News Excretion figures 2018
Too high nitrogen production no risk of derogation
Although nitrogen production in dairy farming exceeded the sector ceiling last year, an extension of the derogation is not endangered. At the same time, the danger for the coming years has not yet passed, writes Minister Schouten (Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality) in a letter to the House of Representatives.
Figures from Statistics Netherlands (CBS) show that both total nitrogen and phosphate production have remained below the established ceilings. Nitrogen production fell to 503,4 million kilos, which means it remains just below the ceiling (504,4 million kilos). Phosphate production fell by 7 million kilos to 162 million kilos and remains well below the ceiling (172,9 million kilos).
Nitrogen ceiling for dairy cattle exceeded
Nitrogen production in dairy farming fell by 13,6 million kilos to 289,9 million kilos, but is still above the sector ceiling of 281,8 million kilos. Nevertheless, the exceedance does not directly impede an extension of the derogation for broader fertilizer standards, Schouten writes in the letter to parliament. The European Commission bases itself on the 5-year average, whereby the highest and lowest year expire. According to Statistics Netherlands, nitrogen production will then amount to 277,4 million, which means it will remain below the ceiling.
According to Statistics Netherlands, phosphate production in dairy farming will then amount to 81,5 million kilos, while the sector ceiling is 84,9 million kilos. The number of phosphate rights issued is, however, higher. That does jeopardize an extension of the derogation. There may be another generic discount.
The possible extension of the derogation will also depend on the new enforcement strategy against manure fraud, which Minister Carola Schouten is currently working on. Schouten is expected to announce a possible extension at the end of this year.
Excessive Year
For the coming years, the nitrogen ceiling in dairy farming will continue to be exceeded because production was too high in 2017 and 2018. Schouten says that the announced sector approach to reduce nitrogen production remains relevant as such.
In contrast, 2018 was a year with excessively high nitrogen levels, mainly due to the drought. For example, the nitrogen content of silage grass increased from 29,4 to 30,5 grams per kilogram of dry matter and the nitrogen content of silage maize increased by 1 gram to 12 grams per kilogram of dry matter.
The rise of grass-fed rations in dairy farming also leads to a higher nitrogen excretion per cow. On the other hand, however, there is a further shrinkage of the dairy herd. In 2018, the dairy herd decreased by 4% (60.000 animals). The average milk production per cow increased by 175 kilos to 8.850 kilos. The number of calves, heifers and heifers even decreased by 14%, or a shrinkage of 150.000 animals. Statistics Netherlands will announce the definitive size of the livestock later this year.
Pigs and Poultry
Both phosphate production (37,7 million) and nitrogen excretion (96,8 million) from pigs remained virtually the same in 2018 as in 2017. Both figures are well below the sector ceilings. In the poultry sector, both phosphate production and nitrogen production were 6% below the sector ceilings of 27,4 million kilos and 60,3 million kilos respectively.
Click here to read the letter to parliament.
Wouter Job
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