- A whole-farm strategy is needed to reduce the environmental impacts of nitrogen from agriculture. Focusing only on maximizing milk production per cow can cause problems, while optimizing the farm as a whole and using lower inputs has benefits for both the environment and the economy. - One farmer in the Netherlands increased milk production from 700,000 kg to 1,200,000 kg from 1979 to 2017 while lowering purchased nitrogen fertilizers and concentrates through a focus on "low input" and improving income across the farm as a whole. - An integrated set of key performance indicators (KPIs) can help stimulate farms to transition to more sustainable practices by rewarding higher scores across environmental, social, and economic areas of

1. A whole-farm strategy to reduce
environmental impacts of
Nitrogen
Frank Verhoeven
Boerenverstand

2. Boerenverstand @ work

3. 15 years ago!

4. Nitrogen cycle of
The Netherlands
Where is the
“Whole-Country
Strategy”?

5. Solutions?

6. > 20 years “kringloopboeren”
• Farmers using less input of concentrates and fertilizers
combined with significant higher incomes!
• No maximize milk production per cow, focus on optimization
• Manure is not a problem, too much input is the problem
• Show low-tech solutions
• Putting their soils and soil management central
Result: better for the environment and for the economy!

7. 13
17
Fam. Hoeksma - Drogeham (Fr.)
700.000 kg milk in 1979
to 1.200.000 kg milk delivered in 2017
A search for lowering inputs,
and improving income!
Focus on “low input”
Nitrogen (kg N) purchased from fertilizers
Nitrogen (kg N) purchased from
concentrates

8. july 2018

9. A simple image

10. Natura 2000 (provinciaal)
Wet Ammoniak & Veehouderij
(provinciaal – gemeentelijk)
Kader Richtlijn Water (waterschap)
Nitraatrichtlijn (Europees, landelijk)
BGM (besluit gebruik meststoffen)Besluit landbouw milieubeheer
Besluit huisvesting/
maatlat Duurzame Melkveehouderij
NEC-richtlijn (gemeente, NH3)
GLB (vergroening)
IPPC (>200 melkvee)
Klimaatbeleid
Derogatie (Europees, landelijk)
Omgevingsvergunning
(>200 melkvee)
Melkveewet (wet
grondgebonden groei)
Fosfaatrechten
NB vergunning (provinciaal)
Who recognises the strategy?
BEX
???

12. Visiting a frontrunner December, 2018

13. Definition?
Het optimaliseren van het bedrijfsrendement in de brede zin, zoveel
mogelijk gebruik makend van eigen resources in evenwicht en met
respect voor de natuurlijke omgeving (bodem-, lucht-, water- en
natuurkwaliteit, landschappelijke waarde, klimaat en dierenwelzijn).
Erisman & Verhoeven, 2019
Focus on farmers “own resources”

14. Happy planet Happy cows Happy farmers
what is sustainable milk?
Cycle compass, 2010 Cow compass, 2008
There is a need for integration

15. The start of 1 instrument to describe
“happy planet” (since 2011)
Annual Nutrient Cycling Assessment (ANCA)
Nitrogen
Phosphate
Carbon

16. 40% from own land
80% of the livestocks
need comes from own
land
Scatter in results!
Intensity (kg milk/hectare)
%Nitrogenformownsoil

17. Environmental performances

18. Biodiversity monitor

19. Biodiversity monitor

20. How to stimulate the transition…?

21. Rewarding higher scores

22. It works!!!

23. A set of KPI’s

24. Questions?

25. 2e Report for the Ministery
Soil management
Ground bound
Agricultural
managment
Landschape
managment
Energy and
climate
Animal welfare
Socio economic
A set of KPI’s!

26. Indicator 1 = Ground bound = Nitrogen cycle!
[externe inputs: (Krachtvoer*AF + Kunstmest*1 + overig*AF)]
[afvoer producten: (mest*AF + ruwvoer*AF + dierlijke
producten + plantaardige producten)]
AF = AfstandsFactor
Nitrogen Use Efficiency

27. Mineral balance returns?
De afrekenbare stoffenbalans!

28. Lowering urea = more maize, not less N input!

29. How to reward sustainable soil
management?

30. By digging a hole?

31. Open Soil Index

32. Development of a “kansenkaart” ALL challenges plotted on the map
Actions on the parcels

33. A challenge for you soil-professionals!
• Integrated knowledge is needed …as well as
integrated regulation and research
• How does a KPI soil looks like?
– The more % grassland, the better?
– Crop rotation? 1:4 better then 1:3?
– % N-bounding crops?
– Satellite images?
– % OM of the soil average on the farm?
– Average OBI score?
Practical? Rewardable? etc etc.

34. frank@boerenverstand.nl
@boerenverstand Thank you for your attention
The art of integration!!