Politics Nitrogen
Will expropriating farmers become a new government policy?
There are once again signs that the expropriation of farmers may become government policy to create nitrogen space. As a result of 4 reports, we wrote in March that forced sale was no longer excluded. Today the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (PBL) publishes new charges of plans, which also include expropriation.
The Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency has calculated 2 policy packages for the outgoing cabinet, both of which involve large-scale purchases and expropriation. A percentage of 130% is mentioned as compensation for expropriation in both scenarios.
In the first scenario, €8 billion will be made available for buying out dairy farms in particular, especially around Natura 2000 areas. Two thirds of this plan goes to voluntary purchase and one third to expropriation. In this scenario, farmers receive 100% compensation for phosphate and animal rights as well as for buildings in the event of a voluntary buy-out. In previous voluntary purchase schemes this was 65%.
Buying land
There is also €9 billion available to buy land and then write it down under the condition of extensive agricultural use. This plan also budgets €1,5 billion for technical measures, especially low-emission barns. The plan also aspires to a switch to fully land-based dairy farming. Manure processing is mandatory for the other livestock farming sectors.
30% of the livestock
The second plan is limited to buying stables and animal and phosphate rights, land is not bought. These scenarios are based on the purchase of 30% of the livestock (dairy cattle, pigs and chickens). €2,3 billion is made available in this package for voluntary purchase schemes, €2,9 billion for targeted purchase schemes via amicable settlement and €3,8 billion for targeted purchase schemes via expropriation. In this plan, the compensation in the event of voluntary termination (in accordance with previous regulations) is 65% for stables and 100% for phosphate and animal rights. This is 100% in the case of an amicable purchase and 130% in the case of expropriation. Expropriation takes place at companies that are classified as peak loaders on Natura 2000 areas.
In addition, this plan imposes ammonia emission ceilings on agriculture, with a levy on nitrogen emissions.
Agration: Forced buy-out not negotiable
Forced buy-out is not negotiable for Agractie, the action group says in a statement. "The CDA and VVD indicated earlier this year that forced buy-out is also an unmentionable no-go for them. We will certainly keep them to that, especially because the vast majority of Dutch citizens do not want to waste 17 billion of taxpayers' money!"
The Netherlands Agricultural Youth Contact (NAJK) also responds. The organization is disappointed with the focus on quitters. "Government and politics have lost sight of the stayers," says NAJK chairman Roy Meijer. NAJK, together with LTO, NZO and Rabobank, forms the Coalition for the Future Proof Dairy Farming (CTM), which has presented a plan to the government. "NAJK is discussing this with the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality, but is not involved in the plans about expropriation and does not participate in it," said Meijer.
An earlier voluntary restructuring scheme resulted in a disappointing number of pig farmers. The new National Termination Scheme for Livestock Farms (Lbv) will be opened in the spring of 2022† Farms with dairy, poultry or pigs that want to stop can participate voluntarily. A budget of €970 million is available for this scheme.
Linda van Eekeres
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