Agreement with Brussels on National Strategic Plan for agriculture
The Netherlands has reached agreement with the European Commission about the National Strategic Plan (NSP). This NSP specifies the sustainability of the new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).
In the new CAP, farmers receive rewards for activities that contribute to a future-proof and innovative agriculture that is in balance with nature, the environment and climate. Between 2023 and 2027, 4.7 billion euros will be made available to Dutch farmers for this purpose.
It means a big change for farmers. In the new NSP, the Netherlands is focusing on compensation for social services and an urgent approach to water and soil quality and biodiversity. The payments, which in the current CAP receive an enormous amount per hectare of land, will be turned around in future years.
The most striking change is the new eco-scheme. Farmers can choose from more than twenty eco-activities for passengers on their farms. These range from managing hedgerows and applying herb-rich field margins to growing protein crops. they can receive compensation of 60, 100 or 200 euros per hectare. Each year, 152 million euros is spent on it, 762 million euros in total.
Agricultural nature management
In addition, more farmers can participate in the Agricultural Nature and Landscape Management (ANLb), for which a total of 560 million euros has been made available. Via the ANLb, farmers manage specific species, such as farmland birds, and they can contribute to climate and water.
In order to be able to apply as a profession, they must first meet these conditions. An example is the obligatory buffer strips along fields and meadows. Mandatory crop rotation and the rule that four percent of the area must be non-productive has been postponed for one year because of the war in Ukraine.
Negotiations with Brussels about the Dutch NSP started almost a year ago. For farmers, the clarity about the NSP comes very late. They have completed their building plan for 2023 and cannot take all sustainability conditions into account in order to be able to claim the CAP subsidies.
Gain experience
That is why the first year that the Netherlands works with the new CAP is used to gain experience. Farmers will have more time to register. If situations arise where farmers can no longer meet the conditions, for example because they have already sown crops for the next growing year, the crop is held.
Some conditions for the first year will also be relaxed to encourage farmers to make use of the schemes that contribute to climate, environmental and nature objectives for Dutch agriculture.
Young farmers
Because trade in the field of climate and nature makes great demands on farmers’ assets, the NSP is investing heavily in cooperation, investments, knowledge and innovation. Young farmers and horticulturists are supported in takeover processes. Also, young farmers receive an increased subsidy in investment schemes. A total of EUR 120 million is available for schemes targeting young farmers.
In addition, the CAP focuses on areas where more of the focus is on farmers, such as in peat meadow areas and near Natura 2000 areas. If they have to adapt or extend their business, there is money to work together on perspective and developing and adapting the business. This ties in with the area-oriented approach for the transition of the rural area, which is one of the goals in the new NSP.