DDB suggests solutions for an overcrowded manure market

The pressure on the overcrowded fertilizer market is sky-high and there are few options that can reduce this pressure in the short term. This is what the Dutch Dairymen Board (DDB) association of dairy farmers said in a statement about the dire situation. DDB offers LNV several solutions that it believes will have an immediate effect.

Due to the wet spring of 2023, the phasing out of the derogation, but also less space for placement due to buffer strips, for example, the manure supply has increased significantly. Resulting in overcrowded wells and high selling prices. The newly designated 'nutrient-contaminated areas' and the lowering of the manure ceiling will make the placement space even more limited in the coming years, causing the manure market to come to a complete standstill. The Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality (LNV) says it wants to reduce this pressure, but according to DDB, action must be taken immediately. She gives LNV advice with three (emergency) measures that have immediate effect.

Early exit period
At the moment, many livestock farmers' manure pits are already full to the brim and disposal is only limited because many manure storage facilities are also full or the last space has already been reserved. In addition, prices have risen enormously. For this reason, DDB states that the release period should be brought forward to February 1, provided weather conditions permit. DDB believes that 'calendar agriculture' should not be adhered to.

Building or constructing (temporary) manure storage facilities offers a way to store more manure and livestock farmers or arable farmers want to get started with this, but they face restrictions such as not obtaining a permit or the application taking a long time. DDB calls for this process to be accelerated. For example, if arable farmers can already set up a temporary manure storage facility and have it filled, manure can be spread everywhere as soon as weather conditions permit. This also improves capacity when deployment can take place and requires less transport during the deployment season.

Finally, the dairy farmers' association indicates that the buffer strips should be abolished because more space is needed. The buffer strips have a very large effect on the reduction of the placement space and thus the manure surplus only increases further.

Jesse Torringa

Jesse is an editor at Boerenbusiness and focuses in particular on the arable farming sector, including grain and onions. He also closely follows the fertilizer market. In addition, Jesse works on an arable farm in Groningen with seed potatoes as the main branch.

j.torringa@boerenbusiness. Nl

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