Dozens of farmers are taking action at the WDO Delta headquarters in Zwolle

About thirty farmers protested with tractors against the manure policy this morning in front of the main building of the Drents Overijsselse Delta Water Board (WDODelta) in Zwolle. At the beginning of the afternoon, the activists were all allowed in for an interview.

The farmers are protesting against the water board’s ‘unworkable rules’ for fertilization, reports RTV East. According to farmer spokesperson Mark Rood, the strict fertilizer standards for agricultural companies in the WDODelta area are “unrealistic and not feasible”.

“There is a big difference between the fertilizer content that the water board wants to maintain for the ground and surface water, compared to what is workable for farmers when it comes to fertilizing the land,” says Rood.

The water board wants to keep the standard low to improve water quality. The farmers are willing to cooperate by taking into account the level of fertilization of the land.

But the farmers want to discuss with the water board what is and is no longer possible with a view to efficient business operations. The dike manager of the water board talks to the farmers.

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