Analysis Manure surplus
What to do with all that pig manure?
It should be clear that there is a surplus of pig manure in the Netherlands this spring. The collection fees are sky high and therefore a millstone for many pig farmers. Are there solutions for the dire situation on the fertilizer market?
The collection contributions for pig manure usually decrease during the spring. This year, however, an opposite trend is visible: the collection fee for 1 cubic meter of pig manure in the south of the Netherlands has now risen to more than €25 and the trend is rising. Never have pig farmers paid so much at this time of year.
Finished a third less
Joop van Leijsen, agricultural entrepreneur and manure intermediary, estimates that arable farmers purchased about 33% less pig manure this spring than in other years. "This has nothing to do with the acceptance (arable farming) of pig manure, but is purely a result of the (too) wet subsoil due to the heavy rain this late spring. Manure sales in the Netherlands are downright disappointing," says van Leijsen. Problems immediately arise on the fertilizer market, because there is no 'plan B'.
According to Van Leijsen, manure processing does not extract volumes from the market; in the sense that the nitrogen (N) remains in the Netherlands, while the phosphate (P) is exported more often. This is because the law is set up that way. A possible solution to this problem is to increase the individual company nitrogen standard for arable farmers. "Now, arable farmers often have no nitrogen space after the first crop."
However, the question is whether the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality sees an increase in nitrogen as a solution. Such a measure is likely to disappoint public opinion. The whole manure matter is so complicated that it is almost impossible to explain. "Farmers and citizens no longer understand each other on this point." Fewer animals could also be a solution, although this measure is not popular among farmers.
Incidentally, according to Van Leijsen, pig farmers are not the bogeyman in the manure discussion. In terms of volume, there is more cattle manure in circulation; the pig sector has also stuck its neck out with manure processing. "However, the weather has been unfavorable, and sales are failing."
Full manure pits, empty pig stables
A manure intermediary from Brabant, who does not wish to be mentioned by name, has never experienced the current oversupply before. He estimates that the collection fees will approach €30 per cubic meter in the short term, although that does not solve the problem. Pig sties will probably also become empty, because the wells are filling up. This is sometimes already the case. The intermediary is therefore arguing for an extension of the spreading season this autumn, in order to give the manure surplus some air.
Tap into new sales markets
"There are indeed signs that the sale of manure in the south of the Netherlands has experienced a significant delay", confirms Hans Verkerk, secretary of fertilizer distribution at Cumela Nederland (the trade association for manure intermediaries). "In addition to the wet spring, the declining manure sales to Germany a cause of the problem."
According to Verkerk, the Netherlands will have to look for other markets; although that is not settled in a few weeks. Coincidentally, he is going on a fertilizer mission to the Czech Republic with a number of fertilizer intermediaries this week, to find out whether there opportunities lie† "Hopefully the trip will pay off."
Incidentally, this is not the first time that such a manure problem has arisen. According to Verkerk, there were comparable 'manure plugs' on the market in 2001 and 2007. Verkerk expects the surplus to last until the spring of 2019. "We have to hope that spring will come early next year, so that there can be plenty of spreading." The problem can therefore simply be solved within a few weeks, Verkerk nuances.
Extending the driving season?
An extension of the riding season is not (yet) on the agenda this autumn, according to Verkerk; moreover, the Cumela chairman does not see this as a solution to the problem. "You probably won't get rid of the backlog in those few extra weeks." Cumela therefore mainly focuses on providing information to members, with the subject of how they can temporarily store the manure surplus during the coming winter.
As part of the sixth action program Nitrates Directive, the spreading season for animal manure on arable land in 2019 is from 15 February to 15 September. From next year there will therefore be extra time to spread manure, Verkerk is already looking ahead. According to the anonymous Brabant manure intermediary, this is good for later, but it will not solve the manure surplus in the short term.
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