Diluting manure with water produces less ammonia emissions. Less protein in animal feed is also a good idea, but the effect of the cabinet is less so. In total, the government's nitrogen measures can reduce ammonia emissions on dairy farms by 25 to 30%.
That is the view of Gerard Migchels, researcher at Wageningen Livestock Research in the university magazine Resource. Colleagues of Migchels measure how much ammonia gains from the water-diluted manure when spreading onto sandy soil. Previous research by Migchels on peat soil, in which 1 part water was added to 2 parts manure, resulted in an ammonia reduction of 40%. The researcher expects a reduction of 25 to 40% on sandy soil. The measure requires water, which could be a problem given the current drought.
That is why Migchels advises that entrepreneurs invest in water storage. “Each cow has 21 square meters of roof. This allows you to collect rainwater. That water is also needed to spray water on the manure slats in the barn, so that ammonia emissions in the barn also decrease.” The Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality makes money available for water collection in agriculture, Resource writes.
Feed Track with Recycle Pointer
In addition to diluting manure, Migchels recommends that the ministry also reduce protein in the feed. But not in the way that Minister Schouten presented last week. “There is a better method: the Recycling Guide. With the Kringloopwijzer, entrepreneurs decide for themselves how they reduce nitrogen use. You appeal to their craftsmanship, but you have no hard guarantees in advance.”
Migchels thinks that an average of 10% ammonia reduction is possible via the feed track. “There are farmers who use nitrogen efficiently, but there are also nonchalant farmers who, for example, feed too much protein just to be on the safe side. They can reduce ammonia by 20%.” The ministry's third measure, encouraging outdoor grazing, also helps to reduce ammonia emissions. But this also differs per farmer, says Migchels.
Legislation status
The researcher is curious about how the ministry will anchor the dilution of manure, the feed track and the stimulation of grazing in legislation and regulations. Until now, the ministry has only legally stipulated the reduction of crude protein in the feed in the Emergency Nitrogen Act, which was published in the Government Gazette in January. The selection model with the above three elements that the Agricultural Collective has discussed in detail with the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality has not (yet) been implemented (yet) for this reason. It is not yet legally defined.
Not only using the cycle indicator as a management tool is controversial and is not advocated by the Agricultural Collective. There is therefore a lot of resistance from dairy farmers themselves. The ministry has also not been enthusiastic about it so far, because it is said to be too susceptible to fraud.
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