November 26, 2019
Dutch government to shut polluting swine farms
Starting Monday, farmers in parts of the Netherlands can apply for compensation to forego their swine-holding rights, thereby ending their business, the Ministry of Agriculture said in a statement on Monday, Bloomberg reported.
Swine farms will be graded on an odour scale, with those higher on the smell score more likely to claim a termination subsidy, according to the ministry. Aid will be available only for areas of high livestock density in the east and south of the country.
The government will also compensate farmers for the loss of value of swine stabling. It will pay farmers as much as 151 euros (US$166) for every scrapped pig right in the south, while those in the east will get 52 euros for every right they give up, the Netherlands Enterprise Agency said Friday.
The government says fewer swine means less odour nuisance and a better living environment, as well lower emissions of ammonia. The Netherlands is under pressure from a court ruling in May to cut nitrogen emissions, and sees lowering highway speed limits and cutting back on swine farming as first partial fixes. The Netherlands is the European country with the most cows and pigs relative to land area. The country is also the world's second-largest agricultural exporter after the United States, and farming is the country's biggest contributor to nitrogen emissions.
"We're facing an important task: making the pig industry more sustainable and future proof," Agriculture Minister Carola Schouten said. "For farmers who continue, there will be a measure early next year targeted at innovation and reducing emissions."
After the registration period closes January 15, farmers eligible for aid will have eight months to get rid of their swine and clean up manure.
In a report by Dutch News earlier this month, the government has set aside €60 million (~US$65.9 million; €1 = US$1.10) to compensate swine farmers who were forced to close due to the new regulations (http://m.efeedlink.com/contents/11-15-2019/0075635d-4f21-4983-8611-8aecdf02318e-a001.html).
