Protest against nitrogen policy: dairy farmers keep cows in stables for a day

And in doing so, they are responding to the call from the farmers’ organizations LTO Nederland and Team Agro NL to keep the cattle in the barn for a day. They do this because the Netherlands is in a ‘legal quagmire’.

Now that the court in Zwolle has decided that provinces ‘may not just assume that no permit is required for grazing’, dairy farmers are taking action en masse. This is also the case in West Friesland and Noordkop.

Because one of those plans from politics is that dairy farmers have to apply for an extra permit to let their cows walk in the pasture and fertilize the land. They want to introduce this to be able to reduce and maintain nitrogen emissions. Many dairy farmers therefore find this plan ‘too crazy for words’.

Insecurity

Dairy farmer Joeri Ham (50) agrees with this opinion. He keeps about 70 cows in Wijdenes. “Another idiotic thing in the regulation, which is already confused. We have been working on this issue for three years, which is constantly changing. And now we even run the risk that cows are ‘forced’ to enter. That is just a bad thing. Cows belong outside, period.”

If it comes to that, the problem will only get bigger, according to Ham. Because cows emit less ammonia outside than inside. “This is because urine and poo are separated from each other outside. And too much ammonia is harmful to nature. Plants such as nettles and grass grow faster, which overgrow other plants. As a result, insects, butterflies and birds also disappear around a plot or property.”

A paper shop

Last weekend Ham had another family day. During a tour he explained the nitrogen policy and everything that comes with it. “Yes, where do you start? We have now reached a point where policy is becoming very complicated,” he experiences. “It looks like bullying. We are being pulled from all sides, it results in an enormous paperwork. It makes us despondent, but we keep the courage in it. Stay positive.”

Ham is happy that he was able to contribute today. “I’ll keep it short, but sweet. My cows get too restless otherwise. But I had to make a point today, because this can’t go on like this.”

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And he wasn’t the only farmer who kept the cows in the barn today. Kees Nieuweboer (57) from Aartswoud – where he milks about 140 cows with his son Meindert – also took part.

According to him, the rules imposed from above do not correspond well with practice. “The Netherlands is suffocating in its own rules instead of nitrogen. Everyone likes it, but in practice everything is deadlocked. We are flooded with pointless rules. Politicians do not know what is going on and they also want to that we are switching to circular agriculture. What the hell are we talking about?”

Frustrating

Frustrations run high at times. Because Nieuweboer has a permit for everything and adheres to the rules properly. “But further on is Schiphol, which does not have a nature permit and is allowed to continue flying. We are simply once again the jack of all trades when it comes to nitrogen emissions. The solution to the problem is often left to us. I work seven days a week to provide the consumer with a glass of milk. I like it too, but the valuation is zero. They just don’t realize that we produce dairy for a large part of Europe. They need us badly, especially now.”

Because about 70 percent of the dairy crosses the border. Intended for the Netherlands, Germany and France. “Also called the triptych. We form an important link in the food supply. But if we have to halve the livestock, how can we feed all those mouths? Do we have to get our food from abroad? Well, just put that from.”