Nitrogen policy is completely out of line and is grossly injustice

The Hague definitely wants to sacrifice the farmers of the Netherlands on the altar of unattainable standards and mismanagement. The outline memorandum of Minister Van der Wal's nitrogen approach for nitrogen was published on 1 April. She had already aimed for it before and now it is clear: the cabinet is disregarding the warnings it has received from various authorities.

The Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (PBL) said that the Critical Deposition Values ​​are not feasible and say nothing about the real state of nature. The Remkes Committee made it clear that the nitrogen in ammonia and in nitrogen oxides are not interchangeable. The Hordijk Committee declared the Aerius calculation model unsuitable for licensing. By not being disturbed by all of this, the cabinet is sacrificing Dutch agriculture for the interests of industry, construction and the climate transition. 

Clear-cutting among farmers in large parts of the Netherlands
Anyone who takes a closer look at the goals and previous policy documents will realize that this cabinet is causing a clear cut among farmers in large parts of the Netherlands. Supposedly for 'nature' which is said to be in a 'pitiful state'. But with the aim of building and whipping up the economy that is locked by our rigid rules!

Has there been thorough research into whether 'nature' will really benefit from this approach? New! Has it been investigated whether the intended poor 'nature' can actually exist sustainably in the fertile Dutch delta? New! They are political choices. They arise from the game of power and always full store shelves with affordable food. Our spoiled, makeable Western society and elitist management have no idea what needs to be done to produce that food.

Fighting for steps back in prosperity
Nitrogen activist Johan Vollenbroek is at least consistent. He believes that not only farmers should be tackled, but also industry, air traffic and energy consumption. Our entire Western society must consume significantly. Vollenbroek is fighting for a few big steps back in our level of prosperity. He does this by making clever use of the noose of standards and objectives in which our country has committed itself, led by government-funded NGOs.
  
Minister van der Wal thinks she knows what she is talking about. As she wrote in the NRC: "Blackberries everywhere along the roads. Just pay attention." According to her, nature is in a terrible state, we will soon no longer be able to drink a glass of water from the tap. Is the minister aware that there is no sound and insightful reporting on 'Dutch nature'? Or about natural soils and soil life? That it is mainly talking to each other, and now everyone is saying it and so it must be the case? Of course, our Western way of life and intensive food production have negative effects in the Netherlands, one of the most densely populated countries in the world.

Thinking about new revenue models
In her media contributions and in the House, the minister emphatically heads for forced expropriation if you as a farmer do not buy up quickly. Later on, she also mentions that new revenue models are being considered for farmers who can stay. The Hague has been doing this for years, but without a structural mega-budget for this, the economic laws continue to apply. There is no place for overpriced farmers. The farmer is simply the Sjaak.

Speaking of Sjaak, what is Sjaak, the chairman of LTO Nederland, actually doing against the injustice that the farmers in the Netherlands are faced with? He is on good terms with Minister Staghouwer of Agriculture, tries to keep fraudsters out of his beloved greenhouse horticulture, looks after the shop and financial (project and subsidy) interests of LTO. At the end of his term, Sjaak will be 67 years old. He still has about 1.5 years to sit out in the CDA jargon, where he earns his living all his life. Sjaak van der Tak and LTO Nederland will not make a fist for the farmers.

Can farmers still get something positive from this policy? There will always be winners with a good starting position. They will simply continue in the battle of efficiency and economies of scale. And the group that serves specialist markets will also stand out. But for large groups of farmers, this is the beginning of the end. The new halving in the number of farmers will be faster than we have ever seen. They are going to retire with a large bag of money; yes. But also with a huge hangover because they are put aside for measures that only make sense on paper. That is a gross injustice and a waste of taxpayers' money.

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

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