Totally unnecessary and frustrating. This is how dairy farmer Ruud Taks (40) in Terheijden describes the new measures regarding the spreading of manure, which were suddenly announced last month to improve water quality. According to the farmer, the new policy would even have a counterproductive effect. “The water is really not moving forward here.”
Many farmers fell raw on the roof. Where it was previously promised that 2023 would be a transition year for the stricter manure rules, these will now be tightened up considerably from 1 March. Under heavy pressure from the European Commission, which wanted to get rid of the special treatment for Dutch farmers.
In practice, these stricter rules have several consequences. One is that there will be a special buffer zone at many locks. This means that manure may no longer be spread within three meters of the ditch.
Farmers are also allowed to spread less manure. This has a major impact on Taks’ company. “We now have to buy more fertilizer for maybe 10,000 euros a year. And I pay the same amount to get rid of the excess manure from my cows.” All in all, an extra cost of about 20,000 euros per year.
“The water quality is okay here.”
And what frustrates the dairy farmer even more is that, according to him, the rules are superfluous. “These measures are taken because the water quality is not up to par in some areas. But that is the case here. The RIVM regularly takes samples and we are far below the permitted standards. If the quality really improved, we are happy to take measures. But now things may even get worse.”
As director of the Brabantse Delta water board, Louis van der Kallen is jointly responsible for the quality of the water. Yet he fully agrees with Taks and many other farmers. “We were also surprised by this measure, which is completely unjustified for a large part of our area. The quality is already in order in many places and then it is impossible to explain that you are costing farmers.”
“All business plans can go into the ditch.”
In addition to the financial consequences, Van der Kallen also points to the business operations that will be compromised. “Look at the production options. Grass, for example, needs a certain amount of nutrients to grow well, which are mainly found in animal manure.”
And the timing doesn’t help either, he says. “Because the rules are now suddenly imposed, many farmers already have a business plan ready for this year: when do I spread my manure, how much and to whom do I sell my leftovers? Now he can start again. You don’t treat people like that .”
Van der Kallen and his fellow administrators are currently trying to convey that message to the ministry. “We are talking. Although I don’t get the impression that someone there always listens. Also because they have to listen to Brussels. For us as a water authority, it is ultimately about water quality, but how we get there is also very important. We have need the support of the farmers.”