There is still no agricultural agreement. The Minister of Agriculture, Piet Adema, said Thursday morning after about twenty-four hours of talks. He expects “intense talks” to be needed in the coming weeks. “Something really needs to be done.”
For example, the financing of landscape services has yet to be discussed, says Adema. This also applies, inter alia, to the perspectives of young farmers and manure policy. ‘We are talking about very big, far-reaching issues for the agricultural sector. It’s really about something.’ Adema points out that “important steps” were taken during the consultation hours, but did not provide any further explanation of what such important steps entail.
The fact that no agreement has yet been reached on the agriculture deal could also have important consequences for politicians in The Hague. CDA leader Wopke Hoekstra has announced plans to renegotiate the nitrogen deadline: the cabinet wants to use 2030 for this, but Hoekstra doesn’t think it’s bearable. But before he wants to negotiate further, he must first have a farm deal. As a result, uncertainty about nitrogen policy may continue for longer.
Ultimatum
The Agriculture and Horticulture Organization (LTO) previously issued an ultimatum which expired on Monday. Despite this means of pressure, the organization was not satisfied with the final text of the negotiated agreement. The draft text was rejected because “considerable adjustments” were needed. The parties involved then agreed to continue talking on Wednesday. This turned into a meeting marathon which was also attended by Prime Minister Mark Rutte. He later said there were “intense and good conversations.” “But there’s still a lot of work to do.”
According to the president of LTO, Sjaak van der Tak, “several important issues are still open” to reach an agricultural agreement. According to him, this concerns the financing of landscape services and agricultural nature and landscape management, the protection of farmers who want to continue, the manure and land boundary and the process surrounding the so-called PAS detectors.
“For landscape services, you need to create a revenue model for farmers that gives them perspective,” Van der Tak says in an explanation. ‘And there has to be protection regarding the manure and the connection to the land so that farmers don’t face lawsuits every time. A solution must be found for the reporters of the PAS’, continues the president. These are farmers who do not have a permit through their own fault.
“Stop that”
“Stop it,” says Bart Kemp, foreman of farmers action group Agractie Nederland of the farm deal. It was announced on Thursday morning that after an overnight consultation with Prime Minister Mark Rutte, Agriculture Minister Piet Adema and farmers’ organisations, there is still no agreement on a farm deal. ‘According to the United States; stop this soap immediately,” Kemp says.
Agractie had previously dropped out of the agriculture deal consultations and did not participate in those consultations. ‘The agricultural agreement was intended to create prospects and confidence for farmers. But now it has become a straitjacket that deprives farmers of perspective,” says Kemp.
No surprise
The farmers’ action group Farmers Defense Force (FDF) is not surprised that there is still no agricultural deal. “Agriculture Minister Piet Adema should not dream like this and meet farmers with much more,” says FDF foreman Mark van den Oever in a response. “Farmers are not interested in extra loans from the bank for plans in The Hague,” he continues.
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The farmer activist says he wants to see a business model for farmers, not a business model for banks. ‘We are only working towards an even higher mountain of debt. We are not falling for these floors,’ says Van den Oever.
Source: BNR
Fernando Dowling is an author and political journalist who writes for 24 News Globe. He has a deep understanding of the political landscape and a passion for analyzing the latest political trends and news.
