Farmers’ representatives from at least four provinces have withdrawn from the nitrogen consultations organized by the central government. This is apparent from fire letters that representatives from various area committees sent on Wednesday to ministers Christianne van der Wal (Nature and Nitrogen, VVD) and Henk Staghouwer (Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality, ChristenUnie).
The farmers believe that the government places too much emphasis on purchase and expropriation procedures. In Drenthe, Flevoland, Friesland and Overijssel, representatives only want to return to the negotiating table when the ministers provide clarity about, for example, measurement data, options for innovations and a realistic economic future perspective.
Critical
When asked, a spokesperson for Van der Wal said that negotiations are still underway in all twelve provinces. The spokesperson acknowledges that farmers are critical of the course of the negotiations, but states that it is “better” if they “sit at the table” as the area-oriented approach to the nitrogen crisis “continues”.
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The area-oriented approach means that provinces must consider how agriculture can be transformed for each area. Not only to reduce nitrogen emissions, but also to improve and guarantee water quality, restore nature reserves and strengthen biodiversity.
Finger on the pulse
Although farmers’ representatives in Groningen write that they are dissatisfied with the attitude of the ministries, they remain seated at the table. This is what the Groningen farmer Henk Wortelboer says NRC that he wants to keep a ‘finger on the pulse’ and not delay the planned measurement process — due to start next summer. Wortelboer is the initiator of a joint approach by the various area committees.
He also says that farmers want an “honest and well-substantiated story” from the ministers. Wortelboer expects that the planned measurements will “demonstrate what the real influence is” of farmers on nitrogen emissions. It does not sit well with him that Van der Wal is “in a great hurry” in the nitrogen approach. According to him, this “only arises from the fact that construction comes to a standstill”.
In February, a tour of NRC along the provinces that at least five provinces temporarily no longer issue building permits due to trade in the nitrogen space. Research by the newspaper has shown that provinces allow nitrogen rights of companies that have not been active for years to be reused or resold.