Farmers were purchased in Drenthe for 13 million euros. In the province, four farmers were bought out to reduce nitrogen emissions, but the province did not want to report how much money was involved.
According to the province, there are other concrete ‘purchase opportunities’. The province now writes this in a letter to the Drenthe parliament.
About a hundred farmers have reported to the province for a buy-out arrangement. This includes farmers who want to sell their entire company, but also partially or only the nature permit. Interviews were conducted with fifty of them. So far it has led to the buyout of two dairy farmers and two pig farmers.
It will not stop there, the province thinks. In the letter, Henk Jumelet, provincial administrator who has nitrogen in his file, writes that the province thinks it ‘will come to fruition’ with a third of those hundred farmers. “It is estimated that this will require 90 million euros in the coming years.”
The Hague has made 350 million euros available for the provinces for the buy-out scheme. This scheme is aimed at companies with high nitrogen emissions within 10 kilometers of a Natura 2000 area. The province only buys out farms on a voluntary basis.
The province is now asking the Drenthe parliament for an extra 38 million euros. The province currently has a pot of 62 million euros for the purchase of land. This allows the province to convert agricultural land into nature, in order to restore nature. The 13 million euros used to purchase farmers is already additional to this budget. The provincial government is now asking the parties to increase this to 100 million euros in order to anticipate the nitrogen targets.
“The acute problem requires adequate and rapid measures for the farmers. By increasing the credit, the province can directly facilitate farmers who report voluntarily and on their own behalf in the (partial) sale of their company”, the province explains. She warns that ongoing negotiations and nitrogen purchases must stop if the increase does not come.
The government buy-out scheme expires in December. That would initially be in September, but has been extended because a new arrangement is delayed. The Ministry of Agriculture has not yet received permission from the European Commission for a new buy-out scheme for farmers who want to stop their business. The EU is examining whether it has to do with state aid. When it comes to unauthorized state aid, farmers eventually have to pay it back.
The increase that the province wants is still happening without full clarity about this arrangement. However, the province does expect a scheme or contribution to be made. “A budget has been allocated, but it is not yet entirely clear under what central government conditions these resources will be made available.” Drenthe is just not going to wait for that clarity, and wants to be able to move on.
In 2016, the province set the goal to set up 8,592 hectares of new nature and to convert 3,855 hectares of agricultural land into nature. These goals should be completed by 2027. All in all, 2,350 hectares of agricultural land is still needed that must be turned into nature. The purchase of these lands by the province is only done on a voluntary basis. Incidentally, it is expected that 120 million will be needed to meet the remaining target of 2,350 hectares.