Farm Emission Data Fight Intensifies

Media Suing Minister Over Withheld Data

Three prominent media organizations have launched legal action against Agriculture Minister **Femke Wiersma**, demanding the release of crucial farm emission data. This move seeks to uncover the reality behind the Netherlands’ nitrogen reduction policies.

Minister Accused of Abuse of Power

The journalists, from NRC, Follow the Money, and Omroep Gelderland, are utilizing the Open Government Act (Woo) to access detailed information on livestock numbers and farm locations. Their initial request, filed in late 2022, was initially granted by the ministry, then led by **Piet Adema**, and the Implementation Organization for Enterprising Netherlands (RVO).

However, following an intervention by Minister **Wiersma** in January, the RVO reversed its decision. This reversal has now been deemed an “abuse of powers” by a judge at the Overijssel District Court. The court stated her involvement clearly aimed to delay data disclosure.

Minister Appeals Court Ruling

**Wiersma** has announced plans to appeal this judicial decision, reportedly against the advice of her own officials. She cites concerns over the privacy of livestock farmers and their families as justification for re-running the data compilation process.

“We apparently cannot trust that this minister is complying with the law. Not publishing the requested information is unlawful; according to the court, the ‘abuse of competence,’ say NRC editor-in-chief Patricia Veldhuis, and editors Sandrina Hadderingh (Omroep Gelderland) and Harry Lensink (FTM). ‘It is our journalistic task to make the audience as well as possible to inform. De Woo is important tool for our journalists.'”

—Patricia Veldhuis, Editor-in-Chief, NRC

Costly Data Redo

Officials estimate that a new investigation could cost between 5 and 14 million euros and cause delays of six months to a year. This legal battle highlights the significant challenges in balancing public transparency with individual privacy concerns in agricultural policy discussions.

Broader Context: Nitrogen Policy Scrutiny

The push for this data is part of a larger effort to scrutinize the effectiveness of the government’s nitrogen reduction strategies. In 2023, Dutch farmers protested proposed regulations aimed at cutting nitrogen emissions, with some regions facing significant reduction targets. For example, the province of North Holland aims to halve emissions from intensive livestock farming by 2030 (Wageningen University & Research 2023).