Minister Van der Wal is finally ready to buy out farmers: ‘I notice that there is a lot of suspicion’ | Politics

1. Farmers with high nitrogen emissions can be bought out. How does that work?
“We are now presenting a kind of menu with options for farmers. We are opening a website to three thousand farmers who fall under the peak tax approach. We make a one-off offer to farmers who are located in the vicinity of nitrogen-sensitive nature reserves. That is all on a voluntary basis. If they stop, they can claim 120 percent of their company value. That is a lot more than before, when it was still 60 percent.

So we actually say to farmers: if you want to stop, or retire earlier, now is a very good time. But there are also other schemes: such as innovation, relocating or switching. Eight to ten thousand entrepreneurs are eligible for this. Those dishes are also on the menu, but we can’t serve them yet. All schemes will be open at the same time at the end of the year.”

2. Why is this peak load approach important?
“What we need in the short term is significantly less nitrogen emissions. Actually, nitrogen mediator Johan Remkes has already said: it is important that you really make a dent in nitrogen emissions in the short term. To get the country moving, we now have the approach of peak loaders. We have made a lot of plans in recent years, have started driving 100 kilometers per hour, have taken other measures for the industry, for example, but no real movement has taken place. I hope to get that going with this.”

3. Are these regulations enough to unlock the Netherlands?
“It is a voluntary approach, so it is very complicated to estimate how many people will participate. What you see with average schemes is that there is a willingness to participate of about 20 percent. So I hope for that. If too few entrepreneurs stop or make use of other schemes, those entrepreneurs fall under the area-oriented approach of the provinces.

4. No fewer than 60 percent of eligible farmers are located in Gelderland, how is that possible?
“Most farmers are in Gelderland. In addition, Gelderland, with the Veluwe, has the largest contiguous nature reserve on land. It is therefore logical that the most peak loaders are located there. I don’t know if the Gelderland landscape will change. What happens to the land is not up to the government.”

5. Can farmers who are not participating now still change their mind?
“I would say: if you still want to stop, I would do it now. A farmer who is eligible for the scheme but does not take action now will eventually end up in the area process. It must therefore still comply with all climate measures. If you still want to use a scheme, you have to make do with a much lower percentage. Ultimately, the scheme is and will remain voluntary.

‘Mandatory instruments’, either expropriation or the withdrawal of permits, I would rather not do. It’s too complicated in a legal sense, and I don’t think it’s very human either. We do have a stick behind the door. That is standardization and pricing. Then you pay for your emissions: the more you emit, the more you pay. In this way I hope to convince people without obligations.”

6. Entrepreneurs are suspicious whether they can safely leave their data.
“The peak loaders website is completely anonymous. The data you enter on the website will not be saved. We don’t do anything with it. I hope I can take that fear away.

And I have another heartfelt cry: I notice that there is a lot of suspicion among farmers among themselves. I even see that there is intimidation on the farm not to cooperate with the government if they want to farm in a more sustainable or nature-inclusive way. That farmers hold each other to account like: dude, you shouldn’t do that. I hope we can break that pattern. It’s okay if you want to quit, and it’s okay if you think about your future.”

Also listen to our podcast Politics Close, and subscribe via Spotify or Apple:

Watch all our videos about politics here: