120th farmer invests in clean and enough water
The maximum number of participants in the “Implementation Incentive for Water and Soil Quality” grant program has been reached in a short period of time. The grant program offers farmers in the water authority area in Groningen a contribution toward the costs of investing in the improvement of water and soil quality.
Grant Program
Project Manager Tjeerd Hoekstra of LTO Noord is pleased with all the applications. “Farmers want to take action to improve water and soil quality on their farms, as evidenced by the number of applications. This subsidy program helps them make these (costly) investments.” One of the crop farmers who has applied for the subsidy is Derk Gesink. “Thanks to this subsidy program, it actually makes financial sense for me to invest. An investment like this comes with a hefty price tag. This program reimburses part of that cost.”
Number 120
Gesink from Mensingeweer is participant number 120, making him the first to apply for the program so far. The subsidy program offers farmers financial assistance toward the costs of improving water and soil quality. Gesink hasn’t quite decided yet how he’s going to invest. “I see several options I can apply to my farm. I’m torn between investing in a wash station for the field sprayer or a weeder, a machine that mechanically removes weeds.”
There are many roads that lead to Rome
Gesink has now gained considerable experience with mechanical weed control. “Two years ago, I started experimenting with a group of farmers to remove weeds using a machine instead of herbicides. From my own experience, I can say that mechanical weed control doesn’t deliver the same results as chemical methods. Still, I see benefits in using this machine for my crops and soil.” The other option for Gesink’s farm is to construct a liquid-tight washing and rinsing area, which will reduce runoff on the farmyard. “A counsellor will counsellor soon to determine which measure I should implement; I’m curious to hear his advice,” says Gesink.
You can still sign up
Arable farmers and dairy farmers in the Noorderzijlvest water board area in Groningen can still apply for the subsidy program. “If these 120 participants do not use the maximum amount they are eligible to apply for, there will be funds left over for other participants,” explains Tjeerd Hoekstra. It is expected that there will be funds remaining for (part of) the waiting list. For more information, please visitwww.dawnoordnederland.nl
Collaboration
The Noorderzijlvest Water Authority, in collaboration with the province of Groningen, is making over 1 million euros in subsidies available to farmers so they can invest in measures to improve surface water quality and soil quality. LTO Noord is responsible for implementing the project.
Delta Plan for Agricultural Water Management
The subsidy scheme “Implementation Incentive for Soil and Water Quality” is part of the Delta Plan for Agricultural Water Management. The DAW is an initiative of LTO Nederland. Together with the Dutch Water Authorities , the DAW Dutch Water Authorities working on water management challenges in agricultural areas. The DAW does this, among other things, by promoting knowledge sharing through projects and fostering collaboration between water authority farmers.