Blog: Looking back at farmers' protest in Stroe

Farmers from all over the Netherlands came to Stroe in Gelderland today for the fourth major national demonstration against the government's nitrogen policy in three years. Followed in this live blog Boerenbusiness today's developments. The farmers' protest was an initiative of the joint farmers' representatives Agractie, LTO Nederland, POV, NMV, DDB, NAV and NVP and attracted tens of thousands of people. The action day in Stroe itself went smoothly. Isolated actions on roads caused congestion and there was also an accident with a tractor in the afternoon. 

- 17.13 pm Accident with tractor on A12
On the A12 towards Utrecht, the road is closed at Veenendaal due to an accident with a tractor, according to Rijkswaterstaat. Three people were injured, according to a tweet from an officer. It is not yet known when the road will be reopened. Traffic will be diverted at the Grijsoord junction via the A50, A15, A2 and A27.

- 16.45 pm Univé: Courtesy in the event of damage to tractors
Univé is lenient with any damage to tractors that farmers incur today when they participate in the farmers' protest, the insurance company reports in a press release. Normally, abnormal use of agricultural vehicles is not insured. "As a regionally involved cooperative – once founded by farmers – we are close to our members, among whom we count many agricultural entrepreneurs. This means we know what is going on and what is going on with them," says Johan Van den Neste, director of Univé Schade. He emphasizes that society will not cooperate with unauthorized actions. "In addition, we expect everyone to continue to comply with the law; driving on the highway with a tractor is not for nothing. We therefore exclude damage incurred here by definition from cover, unless the driver is part of an organized convoy that is tolerated and accompanied by the police."

- 16.37 pm Farmers park tractors on A6
On the A6 near Emmeloord, protesters have stopped traffic in both directions, Rijkswaterstaat reports. According to Omroep Flevoland, motorists have to slalom between tractors parked on the road. According to the broadcaster, there are also ten farmers with tractors in the verge of the A6 near the Ketelbrug. It is possible that activist farmers would like to close the bridge.

- 16.07 Tractors on their way home again
The pasture of a dairy farmer in Stroe where the farmers' protest was held today is slowly emptying again. Rijkswaterstaat reports on Twitter that the first tractors are back on the road.

 - 15.36 pm FDF: 'Reclaiming power in our cooperatives, banks and entire sector'
"I think we should take back power in our cooperatives, our banks and our entire sector," said Mark van den Oever of Farmers Defense Force (FDF) today in Stroe, where he was the last speaker. Without stating it in so many words, he defended the protest at Van der Wal's home. "Since we are always kept at a distance from the center of power... it is not very surprising that there are groups of peasants who have more creative ideas for getting closer to the goal they are protesting... Perhaps the end justifies the means Isn't our government also generously crossing all moral boundaries with this absurd reduction plan based on lies and deceit?"

- 15.10 pm BBB: 'All vote for Provincial Council'
Caroline van der Plas is ready to participate with the BoerBurgerBeweging (BBB) ​​in the provincial elections in all provinces, she said on the podium in Stroe. Van der Plas is currently in the poll with fourteen parliamentary seats. "Many seats in the Provincial Council means many seats in the Senate, that's what legislation is all about." She made an appeal to all in attendance: "It is very important that you all vote." Joost Eerdmans (JA21) said: "Whatever you do in the voting booth: vote out this coalition! Choose your own provincial government, choose one of these parties for the Senate. On us or one of the other parties here on the podium (next to JA21 and BBB, SGP, PVV and FvD ed.) Caroline van der Plas also made another appeal: "Farmers are not against rules; farmers are against injustice. Carry that out!"

- 14.48 Barneveld advises not to come to Stroe anymore
Due to the large influx to the farmers' protest, the municipality of Barneveld advises not to come to Stroe anymore. "Traffic on all roads is completely fixed and the parking lots are full. Huge crowds are also expected on the way back." The A1 from Amersfoort to Apeldoorn is closed in both directions. The police tweeted: "We see that it is completely blocked and with this measure we want to achieve that the traffic there dissolves. Once that has happened, the closure will be lifted as soon as possible." Rijkswaterstaat reports that the A7 between Drachten and Heerenveen has been reopened in both directions.

