concludes BOR
'No indications of manure fraud'
The Bureau for Research and Government Expenditure (BOR) has found no concrete indications of manure fraud in the southern sandy area. This is apparent from the advice they give to the House of Representatives on manure fraud, in response to the PBL report.
The Economic Affairs Committee asked the bureau on 16 May to write an opinion on the report 'Evaluation Fertilizers Act 2016' from the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (PBL).
Manure Fraud Indicators
The PBL synthesis report contains various indications of manure fraud. However, the indicated indications cannot be found by the BOR in the 12 reports used. The BOR did find one passage that specifically refers to an exceeding of the usage space in the regional accounts. However, that passage refers to 'many areas in the Netherlands' and therefore does not refer specifically to the southern sandy area.
In addition, the report by WUR, RIVM, Deltares and CBS does mention 'an excess of 10 percent in high-risk companies', but that concerns exceedances in manure transport. This therefore does not provide any concrete indications of manure fraud in the southern sandy area.
So where does elevated standard come from?
The 12 reports (which the PBL used for its report) provide various explanations for the increased nitrate concentrations in the southern sand area. So it is certainly not just about manure fraud.
1. After-effects
A report by Alterra Wageningen UR states that in the southern sandy area there is a strong lag in the nitrate concentration from the past. The researchers say that the delay time for the effect of changes in fertilization on nitrate concentrations can be more than 4 years. According to them, this makes it impossible to make a sharp distinction between the effects of individual measures and developments from the previous period.
2. Soil types
A report by WUR, RIVM, Deltares and CBS also contains another (highly) technical explanation. The authors indicate that there are relatively more leaching sensitive sandy soils in the south. The share of grassland in the south is also lower than in other sandy areas. Since the leaching from sandy soil is higher than from grassland (nitrate in sandy soil ends up more quickly in the groundwater), the nitrate concentration in the south is higher.
3. Growth of arable farmers
Finally, the same report indicates that the group of arable farmers in the south was expanded in 2011. This has the effect of increasing the number of soil prone to leaching. This probably resulted in an increase in the average nitrate concentration in the leaching water (shallow groundwater).
Is it clear about the extent of manure fraud?
New. According to the BOR, the extent of the fraud is difficult to visualize. The State Secretary for Economic Affairs also writes that the extent of manure fraud cannot be clearly mapped out. According to the BOR, this is also supported by the various sources used by the PBL for its synthesis report.
In addition, the BOR and the DIV have not been able to find any concrete figures of persons who have been convicted of manure fraud.
Are the percentages correct?
The report refers to the statements of sector representatives from agriculture. They would say that 30 to 40 percent of the manure is not traded according to the rules. This is derived from an article by Farm from 2014. However, the BOR concludes that it is not clear where these figures come from.
In addition, it turned out that this involved the trading and dumping of manure in the south-east of the Netherlands. Cumela's representative also indicates that his statements have been completely misinterpreted.
Read all articles about manure fraud and the PBL report here.
Kimberly Baker
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