Sector dismayed about new manure policy in The Hague

Shortly after the animal feed measure was dropped, Minister Carola Schouten came up with a series of manure measures that she would like to see in the coming period. decades want to enter. The morning after the letter to parliament, the sector still has to let the plans sink in, according to a tour.   

A 12-page letter to Parliament packed with new fertilizer plans† Well, new? It should come as no surprise that the ministry wants to move towards land-based dairy farming. It was also obvious that the new manure policy is linked to circular agriculture. But the fact that Schouten puts non-land-bound livestock farmers 'on the brink' is a bit of a shock.

Land prices up?
A few phone calls learn that the sector has yet to let the plans sink in. Dairy farmers are willing to respond off the record. The first reactions are: "The land here in Twente will become more expensive as a result of these measures, because there are many intensive companies here" and "how sustainable are the extra transport movements that will arise for the supply and removal of manure on the -land-based businesses?" Brabant, where the availability of agricultural land is also an issue, is also reacting sceptically.

Often only a small manure surplus
Jeroen van Maanen, who recently became secretary of the Dutch Dairy Farmers' Union, frowned when he read the plans. "I have to delve into it further in terms of content, but at first sight this is going to be a tough manure policy for many livestock farms." According to Van Maanen, there is a large group of livestock farmers who will soon have to have all manure processed, while they now only have to remove a small surplus on an annual basis. Buying according to land-relatedness is often not possible with the current land prices, Van Maanen thinks, so it will come down to the neighborhood contracts.

"That will be difficult in a surplus area. I myself will switch my dairy farm in the Flevopolder to organic, but will I soon find an organic arable farm within 20 kilometers that is willing to buy my manure?" The NMV secretary finds it surprising that Schouten mentions the central manure processing factory in Moerdijk as an example. "The manure is burned there and important nutrients are lost. This means we are deficient in animal manure, which in itself is a wonderful product." Van Maanen thinks that there is still a lot of water to pass through the Rhine before the plans become final.

'Extreme measures'
Marko van Asten, who together with his family owns several pig farms in the south of the Netherlands, thinks LNV is making a strange move. "The current system with mandatory manure processing and VVOs works, and we could fine-tune it further by, for example, raising the mandatory processing standards and separating poultry manure processing and other livestock. Now that is being thrown overboard and, at first sight, fairly extreme measures are being taken for this. back."

Van Asten thinks mandatory manure processing for intensive companies is going too far and entrepreneurs should be able to make choices that suit their company instead of obligations. According to the pig farmer, it is crystal clear that this policy did not come about together with the sector. He would like to see LNV sit down with the sectors to arrive at an improved manure policy.

He fears a cost increase. "Due to the reorganization measure in pig farming and the contraction in the dairy sector, there was less pressure on the manure market, but the new plans are creating pressure again. The Van Asten Group itself has part of the manure processed by third parties. Another part goes into the digester, while manure is also sold to arable farming.The company has the ambition to start processing manure itself, but gets stuck in nitrogen regulations.Ammonia production is saved by removing manure from the stables at an accelerated rate and processing it so that is driven less.

According to him, only 1.500 kilos of ammonia are emitted at the processing site and the license application has been on hold for almost 2 years. "Perhaps the new manure policy will lead to a more lenient attitude." With the current knowledge, Van Asten thinks he can anticipate the new legislation, but what about the pig farms that have purchased land in recent years to use the liquid fraction?

Wouter Job

Wouter Baan is Head of Meat & Dairy at BoerenbusinessAt DCA Market Intelligence, he focuses on dairy, pork, and meat markets. He also monitors (business) developments within agribusiness and interviews CEOs and policymakers.

w.baan@boerenbusiness. Nl

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