News Phosphate rights
200 dairy farmers bankrupt, who's next?
About 200 dairy farmers are technically bankrupt and another 150 will follow almost immediately. In total, approximately 800 dairy farmers have their backs against the wall, which amounts to slightly more than 4% of Dutch dairy farming. There is a fire letter and a petition can be signed, but if necessary Innovative comes out of the Knel with more actions.
About 800 dairy farmers are in a pinch, but according to the rules they are not a bottleneck. Henk Antonissen, who represents the dairy farmers, states that they were close to a solution a while back. However, hours of work were wiped out in 5 minutes. Carola Schouten, Minister of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality (LNV), indicated that she could do nothing and once again called on the banks to help.
Victims
Behind the scenes, the tensions surrounding the new regulations and the long-term lack of clarity have already resulted in victims. The impact of Schouten's decision not to help is therefore significant. "The dairy farmers are very resilient and go back to work every day. In order to continue, all financial resources (that can be used) are used to keep their breath," says Antonissen.
However, the foreman also sees that there is much that the outside world does not know and there they try with a burn letter en petition to bring about change. A letter signed by Hennie Verhoeven, a policy-oriented environmental expert, among others. She motivates her support on Twitter as follows: "If permits are issued, entrepreneurs must be able to build on them. That applies to this group, but in fact to all entrepreneurs! We should not just find breaking companies so easily in the Netherlands."
Fine ahead
About 800% of the 25 dairy farms appear to be technically bankrupt. "These are companies that have 100 cows too much on the basis of the phosphate rights, for example. They need the milk money to pay the bills, but at the same time know that a fine will follow next year. That is an economic offense and the fines are quite substantial. ." It basically means that when the cows leave, the bills can no longer be paid and the companies have to close their doors.
"After these companies, another 150 companies will probably follow. Those companies now have to have the accountant calculate the actual state of affairs. Sometimes it can still look reasonably good on the current account, but when things are calculated the situation turns out to be very different."
Time is running out
Time is now running out for dairy farmers, who have actually been checkmate since 2 July 2015. It involves large amounts, but for many livestock farmers the emotional value is even greater. Until now, the government has indicated that it cannot do anything, yet the livestock farmers are not giving up.
Herman van den Pol
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