It was an emotional, charged and especially long day at the provincial government building in Den Bosch on Friday. The Provincial Council discussed a number of the council’s plans on agriculture and nature. About 500 farmers were also present, brought together by the ZLTO, Farmers Defense Force and the BAJK. Opponents made themselves heard loudly with their voices and horns, but there were no major political obstacles from the Provincial Council. The province can therefore continue with its plans.
From nine in the morning until after nine in the evening, members of Parliament discussed the council’s plans. These concern transition areas around vulnerable nature reserves, making outdated cow stables more sustainable, an approach to pesticides, withdrawal of unused nitrogen space in permits and an adjustment to the irrigation policy.
Farming sound
These are all plans that farmers have to deal with and are not strongly in favor of. All the more reason for farmers’ interest groups ZLTO, Farmers Defense Force (FDF) and the BAJK (the young Brabant farmers) to rally their supporters to make a loud protest, with and without a tractor horn.
35 Brabant residents, largely farmers and people from the agricultural sector, had registered to address members of Parliament. They say they are at a loss about the policy that is coming their way.
“The province must stand up for farmers,” said Lotte Heesbeen on behalf of the young farmers. “The human touch is missing. How can you expect us to think along if only restrictions are imposed?”
Money
“No choice is given to livestock farmers,” said ZLTO member Stefan van de Hurk. He also fears, like his colleagues, that banks will not want to provide financing for farmers who make their stables more sustainable with an innovative system. The province wants to make this possible without the need for a permit, but farmers, banks and political parties have major doubts about the legal sustainability of these plans.
Prepared to become more sustainable
All farmers present called on the province to do what they want. Some of them, especially the young farmers, are very willing to become more sustainable, but see no benefit in the plans that are now in place.
Another part, especially from the FDF ranks, is less interested in that. These farmers actually have no confidence in the government and do not believe in the good intentions of the province. The accusation from this quarter also regularly came on Friday that the province wants to ‘bully the farmers away’.
Fierce debate
BBB, PVV and CDA, undoubtedly spurred on by the large presence of dissatisfied farmers, were fierce in the debates. BBB States member Marcel Havermans: “‘the farmer is at the helm’, said the King’s Commissioner. Those appear to be empty words. Farmers want certainty.” But according to Havermans, the province does not provide this.
CDA member Tanja van de Ven wanted to know from left-wing parties why they do not intend to vote against the stable sustainability plans, “if they say they consider humanity so important”.
In turn, left-wing parties wanted to know from opponents what they want if they are not satisfied with everything the council proposes. “Farmers’ concerns are justified, but if we do nothing we cannot prevent farmers’ permits from being revoked by the courts,” said Ward Deckers of the PvdA.
Deputy Wilma Dirken (VVD) of Spatial Planning and Nitrogen rejected the plans on Friday. “The council rejects any suggestion that the council is working against farmers in Brabant,” she said. “But the honest story is that measures are needed. Everyone has to do something and no one likes that. But we have to move forward.”
She referred to statements by farmers, but also to comments that Tanja van de Ven (CDA), PVV member Alexander van Hattem and SGP member Henk van Zelst made during the day.
Despite the concerns, the province can continue with its plans after Friday. Although there was understanding, including from coalition parties, for the concerns of farmers and questions about parts of the proposals, there were no major political blockages.