Netherlands to close up to 3,000 farms to comply with EU rules
- Jerry Atrick
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Netherlands to close up to 3,000 farms to comply with EU rules
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/ ... -eu-rules/
Government tries to cut down on nitrogen pollution in a move set to reignite tensions with farmers who say the industry is unfairly targeted
By James Crisp, Europe Editor 28 November 2022 • 4:02pm
The Dutch government plans to buy and close down up to 3,000 farms near environmentally sensitive areas to comply with EU nature preservation rules.
The Netherlands is attempting to cut down its nitrogen pollution and will push ahead with compulsory purchases if not enough farms take up the offer voluntarily.
Farmers will be offered a deal “well over” the worth of the farm, according to the government plan that is targeting the closure of 2,000 to 3,000 farms or other major polluting businesses.
Earlier leaked versions of the plan put the figure at 120 per cent of the farm’s value but that figure has not yet been confirmed by ministers.
“There is no better offer coming,” Christianne van der Wal, nitrogen minister, told MPs on Friday. She said compulsory purchases would be made with “pain in the heart”, if necessary.
Biodiversity under threat
The Netherlands needs to reduce its emissions to comply with EU conservation rules and agriculture is responsible for almost half the nitrogen emitted in the proud farming nation.
The Dutch environment agency has warned that native species are disappearing faster in the Netherlands than in the rest of Europe and that biodiversity is under threat.
But the new plan looks set to reignite tensions with farmers over nitrogen reduction.
Dutch farmers have staged mass protests, burnt hay bales, dumped manure on highways and picketed ministers' houses over the last three years.
In 2019 a ruling by the Dutch Council of State meant every new activity that emits nitrogen, including farming and building, needs a permit.
That has prevented the expansion of dairy, pig and poultry farms, which are major sources of nitrogen from ammonia in manure mixed with urine. This can be harmful for nature when it washes into rivers and the sea.
Last month, an army of thousands of tractors took to the roads in protest and caused the worst rush hour in Dutch history with 700 miles of jams at its peak.
Farmers fear that the plan to slash emissions by 2030 will cost them their livelihoods, oppose any compulsory purchases and argue farming is unfairly targeted while other sectors such as aviation are not.
‘Restrictions without perspective’
Farmers’ lobby group LTO Nederland said trust in the government “has been very low for a long time”. It accused the Government of drafting “restrictions without perspective”.
Sjaak van der Tak, chairman of LTO, said: “Of course it is positive that a good voluntary stop scheme is being promised. But the stayers who are central to us will have many additional restrictions imposed.”
Agractie, another farmers’ organisation, said the voluntary closure scheme was welcome but must not be applied with the threat of compulsory purchase.
Ministers will decide if enough farms have come forward voluntarily to close in the autumn. They say the plan will help biodiversity recover, building could resume and farms without proper nitrogen permits could be legalised.
They are also looking at eventually taxing nitrogen emissions to encourage more sustainable practices, the Dutch News website reported.
The Dutch cabinet also wants to draw up a long term plan for the future of agriculture with farmers, environmental groups and local government.
The voluntary buyout scheme was “the only way to finally create opportunities for the construction of homes, the construction of new infrastructure and for projects to make the Netherlands more sustainable in the shortest possible time,” said Ingrid Thijssen, chairman of VNO-NCW, an employers’ federation in the Netherlands.
Last month, the Netherlands Assessment Agency said other buyout schemes over the last 25 years had failed to substantially cut the number of cattle.
EU rules superseding individual member nations once again
Re: Netherlands to close up to 3,000 farms to comply with EU rules
2021 numbers:
+ 18,000,000 people on 41,526 sq KM.
On average, on one square kilometer, there's 433 people, 280 pigs, 2,407 chicken, 91 cattle, 20 sheep and 11 goats. Then there's some traffic and some industries too. And the third largest airport in Europe. It's getting a bit crowded & a bit filthy.
But the real problem are the EU opposing their laws on us!
+ 18,000,000 people on 41,526 sq KM.
On average, on one square kilometer, there's 433 people, 280 pigs, 2,407 chicken, 91 cattle, 20 sheep and 11 goats. Then there's some traffic and some industries too. And the third largest airport in Europe. It's getting a bit crowded & a bit filthy.
But the real problem are the EU opposing their laws on us!
- Jerry Atrick
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Re: Netherlands to close up to 3,000 farms to comply with EU rules
According to a great many of your countrymen, yes!Kammekor wrote: ↑Tue Nov 29, 2022 4:11 pm 2021 numbers:
+ 18,000,000 people on 41,526 sq KM.
On average, on one square kilometer, there's 433 people, 280 pigs, 2,407 chicken, 91 cattle, 20 sheep and 11 goats. Then there's some traffic and some industries too. And the third largest airport in Europe. It's getting a bit crowded & a bit filthy.
But the real problem are the EU opposing their laws on us!
What do you think the govt will do with the purchased lands? Forest it or what?
