South Holland farmers reject nitrogen plan, say agriculture unfairly targeted

Farmers in South Holland say they are being unfairly blamed for the region’s nitrogen problems, accusing the provincial government of shifting the environmental burden onto agriculture while sparing other industries. Arie Verhorst, chairman of the South Holland branch of farming organization LTO, said farmers are being forced to solve issues caused by sectors such as construction, transport, and logistics.

“South Holland has the port, many roads, and needs a lot of housing. It feels like agriculture is expected to solve the problems for other sectors,” Verhorst told ANP. “Farmers are being placed on the chopping block for the benefit of other industries.”

In recent weeks, the province has held discussions with over fifty parties, including LTO, about measures aimed at reducing nitrogen emissions and restoring nature. Verhorst indicated that he was briefed "on the main points" during these talks. However, he expressed disappointment when the final plan was unveiled.

“I was very unpleasantly surprised by the final plan. The province is jumping ahead of national measures that are coming. It feels like a panic reaction because other sectors are stuck,” he added.

The province’s proposal includes setting an ammonia ceiling for dairy farmers, creating buffer zones around some Natura 2000 sites, and implementing a financial scheme for farmers who wish to exit the sector. Additionally, the province plans to use "strategic land policies" to allow businesses to relocate or expand operations, thus allowing more land per animal.

Verhorst raised concerns about the proposed buffer zones, stating that they are a sensitive issue for the agricultural community. “They know very well that buffer zones are a very sensitive topic in agriculture,” he said. “And we believe that nitrogen space freed up by farmers exiting the industry should not be taken over, but should be allocated to, for example, PAS notifiers.”

The frustration among farmers in the province is palpable, according to Verhorst. “This undermines the area-based processes we have been working on. Some farmers are now saying, ‘I’m not participating anymore.’”