According to the province, the plan can cause 30 percent fewer emissions between 2019 and 2035, but it is insufficient to solve the nitrogen problem. “Certainly for nature recovery measures and the lowering of nitrogen in and around Natura 2000 areas, we need support from the government,” said the spokesperson.
No stick behind the door
Next week the LTO is organizing the first meeting to explain the plan, says Jack Rijlaarsdam. He himself is a dairy farmer in Stompetoren and today signed the agreement on behalf of LTO Noord. The first knowledge meetings are organized in the course of autumn. “There is now pressure on the boiler.”
Whether Noord-Holland in 2035 will indeed be 30 percent less nitrogen emissions. The measures are not mandatory and if it appears in ten years that farmers have not made any changes, there are no sanctions in the pipeline.
Also, farmers are not obliged to share their emission figures with the province. This makes it impossible to check farmers individually. The WUR does get access to that data, but abstracts that to area data.
The Netherlands is locked
But according to deputy Kocken (GL), the agreement should not be seen as a no -obligation plan. “We have come to a binding plan in a nice consultation. If things go well, we will go a long way. But if it doesn’t work, it will not remain without obligation. It must happen.”
With dairy farmers there is in any case sufficient motivation to get started, Rijlaarsdam claims. “The whole of the Netherlands is locked due to the nitrogen. Dairy farmers have not known where they stand for years. With these relatively small investments we can finally take steps again.”