Rutte has an emotional conversation with critical farmers in Leusden | Inland

The conversation, which also included poultry farmers from the Barneveld area, is the first in a series of conversations on the farm that Rutte wants to hold. The prime minister said he spoke to “people who are very critical of what the cabinet is doing now. That’s why it was such a good conversation.”

The emotions ran high. Rutte indicated that he could not take away the concerns and uncertainty that farmers face. “I’m here to hear those concerns, but also what ideas there are, what plans there are.” Many farmers reacted furiously to the nitrogen map that the cabinet published last month. This specifies the percentage by which nitrogen emissions must be reduced per area.

Although the provinces will work on this in the coming year, it is clear that much less livestock can be kept in some areas. Incidentally, Rutte repeated in the conversation that the nitrogen targets will remain in place. “We are dealing with a court decision.”

‘A lot’ of suggestions from the farmers

The farmers present themselves came up with ‘a lot’ of suggestions to offer more perspective to the farmers who did continue. “A very important one is just a fair price,” said the prime minister. He declined to say what specific suggestions are being made. It is especially important that farmers who will soon keep less livestock ‘have a good future and are paid a fair price. And whatever that means for the supermarket and the entire intermediary trade.”

The livestock farm that Rutte visited is also a company that wants to farm green, with solar panels and sustainable stables.

In addition to the talks that Rutte has with farmers, the cabinet, together with provinces, among others, will also enter into discussions with farmers’ organisations. Those talks will start later in the year under the leadership of Johan Remkes. Remkes was recently appointed as moderator and will start his preparations on Wednesday, although many farmers’ organizations have already said they do not want to sit down with him.

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