News Milk
Pasture premium overhaul: 'Time for a graduated system'
A pasture premium should be based on the actual number of hours that cows spend outdoors each year, according to the Meerweiden Working Group (LTO, NAJK, Biohuis and Netwerk GRONDig), which is why they started the 'Meet Weet Weidegang' project to replace the current generic reward with a graduated system within three years. Optimism is high. "I estimate the chance that ZuivelNL and the NZO will embrace this at 90%", says project leader Diana Saaman.
The project group has been working in the background for half a year and is now – at the start of the grazing season – coming out for the first time. The goal is to convert the current generic system into a customized one, in which every dairy farmer in the Netherlands is rewarded for the number of hours that the cows actually walk outside.
Basic premium may be reduced
Currently, grazing dairy farmers must achieve the 720-hour limit annually to qualify for the grazing premium. "Many dairy farmers are well above this standard, while there is also a group that barely or not at all achieves this standard," says Saaman. No distinction is made in this respect in terms of remuneration. That is why we advocate customization, in which dairy farmers are rewarded via a graduated system.
To illustrate, these could be scales between 1.000 and 1.500 hours and from there another scale. A consequence of this approach could be that the basic premium goes down, so that more money remains to be distributed among the frontrunners," Saaman outlines the financial way of thinking. "Although on balance we also argue for extra pasture money. All in all, there must be an impetus for the earnings model and to shape target management."
Cono and A-ware positive
According to Saaman, the plan fits in well with the spirit of the times in the sector. Both socially, politically and in the market. "Grazing is highly valued socially and politically stimulated. In addition, the market rewards extra sustainability through various milk flows. That is why I consider the chance of success of this project to be 90%. In recent months, the plan has already been presented to various processors. "Cono and A-ware immediately responded very enthusiastically and actively nominated dairy farmers for the project." However, Saaman does not want to realize the plan via individual producers; the goal is to set up a graduated system via ZuivelNl and the NZO that will then be embraced by all processors.
11 dairy farmers from 5 provinces
In the project, the pasture of eleven dairy farmers from five provinces will be monitored using collar tags over the next three years. These results should form the basis for the plan. A conscious choice was made for diversity in the business operations. Half of the group milks with a robot and there are also organic participants. In addition, a division was made over various dairy buyers.
Wouter Job
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