LTO is heading for a crop derogation

LTO Nederland wants to get rid of the farm derogation and a sec derogation from 2018 for five crops. If LTO has its way, it will be the first time that the Netherlands has submitted a crop derogation to the European Commission and arable farmers can also benefit from the relaxed fertilization rules. 

If it is up to LTO, the new derogation (more nitrogen from animal manure per hectare) for the period 2018 to 2021 will apply to crops and no longer per company. This concerns grass and the four arable crops wheat, sugar beet, perennial rye grass and winter rapeseed. Until now it was valid a farm derogation for grassland farms who grow grass on at least 80% of the acreage. This makes the current derogation only attractive for dairy farms.

Derogation also for arable crops
That will now change if it is up to LTO. Arable farmers must also be able to make use of the extra fertilization options that a derogation offers. According to Jaap van Wenum, chairman of LTO Arable Farming, the derogation is also much easier to regulate at crop level instead of per company. "The current farm derogation creates an uneven playing field between companies and sectors. We want to get rid of that now. A crop derogation is better suited to this time."

More land swap
Van Wenum refers to the land exchange between arable farmers and dairy farmers. Van Wenum: "There is a need for this. Farmers are increasingly working together and a crop derogation is appropriate for that method."

To 300 kilos on grass
Kees Romijn of LTO Dairy Farming emphasizes that he wants an increase in the nitrogen standard for grassland. He wants to achieve a standard of 300 kilos of nitrogen from animal manure per hectare. Now the standard 170 kilos that may be increased within the derogation to 230 or 250 kilos of nitrogen, depending on the soil type. "Research shows that grass is positive for water quality. The quality of the groundwater is demonstrably better in grassland areas. Grassland fits the need for more grazing."

Crop derogation is common
Most European member states that also make use of a derogation also do this per crop and not per company. Van Wenum: "We also looked closely at Flanders. They also work with a crop derogation." In 2015, the European Commission approved Flanders' derogation proposal. 

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