to copyright. It is not permitted to reproduce, distribute, disseminate or make the content available to third parties for compensation, in any form, without the express written permission of DCA Market Intelligence.