Mayor Deurne calls manure fraud hype

Mayor Hilko Mak of the municipality of Deurne (North Brabant) denounces the way in which the media portrayed farmers in 2017 as notorious manure fraudsters.

Mak said in his New Year's speech on Monday 1 January that he felt addressed as mayor of the most livestock-dense municipality in the Netherlands because of the reports about the systematic committing of manure fraud by farmers and manure traders. The NRC published Saturday 11 November an article ("The Manure Conspiracy"), stating that 39% of intermediaries broke the rules in 2014 and 2015.

Doubt about the facts
Mak: "As mayor of Deurne, I also feel addressed when this is brought out. As mayor, I am there for all residents. As mayor, I wonder whether the facts, which are distributed by the media, are correct. I have a different view of these problems."

Mak sees that many good developments on farms and many farmers' initiatives are taking place in Deurne. "Many of the agricultural companies in Deurne, often with young entrepreneurs, have their affairs in order. They are increasingly giving substance to the connection between farmer and citizen."

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Mak wants to reverse the negative trend. "It is good to reverse the negative trend created by this hype. For this we must continue to talk to each other and not oppose each other. Politics has an important role in reversing polarization."

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