Landscape soil a political pitfall for farmers

Member of Parliament Derk Boswijk (CDA) launched the term landscape land in 2021. He received support from the House through a motion. The term has now been included in the Coalition Agreement. But landscape soil is still a name and idea. The rules and preconditions that will be imposed on it are still shrouded in mystery.

With landscape land Boswijk favors a form between agriculture and nature. The name is a stamp on land that should make it possible to create buffer zones around Natura2000 areas. By freeing up money to depreciate agricultural land, extensive farming should make it economically viable.

Betting on landscape land breaks with the past and Mansholt's goal-oriented approach to developing agriculture. His policy after World War II successfully resulted in efficient agriculture with a high yield per animal and hectare. However, due to increased fertilization, the water quality and biodiversity deteriorated. Due to land consolidation and redevelopment of areas, low-productive agricultural lands that were important for birds and other animal species disappeared. Changes in our culture flora caused loss of culture fauna, especially among the bird species that thrive in moderately intensive farming, such as the black-tailed godwit and the black-tailed godwit. yellow-hammer.

The Netherlands is an exception to the rule
Mansholt's policy was part of European policy. It has been agreed in Brussels that farmers may apply 170 kilos of nitrogen from animal manure per hectare. Because the Netherlands has a fertile delta with high production, we have an exception to the rule, a so-called 'derogation'. If we keep the water quality good, we can place 250 kilos of nitrogen per hectare from animal manure per hectare. The vast majority of farmers in our country can therefore keep almost 50% more cows than EU rules actually allow. Because it is difficult to meet the stricter and strict requirements on sandy soils, the granted derogation is at risk. The seventh nitrate plan was supposed to provide solace, but it is very uncertain whether the European Commission will again allow the Netherlands an exception.

It is therefore very unwise to bet on landscape soil now, because it additionally limits the fertilization space. In addition, the status will probably be legally established at European level and will entail additional restrictions. The profit and loss account of farmers cannot attract so much change at the same time, as long as there is no commercial-economic model for it.

Impact of downgrading continues
Impairment is the charging of loss or decrease in value on the balance sheet. When we talk about downgrading, we focus on the ground. But the impact of downgrading goes much further than that. If a farmer needs more than twice as much landscape land compared to now, the processing costs per hectare will increase and a cowshed with cows will disappear. This has an effect on general costs, for example the call-out costs of the vet. I also think that the difference between agricultural economic value and market value remains. If the farmer can buy land for less money on which he is allowed less on balance, he will suffer economically for the time being.

The depreciation of the individual part leads to a depreciation of the whole. It is precisely the thinking and working from the perspective of the whole that makes agriculture successful in our country. Landscape land can offer a solution for an individual commercially enterprising farmer or stopper. Unfortunately, in the long run, the buzzword isn't a solution for the stayers, as it's ultimately a cash injection. Remainers need perspective, a stable policy and time, so that they can develop new business plans. Politicians are too impatient, capriciously looking for a way out of the nitrogen crisis. Without a vision of the whole, developing landscape soil is not a good idea and only a separate instrument. Boswijk will not make it as a loner with his intention. Politicians will soon be taking advantage of landscape land and thus also the sector. I hope I'm wrong.

This article is part of the content collaboration between Boerenbusiness en foodlog.

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