The ban on trailing foot on grassland (clay and peat soils) is not yet in force. At the end of 2016, it was announced that it would be postponed by 1 year; until January 1, 2018. However, it is still quiet around the ban. In some situations manure may also be applied above ground.
The trailing foot would forbidden on 1 January 2017 on grassland (clay and peat soil). The reason for this is that the ammonia emission would be too high when using the trailing foot machine. The ban was postponed until January 1, 2018, because there were not enough alternatives.
Nno ban yet
We are now 1 year later and it is still quiet around the ban on the trailing foot. Apparently no alternatives have been found that work well. An inquiry with the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO.nl) shows that there is still no answer to the question of whether the drag foot will be banned. "Further reporting on this will follow," was the answer from RVO.nl and the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality.
In 2014 it was decided that the trailing foot would be banned from the beginning of 2017, with regard to slurry and sewage sludge on grassland on clay and peat soils. From 1 January 2010, the trailing foot may no longer be used on sandy and loess soils.
Still using it above ground?
Slurry must be applied to the land in a low-emission manner. In some cases, an exemption can be obtained for cattle slurry, in order to spread manure above ground. For this, a livestock farmer must register with RVO.nl for the first time at the latest 7 days before applying manure. The conditions include that 85% of the acreage must consist of grassland and that no other animal manure is used (other than cattle slurry or solid cattle manure).
From 1 February 2018, slurry may again be spread on arable land. This is allowed on grassland from 16 February 2018.
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