17 January 2020
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On January 15, the application period for participation in the Subsidy Scheme for Cleaning Up Pig Farms closed. The Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality then announced that 503 companies had signed up for the scheme. That is more than expected and possibly also more than was budgeted.
The scheme
The Subsidy Scheme Cleaning up Pig Farms (Srv) was drawn up with provinces, municipalities and the sector to contribute to reducing odor nuisance in livestock-dense areas and improving the living environment. The Srv also contributes to the reduction of emissions of substances such as ammonia.
The subsidy scheme is intended for pig farming locations that cause odour nuisance for local residents and want to stop. By participating they can receive compensation for the termination of business and the loss of value of the stables.
Priority
The 503 applications were about two hundred more than the ministry expected. This means that the released 180 million may not be enough for all farmers. Although the aim is to honor as many applications as possible, there will be a selection based on the odor nuisance: pig farms with the highest odor score will be given priority.
13 weeks
The Ministry wants the applicants within 13 weeks to give a decisive answer. In that time, the conditions of application checked and the odor score determined. The farmers who qualify for the scheme can start phasing out their business in the second quarter of this year. With this, the ministry hopes to achieve the first results in terms of reducing odor nuisance in the course of next year.
Sustainability
In addition to the pig farmers who want to stop, the Ministry also promises help for farmers who want to continue in a more sustainable way. For these entrepreneurs there will soon be a scheme to stimulate new techniques that reduce the emission of harmful substances from stables. This scheme will be opened in the spring of 2020 and will be used throughout the livestock sector.
Limburg
How many applications for the subsidy came from Limburg was not disclosed. Here, over two hundred pig and poultry farmers already stopped their business as of January 1, 2020. This is largely due to the National Ammonia Action Plan of 2009. Only livestock farmers who were willing to comply with strict environmental requirements were allowed to continue with their business.
New task
Many farmers from Venray (55), Peel and Maas (68), Horst aan de Maas (30), Weert (27), Leudal (23) and Nederweert (14) decided to stop. The termination of so many cattle farms in Limburg now means many empty stables. Commissioner Hubert Mackus speaks of a new task in the process to give substance to this vacant space.
Tiny houses
Pig farmer Twan Poels from Meerlo is one of the farmers who stopped. That was not overnight, but was a long process. He slowly phased out his business until the stables were completely empty last December. In recent years, the 4.5-acre farm has been home to a horse boarding facility and some mobile homes.
After the summer vacations, the old pigsties will be demolished. On that spot there will be tiny houses, small completely self-sufficient units. "In addition, I want to make a food forest where the residents can pick their own fruits, nuts and herbs," Poels said.
Source: Ministry of LNV, 1Limburg, Dagblad de Limburger