News Nitrogen
The Netherlands remains well below the nitrogen and phosphate ceiling
The production of nitrogen and phosphate from animal manure in 2020 remained well below the ceiling set by the European Union. Excretion decreased in the intensive sectors (pigs and poultry) and was stable in dairy farming.
This is evident from figures published today (June 30) by Statistics Netherlands (CBS). In 2020, a total of 489,4 million kilograms of nitrogen was excreted by cows, pigs, chickens and other livestock. This is almost 5 million kilos less than a first forecast of the CBS last winter. For the total Dutch livestock farming this means 15 million kilos below the ceiling of 504,4 million kilos. Phosphate excretion also decreased across the sectors, by 4,8 million kilos to 150,7 million kilos.
Correction keeps dairy cattle nitrogen excretion below the ceiling
Dairy and young cattle excreted a total of 2020 million kilos of nitrogen in 286,5. That is 2,4% more than in 2019 and also above the production ceiling for this sector of 281,8 kilos. However, the Netherlands can count on average nitrogen and phosphorus contents of grass and maize over the past 5 years. The years with the highest and lowest contents are not taken into account here. Due to this so-called roughage correction, the excretion of nitrogen from the dairy sector amounts to 281,8 million kilos, exactly the European ceiling.
At 73,6 million kilos, the phosphate production of dairy farming is below the ceiling of 84,9 million kilos. That was 2,5% lower than in 2019. Due to the roughage correction, the phosphate excretion will amount to 80,0 million kilos in 2020. The fact that the nitrogen excretion decreased while that of phosphate increased is due to the fact that more nitrogen-rich products are present, according to Statistics Netherlands. grass is fed and less relatively nitrogen-poor silage maize
Fewer pigs less excretion
As a result of the shrinking pig population in the Netherlands, the excretion of phosphate and nitrogen in this sector is also falling. The average number of finishing pigs present decreased by 3,0% and the number of breeding pigs by 1,0%. Since 2016, the excretion of nitrogen and phosphate has already been below the ceilings of 99,7 million kilos of nitrogen and 39,7 million kilos of phosphate.
The production ceilings in the Netherlands have been equated with the production of the Dutch livestock in 2002. The European Commission considers these ceilings necessary, because exceeding these will create irresponsible pressure on the fertilizer market. Not exceeding the ceilings is one of the conditions for obtaining a derogation.
Steve Wissink
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