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News Concentrate control

Schouten calculates feed plan, but promises nothing

9 July 2020 - Redactie Boerenbusiness

Carola Schouten has her concentrate regulation, the feeding plan of the dairy farm and a combination of both calculated by the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (PBL). In doing so, the Minister of Agriculture implements the motion of MPs Geurts (CDA) and Harbers (VVD). Schouten has not yet made any commitments about easing the feed measure.

In a letter to the House of Representatives, the minister writes that she will implement the Geurts and Harbers motion, which is mainly aimed at testing the feasibility of the dairy sector's own feeding plan. The PBL has indicated that it will allow 7 weeks for this. Then, however, it will be the end of August, just before the government's concentrates regulation takes effect on 1 September. 

Schouten makes no commitment to actually adopt the dairy sector's feeding plan, which is based on a 3% reduction in crude protein content in the supplied compound feed at sector level compared to 2018, if the PBL comes up with a favorable calculation of this. She does write, however: "I would like to point out to dairy farmers that an animal feed measure will come into effect in both the sector plan and my intention. It is advisable to anticipate this now in the feed regime, feed purchases and stock management."

Conversations about animal health
The minister will also talk to experts from, among others, the Royal Dutch Society for Veterinary Medicine (KNMvD) about the risks to animal health associated with the implementation of the concentrates regulation from 1 September. She herself gives in detail in the letter to that the current scheme is geared to guaranteeing animal health and that dairy farmers have a safety net for monitoring the health of their animals.

"If this shows that additional animal health risks are to be expected, I will adjust the scheme accordingly," Schouten writes. The minister will also allow 7 weeks for the conclusions from these discussions. It intends to present them at the same time as the PBL's calculation. Although the proposed feed measure will be in effect for 4 months, Schouten is already giving an advance for 2021. Dairy farmers must also continue to adjust the ration. "I will continue to talk with the sector and experts to come to agreements for 2021 and beyond to achieve a (further) reduction of nitrogen emissions in agriculture by adapting livestock feed."

Feeding plan one step closer
Member of parliament Jaco Geurts mentions on social media that the implementation of the dairy sector's feeding plan has come a step closer as a result of the promise of the PBL study. Agractie Nederland also reacts cautiously positively, now that the research is being completed and additional analysis is being carried out on the effects of animal health. The organization is concerned about the long duration of the investigation of 7 weeks. "Since the ministerial regulation will start on September 1, it will have to become clear whether this step is serious or for the stage."

Jan-Cees Vogelaar, chairman of the Mesdag Dairy Fund, makes mincemeat of Schouten's letter to parliament on Twitter.
 

In the meantime, the farmers' protests in the country continue unabated. On Thursday evening there were tractor demonstrations in Flevoland, where the square in the center of Dronten was full of tractors. Demonstrations were also held at Lelystad Airport. There, according to reports, the fence was forced, after which tractors were driven onto the site.

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