Farmers have to spread less manure from March this year, instead of from January 1, 2024. New stricter manure rules will be introduced earlier than Agriculture Minister Piet Adema had planned. He had to back down after being put under heavy pressure by the European Commission. According to Adema, he made an ‘error of judgement’.
Last year it was agreed with Brussels that the exception for Dutch farmers would be phased out. For a long time they were allowed to spread more manure than their colleagues in other countries.
This exceptional position, the so-called derogation, lasts until 2026, but the European Commission wants to phase it out from this year. Adema announced at the beginning of December that it would set a transition year for some components. That transition year went completely wrong at the European Commission.
Farmers Defense Force of the devil
If what Adema announced on Friday becomes reality, all hell will break loose and new actions will follow. This predicts Mark van den Oever from Sint Hubert, the chairman of Farmers Defense Force. “I read furious reactions from farmers in our chat groups. It seems as if Minister of Agriculture Piet Adema is against agriculture. Adema’s plans are vague, so we just have to see what he means exactly,” says Van den Oever in a first reaction .
Bart Kemps of Agractie could not yet say anything about actions. But calls this decision by Adema ‘another new dent’. Kemps expects a ‘tough conversation’ on Monday when his organization is back at the table with the minister. “Things have to be resolved in the short term, otherwise an agricultural agreement has no chance.”
‘quite absurd’
LTO understands that there has been a misunderstanding, but cannot understand the decision of the European Commission. “This means that the committee wants farmers to destroy food and crops. That is quite absurd living by the letter of the law,” said a spokesman. “It is difficult to estimate amounts, but this is serious money. Many millions of euros.”
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