Dutch Agriculture Minister Piet Adema says that it is possible to discuss with him about relaxing calendar agriculture, but that this year there is no compromise with the European Commission.
Minister Adema will therefore stick to his agreements with the House of Representatives and his EU colleagues for 2023, but sees other possibilities for next year.
After the monthly EU agricultural consultation in Brussels, Adema said when asked that he would like to argue with Agriculture Commissioner Wojciechowski for a separate scheme for 'leach-sensitive use of ieden'. Other EU countries will also have practical examples of this. Perhaps only 'some crops' should be considered.
Adema announced that he is willing to consult with the Dutch agricultural sector. He responded to the recent request from the Dutch agricultural umbrella organization LTO. The potato growers pointed out that nature simply does not adhere to the human calendar.
Adema said that if the sector comes up with an alternative that fits within the European figures and criteria for leaching and soil pollution, he would be happy to take it to Brussels. With such an approach (remaining within the environmental criteria, but using a different route), the Netherlands managed to open up the stagnant discussion within the EU last year about allowing fertilization from natural sources (Renure).
Other countries have also previously unsuccessfully urged Brussels to shift the calendar date for sowing catch crops. The EU countries want to uphold the objectives of the common agricultural policy, but if those criteria can be achieved in other ways, this can usually be discussed in Brussels, was the gist of Adema's response.
He also pointed out that (for example) the potato sector can now choose to start harvesting (and sowing catch crops) after October 1 due to the slow growth of the harvest, whereby they will then be shipped from Brussels next season. kilos of fewer fertilizers. According to Adema, there are farmers who do not even reach those 5 kilos.