'Not Brussels, but Hague politics is rigid'

In the run-up to the European parliamentary elections on Thursday 23 May, Boerenbusiness 6 daily agricultural questions for people with a vision on European agricultural policy. Today that is Sieta van Keimpema, the chairman of the Dutch Dairymen Board (DDB).

Do you want more or less European agricultural policy for the Dutch farmer?
"The subsidies and support programs that can be obtained in Brussels are not used well by the Dutch government. For example, the income support that the Netherlands uses in the milk price is much lower than in other countries. Another example is the European support that could be provided by Member States. drilled for drought damage, which the Netherlands did not use because the damage was business risk was defined. This also applies to the mouse damage in Friesland a few years ago. What I am arguing for is that Dutch politicians make better use of European agricultural policy."

"I also argue that Brussels takes more care to ensure that farmers are treated fairly compared to their colleagues in the rest of the European Union. Until now, the European Commission has refrained from commenting and providing assistance if farmers find that their government does not have the options take advantage of the existing ones, with regard to subsidies and the like. Then Brussels would also be more useful for many farmers."

Should we move towards a European manure policy, instead of a national policy?
"A European manure policy is practically impossible to realize, because there are major climatic differences between the four corners of the world. That is why there is a derogation. However, here too the following applies: in terms of legislation and regulations, much more is possible than we are in the Netherlands. In recent years, I have held various discussions with officials of the European Commission's nitrate committee, which revealed, among other things, that it is possible, for example, to increase the phosphate ceiling for dairy farming if this could be scientifically substantiated. didn't want to do that though."

"Dutch politics is often rigid. For example, the Netherlands works with phosphate excretion standards that are already for 30 years have not been adapted and are therefore obsolete. If we want to move towards circular agriculture, something will have to be done about that. Milk production per cow has increased sharply in recent decades, while breeding has improved. As a result, much more phosphate is absorbed into the milk and less is excreted via the manure."

Looking at the implementation of the chain report by Cees Veerman: how do you achieve a level playing field in the European Union?
"The report by Cees Veerman is a good first step, but more is needed. You cannot achieve a 'level playing field' in any case by stimulating the production of surpluses, as is still the case. Where we as the Dutch Dairymen Board for advocacy is a Market Responsibility Program in which the temperature of the dairy market is measured in an index. In this way a crisis can be predicted and dairy farmers can be alerted to this in an early stage. In this system dairy farmers receive a bonus if they voluntarily reduce production. Dairy farmers who expand in times of crisis must also be cut on their milk money."

"During the dairy crisis of 2016, the voluntary milk reduction plan of Phil Hogan, European Commissioner, proved that milk prices rose by 10% as a result of a lower production of 2%. What the Veerman report also does not take into account are trade agreements. The large dairy companies (such as FrieslandCampina, Arla, Vreugdenhil and the Irish Glanbia) are big mouths about 'planet proof' and sustainability, but can still export unlimited 'Fat Filled Milk Powder' to West Africa. of milk powder and palm oil. The product is defined as an industrial product, which means it is not included in the dairy statistics. To make the product, palm oil is first imported from Malaysia and then exported to West Africa. So not sustainable at all."

"In addition, it is impossible for local African dairy farmers to compete with such bulk flows, so that the farmers move to the city for a better life. Ultimately, this is also a cause for the large migration flows to Europe. It also depresses the price of whole milk powder. This story is known to few people, but through trade agreements forbidden must become. In Pakistan this has already proved fatal for FrieslandCampina and Nestlé due to that country's aversion to milk powder with palm oil. They have therefore largely turned their backs on packaged milk, which has resulted in a huge loss of turnover for FrieslandCampina."

Is the Brussels power with regard to the authorization of plant protection products too great?
"Here too, is policy made in Brussels or The Hague? Certain plant protection products and veterinary medicines that are not available in the Netherlands are permitted in other European countries. With regard to this subject, I mainly plead for practical knowledge. That certain products from the market does not have to be a problem if there are alternatives. For policymakers, let yourself be guided less by emotion and more by scientific substantiation."

What should be made a spearhead in Brussels agricultural policy?
"Cost-effective yields for European farmers. That is also the only way to be able to cut back on premiums from the Common Agricultural Policy. This has also been questioned more in recent years. The current policy encourages economies of scale and also leads to industrialization of agriculture. The population in the European Union wants the family business to remain intact, but that is only possible at cost-effective prices."

Which myth about the European Parliament is not correct in your view?
"In the corridors you sometimes hear that MEPs earn their money easily. Jokingly said: that it is civil servants who eat the rack empty. That myth is not correct in my opinion. The Dutch deputies in Brussels work hard and deserve more respect than they usually get. Incidentally, I am not advocating that the wages of MEPs are too low and should be raised."

Read all interviews about the European elections here.

Wouter Job

Wouter Baan is editor-in-chief of Boerenbusiness. He also focuses on dairy, pig and meat markets. He also follows (business) developments within agribusiness and interviews CEOs and policymakers.

w.baan@boerenbusiness. Nl

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