Rabobank: manure fraud undermines support

Rabobank wants to take stronger action against farmers who commit fraud with manure. According to the bank, this is necessary to maintain social support for livestock farming in the Netherlands. 'The limit to the number of animals in certain regions is limited,' says Rien Nagel.

Rien Nagel, member of the Executive Board of Rabobank Nederland, says that manure fraud is mainly a cultural problem in the south of the Netherlands. Nagel: 'Livestock farmers should confront each other if the manure is not deposited properly. That still happens too little. Manure fraud is mainly part of the culture in Brabant and Limburg.' He emphasizes that he does not want to be a police officer, but he does want to use the influence that is possible to tackle manure fraud. 

Improvement plan
Rabobank wants to take tougher action against customers who may not sell their manure in accordance with the rules. The accountants normally already discuss the disposal of manure with their customers. If they notice that something is not right, an improvement plan is drawn up with the farmer. It contains a date by which the farmer must have his affairs in order. Nagel: 'We are going to focus even harder on this. Manure fraud entails too great a financial risk and is a danger to the continuity of a company.' 

Limit on the number of animals
Nagel emphasizes that manure fraud puts further pressure on public support for livestock farming. 'There is a limit to the number of animals in the Netherlands. Take the province of Brabant. There the limit of the number of animals has clearly been reached. There is no longer support for the growth of livestock among citizens. As a sector, we have to take this into account. We have to go there to earn more with fewer animals. This can be done by focusing more on the added value of products."

Nagel made his statements on Friday at a meeting for agricultural journalists in Utrecht. 

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