News Manure policy
Crop derogation important in LTO . manure policy
LTO Nederland proposes that there will be more fertilizer placement space on grass and rest crops, according to the organization on Thursday 13 June in its vision for fertilizer policy. The plan is aimed on the one hand at agricultural entrepreneurs who want a lot of freedom and on the other hand at entrepreneurs who want more specific rules.
On Thursday 13 June, LTO Nederland presented the vision 'Reconsidering Manure Policy', which was drawn up at the request of Minister Carola Schouten (Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality). It is a joint plan of both the animal and vegetable sectors within the ranks of LTO Nederland. With the plan, LTO Netherlands wants to achieve a generic and more specific policy. In the current situation, everyone has to deal with restrictive measures. That is what the advocate wants to break through.
Generic and specific policy
According to LTO Nederland, there are many differences between the entrepreneurs and the regions. The generic (fixed) system should be simpler. It is also possible, for example, to opt for a specific policy, in which the amount of organic matter and diversity in the soil are taken into account. Furthermore, the policy is aimed at reducing emissions in the areas where this is requested, instead of reducing emissions everywhere.
In the plan, LTO Nederland also advocates broader usage standards in various crops. Wil Meulenbroeks, the chairman of LTO Dairy Farming, suggested that there should be a derogation for grass cultivation. Approximately 300 kilos of nitrogen from animal manure can be used for this, while it is currently 250 kilos in the clay areas. Claude van Dongen, Soil and Water Quality portfolio holder at LTO Nederland, indicated that the so-called 'grass derogation' has support in The Hague, as grass can absorb a lot of nitrogen.
Crop derogation
In the arable farming sector, crop derogation is particularly important for dormant crops, for example in winter wheat and sugar beets, more space is needed for nitrogen. Jaap van Wenum, the chairman of LTO Akkerbouw, also wants more room for soil improvers (such as compost, solid manure and Betacal). "With compost, 50% of the phosphate is not counted. We also want that for other soil improvers."
When asked whether higher usage standards can be justified in The Hague, Van Wenum replies that climate requirements play a role in this. "Carbon sequestration is an important reason for broad use standards for soil improvers. This also contributes to social tasks. In 2020 we (together with 300 farmers) will start practical pilots to demonstrate that carbon is being captured."
More demands
The generic policy that LTO Nederland is currently proposing means for the arable farming sector that the placement space and spreading time remain virtually the same. The refined policy is mainly aimed at companies with higher yields, which therefore also need more fertilizers. "An example of this is the Southeastern sand area. That extra space may mean that there will be more requirements, such as rules for growing the most dormant crops or the type of fertilizers that are used," says Van Wenum.
In addition, fertilizer is still necessary for fine-tuning the fertilization, says Van Wenum. "In the case of seed potatoes in particular, fertilizer remains important, because animal manure can cause scab. Seed potatoes are an exception. From an economic point of view, pig manure remains important. The fact that fertilizer can be used in a wet year is also an extra reason to use the product. to keep in reserve", Van Wenum nuances.
Young farmers
The plan of LTO Nederland can also count on support from young farmers within the Dutch Agricultural Youth Contact (NAJK). "We also believe that it should be taken into account that the differences within the Netherlands are large," responds Marije Klever, director at the NAJK. "There must therefore be more room for experimentation. Some farmers are not interested in extra rules, but another group wants to do something extra."
Anne-Jan Doorn
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