In addition, this permit may not be granted. That is why cows have to stay in the barn. Henk Bleker, chairman of the Dutch Dairy Farmers Association, says that this is frustrating not only for farmers and cows, but also for consumers. “People also want milk from the cows in the pasture. A study by Milieudefensie shows that people are even willing to pay extra for their milk when the cows are outside.”
Tricky, painful place
The Remkes Committee has already advised to make grazing and fertilization permit-free, otherwise the process will become too complicated. The government also adopted this position.
However, this is not to the liking of environmental organizations. Because if the cows outside emit less nitrogen than the cows in the barn (manure and urine are separated better outside), they are also responsible for a non-negligible part of the nitrogen (through fertilization).
About half of all nitrogen emissions from the agricultural sector come from stables and the other half from grazing and fertilization, says Jan Willem Erisman, professor of environment and sustainability at Leiden University.
“The judge therefore puts his finger on a sensitive point: the permit system,” says the nitrogen expert. According to Erisman, a permit for the entire company would be better than separate permits for cows in the barn, cows in the meadow and fertilization.
“In addition, it is now always short-term matters,” says the professor. “Fertilization and grazing is not a bad thing at all, but what matters is that the nitrogen policy finally starts.”
‘Cows in the meadow’
Another sore point is the Dutch landscape. That’s because, says Sieta van Keimpema of the action group Farmers Defense Force, according to dairy farmers, including cows. He says that the number of cows in the Netherlands has already been decreasing in recent years. “When I looked around here in Friesland, for example, my eyes were full of tears; Once there were hundreds of cows a few miles from my house, now there are only a couple of young cows.”
Dairy farmer Elshof also says that cows want to go outside. “When we finish milking, our cows roar because they want to go outside. They just love being on the grass, that’s all. I can’t imagine we’re all like that.”
Source: NOS
Smith Charles is a talented entertainment journalist and author at The Nation View. He has a passion for all things entertainment and writes about the latest movies, TV shows, music, and celebrity news. He’s known for his in-depth interviews with actors, musicians, and other industry figures, and his ability to provide unique perspectives on the entertainment industry.
