What are the consequences of the Brabant plans?

The proposed proposals are an enormous increase in the requirements for livestock farming in Brabant. This does not contribute to a good business climate in Brabant. Livestock farmers who have always been in the lead are now being punished. 

Livestock farmers who have invested heavily in animal welfare in recent years now have to invest heavily again. For livestock farmers, the plans are therefore very demotivating. They have to incur additional costs that are not recouped. The POV warned the provincial government about the risk of compensation claims from livestock farmers. She sees sufficient legal grounds to challenge these plans.

The Provincial Executive (GS) of Brabant has presented a proposal that should lead to a careful livestock farming sector in the province. According to the Provincial Executive, the measures should improve nature and the living environment and provide more space for innovative livestock farmers and economic growth for other sectors. What exactly are the plans of the GS and what are the consequences? 

1. Manure processing
More space is needed for manure processing at suitable locations. The manure must be processed on the farms themselves. This aims to:

• Restore circular agriculture, in which the needs of the soil and the crop are central to the application of manure.
• Valuation of manure producing valuable products
• Preventing methane emissions from manure by fermenting. With this, manure is also used for the production of renewable energy.
• Contribute to a better revenue model. The maximum amount of manure processing is 100% of the Brabant surplus. This is to prevent the surplus of other parts from the Netherlands from being processed in Brabant.

2. Stalling
The system of stables must prevent a further load on areas with a high livestock density and also prevent the vacancy of stables. There will be six areas. A farmer may only expand with stables if stables elsewhere in the same area are demolished. When 10 m2 of stable is newly built, 11 m2 must be demolished in the same area. For a new barn, an additional 10% must be demolished. This measure should also prevent vacancy.

This stall does not apply to dairy cattle, sheep and minks. Dairy farming is excluded due to the introduction of the system of phosphate rights. However, this sector is monitored. If the concentration does increase, dairy farmers will also have to start balancing.

3. Reducing ammonia emissions before 2022
Livestock farmers with outdated barns must ensure that they are modernized more quickly. Companies that already comply must comply with the Nature Protection Regulation by 1 January 2022 at the latest. (This was first 2028!). Stables that do not yet comply must have been adapted as of 1 January 2020.

4. BOD
This is the Brabant due diligence score. The minimum score required for expansion is increased to 7,25 points. This was 7,0 points. 

5. Size of building plot
Larger construction plot is made possible up to 2,5 hectares when a nuisance situation is removed.

Consequences of the policy?
The consequences for livestock farming in Brabant are major. Connecting Agri and Food has investigated the consequences for livestock farming.

1. Effects on size and structure of livestock farming
The proposed package of measures will accelerate the decline in the number of companies. In 2020 there will be approximately 540 fewer companies than in normal development. In pig farming this is 10% and in dairy farming it is 7% extra. In 2028 there will be approximately 240 fewer companies . This is 6% less in pig farming. For dairy farming this is 1% extra compared to normal development.

2. Incomes and operating margins are falling
Additional pressures on incomes and operating margins are expected for businesses that continue beyond 2020. This effect is caused by the tightening of the Nature Conservation Regulation and, to a somewhat lesser extent, by parking garages. The number of farms falling below the minimum income limit increases by 11% in pig farming, 6% in dairy farming and 11% in other sectors. A number of livestock farmers will be forced to stop earlier. These livestock farms will no longer be able to earn an income with the outdated stables in question until 2028.

3. Scaling Up
The livestock is expected to remain virtually the same. Strong companies will buy up animal rights from quitting entrepreneurs. The measures will lead to a significant increase in scale. In an autonomous scenario, the increase in scale in dairy farming increases by 60% compared to 70% with the tightened policy. For pig farming this is 64% respectively against an increase of 84% with the tightened policy. The number of locations with livestock farming is declining less sharply than the number of companies. The number of locations per company is therefore increasing. This is called expanding sideways.

4. Fewer animals in the vicinity of vulnerable functions
In 2016, 20% of the pig locations were located in areas with vulnerable functions. In the autonomous situation, this decreases to 17% in 2020 and to 15% in 2028. Due to the package of measures, this decreases extra to 15% in 2020 and to 13% in 2028.

5. Grazing
More livestock farmers are expected to opt for grazing, because the intended emissions from grazing are less strict.

6. Ammonia Emission Decreases
After tightening, the expected ammonia emission will decrease by 2028% in 27 compared to the emission under the current regulation.

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