- 14.35 pm Agricultural representatives: No longer at the table with Van der Wal
Both LTO Netherlands chairman Sjaak van der Tak and former State Secretary for Agriculture Henk Bleker, chairman of the Dutch Dairy Farmers Union, no longer want to talk to Minister for Nature and Nitrogen Christianne van der Wal (VVD) as long as she sticks to the current plans. The nitrogen plan must first be off the table, the chairmen said in Stroe this afternoon.

- 13.56 hrs 'State of the Netherlands at war with the peasant republic'
"We see this as a dress rehearsal", says Agractie foreman Bart Kemp on stage in Stroe. "On April 6, we warned the ministers before the House of Representatives that a farmer's action will turn into a farmer's revolt if The Hague does not withdraw its nefarious plans. Now the time has come, the line has been drawn. The limit has been reached. vol. The State of the Netherlands is at war with the peasant republic. Despite all the peace offers from the peasant republic, the opposing party continues to pour hostilities on us." Martial law has been declared to occupy and confiscate our land and property on false grounds. The farmer's republic is the rightful owner of two-thirds of Dutch territory and we produce food on it for all Dutch people and far beyond."

- 13.44 Official portion of protest underway
The official part of the protest, which was to start at 12.00 noon, started around 13.15:40.000 pm. This is because many farmers arrived earlier. Currently, protesters are still on the way. An estimated XNUMX people are currently in attendance.  

-13.37 Krentenwegge on behalf of desperate Twente farmers
On behalf of hundreds of desperate Twente farmers, MEP Annie Schreijer-Pierik (CDA) today handed a currant ticket to Manfred Weber, chairman of the EPP Group and Norbert Lins (CDU, EPP Group), chairman of the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development (Agri). This is because of the support from the EPP group and agriculture committee in the European Parliament for the preservation of farmers in the European countryside. The politician emphasizes that the nitrogen targets in The Hague do not come from Europe: "The nitrogen plans presented by the cabinet are not European rules, but Dutch policy choices."

- 13.01 hours Still a lot of tractors on the way
There are still many people on their way to the protest in Stroe. Rijkswaterstaat reports that there are still significant delays in both directions on the A7. Also on the A1 you come to Stroe in traffic on both sides. NOS reporter Edwin van de Berg posted a video on Twitter on the A7 between Drachten and Heerenveen:

- 12.28 pm Stay at home also in protest
While thousands of farmers in Stroe are making themselves heard, many people who stay at home also protest. As below with the inverted Dutch flag.

- 12.19 pm Program is running late
The program in Stroe, which was to start at 12.00 noon, is running late. The turnout is high and people are still arriving. The atmosphere is friendly. Helped by the beautiful weather, it almost feels like a free festival, if you don't know that the reason is serious, reports Wouter Baan who, on behalf of Boerenbusiness is in Stroe.

- 12.02 Arable farmers also in uncertainty about the effect of nitrogen plans
It is still completely unclear what the consequences of the nitrogen plans will be for arable farming. Areas with many arable farmers are also marked on the ministry map as areas where a nitrogen reduction of 47% or more is required. "In the Noordoostpolder, for example, a whole strip is colored purple," says André Hoogendijk, director of BO Akkerbouw. Boerenbusiness† "There is little livestock farming there and a lot of arable farming." According to Hoogendijk, it is unclear how the objectives should be achieved there. "For example, does the ministry focus on precision agriculture in order to use nitrogen fertilizer even more efficiently or are the fertilizer standards cut." In addition, Hoogendijk points out that it is not only the nitrogen plans that cause a lot of uncertainty. The water quality goals will follow later this year and the climate goals will also follow.

- 11.54 am Suppliers support farmers
In Stroe, where the official opening of the protest will take place at 12.00:XNUMX noon, farmers are massively supported by suppliers of animal feed, among other things. Denkavit, PB and ForFarmers, among others, will be present with trucks.

