LTO members split on the peak loader level, Remkes’ report gets enough

The members of the agricultural and horticultural association LTO Nederland give the substantial proposals of the “nitrogen man” Johan Remkes a score of 5.8. In a survey of nearly 2,500 farmers ‘association members, many respondents said that although they trusted Remkes’ report, they feared the government would not follow his advice.

“Remkes rightly observes a serious crisis of confidence between the government and the agricultural sector. The council offers cautious openings for recovery, but I fully understand the reticence on the part of farmers,” says LTO chairman Sjaak van der Tak.

The survey shows that many farmers do not expect the ratio to contribute to a better relationship between government and agriculture: one question was rated at 5.5.

LTO members are divided over Remkes’ proposal to have 500 to 600 farms near vulnerable nature reserves within a year. The figures that respondents give to such a proposal on so-called “peak tax sins” range from severe unsatisfactory to more than satisfactory.

According to LTO, the common denominator is that members consider the one-year deadline to be impracticable. The interest group already spoke in similar terms last week, following the presentation of Remkes’ report.

Van der Tak then said it was “impossible and unnecessary” to take over hundreds of companies within a year. “It is not possible to acquire and acquire peak loaders in one year,” he believes.

There is still a lot of uncertainty about the proposal among members of the agricultural and horticultural organization, according to the survey, which according to LTO is representative of the more than 35,000 members of the interest group. About half of the respondents say they don’t know if their company is in the peak loader group. Only 1 percent know for sure.

Remkes says that companies close to Natura 2000 areas that emit a relatively large amount of nitrogen, both farmers and industry, must stop doing so within a year. According to Remkes, this mainly concerns intensive farming. About 1% of all farms in the Netherlands would fall into this peak loader group.

The closure or transfer of businesses should be done on a voluntary basis as much as possible, advises Remkes. But if there is not enough enthusiasm for it, it does not rule out mandatory acquisition. Last week he said he saw that meaning as a “big stick”.