Re: Netherlands to close up to 3,000 farms to comply with EU rules
about 20%, yes.
But pre-EU similar environmental National laws were in place. Laws to protect surface water and ground water, that kind of stuff.
Last edited by Kammekor on Tue Nov 29, 2022 4:26 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Netherlands to close up to 3,000 farms to comply with EU rules
Well, there we have a problem, the govt hasn't really thought this through, even though the problems have been well know since the 1980's. But the goals is not the land itself, or the use of land for agriculture, the large companies in the agricultural industrial complex only have the land to get rid of the manure produced by all those animals. The amount is simply too large for the size of the land available so (over)fertilization and acidification have become a big issue now. Groundwater acidifies and is unfit for consumption in more and more places.Jerry Atrick wrote: ↑Tue Nov 29, 2022 4:12 pm
What do you think the govt will do with the purchased lands? Forest it or what?
The Netherlands is just a small country, you know.... We have thought for decades we could have it all, but it turned out we can not in the long run. Not even talking about settlement of peat soils in the coastal areas at a 1 cm per year rate because of drainage for agriculture. When the land settles and the sea level goes up, and large parts of your country already are below sea level, you will face problems soon.....
- newkidontheblock
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Re: Netherlands to close up to 3,000 farms to comply with EU rules
That’s a big reduction in the meat supply. What ever happens when there is an abrupt shortage and not enough the meat demand?
Either prices will climb and hurt the most vulnerable.
Or hoarding will occur. Or both.
Of course the government could start rationing pigs, chickens, etc. and hand out ration cards … like during the war.
Either prices will climb and hurt the most vulnerable.
Or hoarding will occur. Or both.
Of course the government could start rationing pigs, chickens, etc. and hand out ration cards … like during the war.
- Jerry Atrick
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Re: Netherlands to close up to 3,000 farms to comply with EU rules
newkidontheblock wrote: ↑Tue Nov 29, 2022 4:48 pm That’s a big reduction in the meat supply. What ever happens when there is an abrupt shortage and not enough the meat demand?
Either prices will climb and hurt the most vulnerable.
Or hoarding will occur. Or both.
Of course the government could start rationing pigs, chickens, etc. and hand out ration cards … like during the war.
Most of their meat is for export - so I doubt there will be any need for ration cards unless there's another pan-European war
The producers will doubtless move elsewhere
- CaptainCanuck
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Re: Netherlands to close up to 3,000 farms to comply with EU rules
Agenda 2030 in action. SDG's or Sustainable Development Goals clearly lay out how the Elite expect us plebes to live in high density highrises leaving the vast majority of land uninhabited.
There's only 17 major goals therein & before the usual ostriches screech that my tin foil is too tight go read even the Coles Notes on what the UN; WEF; IMF and almost all western diplomats and politicians are signatories too.
There's only 17 major goals therein & before the usual ostriches screech that my tin foil is too tight go read even the Coles Notes on what the UN; WEF; IMF and almost all western diplomats and politicians are signatories too.
- CaptainCanuck
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Re: Netherlands to close up to 3,000 farms to comply with EU rules
Perhaps the Dutch won't have shortages but what about those folks who import these meats ?Jerry Atrick wrote: ↑Tue Nov 29, 2022 4:51 pmnewkidontheblock wrote: ↑Tue Nov 29, 2022 4:48 pm That’s a big reduction in the meat supply. What ever happens when there is an abrupt shortage and not enough the meat demand?
Either prices will climb and hurt the most vulnerable.
Or hoarding will occur. Or both.
Of course the government could start rationing pigs, chickens, etc. and hand out ration cards … like during the war.
Most of their meat is for export - so I doubt there will be any need for ration cards unless there's another pan-European war
The producers will doubtless move elsewhere
These carbon targets are being accepted across the western world ... Where exactly is a Dutch milk producer, his multi million dollar automated barn and 200 head herd of milkers supposed to go ?
Re: Netherlands to close up to 3,000 farms to comply with EU rules
Agenda 2030? These problems have been described and recognized in the 1980's. But the government has ignored them for decades because of the strong lobby and the ever present Catholic CDA party.CaptainCanuck wrote: ↑Tue Nov 29, 2022 4:58 pm Agenda 2030 in action. SDG's or Sustainable Development Goals clearly lay out how the Elite expect us plebes to live in high density highrises leaving the vast majority of land uninhabited.
There's only 17 major goals therein & before the usual ostriches screech that my tin foil is too tight go read even the Coles Notes on what the UN; WEF; IMF and almost all western diplomats and politicians are signatories too.
The only difference is some people are now fed up with a government not enforcing its' laws, the Catholic party has been decimated and since the 1980's the population has grown with another 3 million people while large scale agricultural activities have grown even faster.
Go and visit the countryside of the Netherlands in the province of Brabant, or Limburg, where most of the industrial agricultural action takes place and take a deep breath. Then you will know what it means to keep that amount of animals in a very small space.
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