Remkes committee: 'Cow in pasture no problem'

The Remkes Committee advises the cabinet to waive the permit requirement for grazing and fertilising. This can be read in a report by the Advisory Board on Nitrogen Problems, which the newspaper Trouw managed to get hold of.

When shooting the PAS, the Council of State ruled that cows are illegally grazing in the pasture because they excrete nitrogen. According to the Council of State, not a dairy farmer, but the government acted illegally by not requiring a permit.

No negative effects 
The judgment of the Council of State caused a lot of commotion in the agricultural Netherlands. On social media they express their dissatisfaction with #wereldopzijnkop. Minister Carola Schouten said last summer that she wanted to solve the problem in a practical way and asked the Remkes Committee for advice. He advises that a permit requirement is not necessary, because grazing almost never has negative effects on the environment.

There doesn't seem to be any licensing requirement at all. One of the agreements that it Agriculture Collective has made with the cabinet this week is that grazing and fertilization will not be hindered. However, it is quite possible that environmental action groups will challenge the decision in court. 

Growth at FrieslandCampina
Despite the fuss, dairy processors continue to (financially) encourage outdoor grazing. FrieslandCampina, for example, reports today that 248 member dairy farmers have switched to outdoor grazing this year. This is an increase of 1,8%, which means that the dairy cooperative now equals the national average of 83%. FrieslandCampina returns €1,50 per 100 kilos of milk pasture premium from.

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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