11.42 am Protest has had a major impact on morning rush
The farmers' demonstration has had a significant impact on the morning rush hour, Rijkswaterstaat reports. The peak peak was about 250 kilometers. Normally, the peak during the Wednesday morning rush hour is around 100 kilometers. At the moment you have to deal with considerable traffic jams on the A7 in both directions. To Heerenveen: between Drachten and Tijnje there is a 75-minute delay. To Groningen: there is a 70-minute delay between the Heerenveen and Beetsterzwaag junction. The traffic jam is partly due to a blockage of the road.

- 11.36 hours MEP Schreijer-Pierik: 'Do not reduce food production now'
"This is not the right time for the bills on pesticide reduction and nature restoration," said Annie Schreijer-Pierik, spokesperson in the European Parliament's Agriculture Committee on behalf of the CDA (EPP group). "As we are in the midst of the worst food crisis of our century, the European Commission should not introduce new legislation that could significantly reduce food production in Europe," she said in a press release.

- 11.28 am Police work on checking tractors on highways
Although it is forbidden to drive tractors on the highway, many protesters did not comply this morning. Because the license plate requirement will only be enforced from 1 July, many demonstrators are on the road without a license plate. Police chief Willem Woelders indicated in the NOS Radio 1 Journaal that the police will do everything within their power to identify people with tractors on highways. According to him, this is possible on the basis of images and information that the police receive.

- 11.04 am Also VVD member Thom van Campen not in Stroe due to safety
In addition to Tjeerd de Groot (D66), Member of Parliament and agriculture spokesman for the VVD Thom van Campen will not come to Stroe because his safety cannot be guaranteed, he reports on Twitter.

- 10.58 am Listen: Boerenbusiness live on BNR Nieuwsradio
Boerenbusiness-market editor and nitrogen expert Klaas van der Horst tells live from 11.00 a.m. on the radio program BNR Breekt why farmers are protesting against the nitrogen policy.
Listen here: https://www.bnr.nl/player/live

10.53 am Wilders: 'There is nothing against nitrogen-rich nature'
PVV leader Geert Wilders is today, in his own words, from 8.00 am to support the farmers. It is not yet known whether he will also be one of the speakers. He says to the AD: "There is nothing against nitrogen-rich nature. The Netherlands will not die from it, you get other animals, other plants, the farmers can farm and that has to happen."
 

- 10.37 am More support for protests: 45% support farmers
The support for the farmer protests of the Dutch population has increased, according to research by I&O research commissioned by the newspaper Trouw. 45% of those questioned say they support the protests, compared to 38% in the previous measurement last October. The survey also shows that at the moment 44% of people want the government to do more against nitrogen emissions. In October last year it was 60%.

- 10.08 am D66 'er Tjeerd de Groot not to Stroe for safety
D66 Member of Parliament Tjeerd de Groot wanted to talk to farmers today during the nitrogen protest in Stroe. However, the National Coordinator for Security and Counterterrorism (NCTV) has advised against it, De Groot has just announced on Twitter.

- 9.33 am BBB and JA21 launch nitrogen plan
Caroline van der Plas (BoerBurgerBeweging) and Joost Eerdmans (JA21) will participate in a debate tomorrow during the nitrogen debate in the House of Representatives. nitrogen plan to introduce. This is a repair law in which the Nature Conservation Act of 2015 is central. "There we tied ourselves to the highest standards in Europe", says Eerdmans.

- 9.00 am On the way to Stroe: traffic jams in Brabant
Many farmers are currently on their way to the rural farmers' protest in Stroe. According to the ANWB, this is currently mainly causing delays at Amersfoort on the A28. Because they drive on the highway with tractors, the extra travel time between Utrecht and Amersfoort is approximately one hour. There are hardly any daily traffic jams.

- 8.40 am On to Stroe

- 7.00 On the way to Stroe
Since last night, columns of tractors from the Netherlands and Flanders have been driving to Stroe. Groups of farmers also drive on the highways. 

Farmers from Limburg are moving to Stroe last night and tonight.
 

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