Vredepeel in the spotlight
Ammonia measurement from agriculture is not good
About 25% of the information from the National Air Quality Monitoring Network for ammonia appears to be 'polluted'. For example, Jaap Hanekamp and Geesje Rotgers discovered that the measurements in Vredepeel (Limburg) were wrong. Since the agricultural sector only has 4 measuring points, the consequences can be significant.
Ammonia is a gas that dissolves into the air, but not so quickly that it is immediately diluted enough after excretion on a farm to provide reliable information. For this reason, there are protocols that state that there must be a minimum distance of 300 metres, and preferably 500 metres, between a measuring point and a livestock farm.
Vredepeel disturbs
That is exactly what goes wrong in Vredepeel. Rotgers argues that with 150 meters there is far too little distance between the measuring point and a poultry farm; 1 that was already there when the measuring point was constructed. Over the years, the company has expanded, and there are currently plans to grow further. Something that can have major consequences, because in a northeasterly wind it produces a high peak in ammonia.
"We had a lot of northeasterly wind this winter," says Hanekamp. This already indicates that the ammonia values will show a significant increase. The ball got rolling by an inexplicable ammonia peak in the winter. Due to its location, Vredepeel is also the most important measuring point for livestock farming. "It is possible, for example, that only 1 company directs the agricultural policy in the Netherlands," says Hanekamp.
Luis in the fur
"The investigations must become more critical, more transparent and better," says Hanekamp. A student wouldn't get away with such a mistake, but Wageningen only responded with the word 'interesting'. Trienke Elshof stated on behalf of LTO Nederland that it is good that Rotgers and Hanekamp are there. "A good bug in the fur, because you also have to be able to discuss science."
The sector has already spent millions through manure, stables and feed to combat ammonia emissions. "However, there is still something to be done and support is needed for that", says Elshof, "But it must also make it possible for us to say: 'It is good'. What have others done?"
The position?
Meanwhile, there are also at least so many sounds that indicate that it is time to look at deposition, precipitation on the ground, and the effect thereof on soil life. For example, the Association for the Conservation of Farmers and the Environment (VBBM) doubts the conclusion that the side effects of current policy may be even greater than the errors in the calculation. Among other things, they refer to the obligation to inject.
Herman van den Pol
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