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Dutch government plan for farm buyouts

The Netherlands aims to reduce the total cattle herd by 30% over the next seven years, mainly by buying out farmers. Documents from coalition talks reveal that the government is going for the more ambitious of two proposals prepared by the environmental planning agency last autumn. The package of measures includes buyouts of farmers and investments in farm housing and technology that reduce nitrogen pollution. It is expected to cost 30 million euro, with the buyouts accounting for a little more than half. If enough volunteers are not found, the government does not exclude the option to force farmers to sell their land. The background is a court ruling from 2019, which states that nitrogen deposition in Natura 2000 areas is too high.

Source: https://www.dutchnews.nl/news/2022/02/cattle-herd-to-be-cut-by-30-over-n...

 

 

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