Review agricultural projects and continue cooperation
Improving the soil on your farm takes time and expertise. Any assistance offered in this regard is most welcome. During the DAW Water Caravan field trip on November 23, arable farmer Bart Bos emphasized the importance of water and soil projects, particularly the Spaarbodem project. According to Melissa van Hoorn, Provincial Executive Member of the Province of Groningen, there is no better place to reaffirm this collaboration for the coming years: “Here in the field, we see how important it is that we continue with the Delta Plan for Agricultural Water Management in the years ahead. Today, the province and the water boards are signing the 2022–2027 administrative agreement.”
Projects in Practice
The first stop of the DAW Water Caravan was at arable farmer Bart Bos’s farm in Holwierde. He is a participant in the Spaarbodem project. “It’s important to take a critical approach to your soil. In this project, you work a lot in groups, which allows you to learn with and from one another. This interaction adds real value.”After this visit, the Water Caravan bus headed to the Maatschap Remijn farm in Eenrum. At this arable farm, they are going to build a wash station. This construction is made possible in part by a grant under the project “Implementation Incentive for Water and Soil Quality in Noorderzijlvest, Groningen.” Project leader Tjeerd Hoekstra gave those present an update on the project: “142 arable farmers and dairy farmers are participating to invest in water and soil quality measures. Examples of investments include GPS systems for precision fertilization, machines for mechanical subsoiling or non-inversion tillage, and water-level-controlled drainage.”
DAW Management Agreement
The Province of Groningen, Noorderzijlvest Water Authority the Hunze en Aa’s Water Board are collaborating to improve water quality and address water quantity constraints. Agreements on these matters have been formalized in the 2022–2027 Delta Plan for Agricultural Water Management (DAW) administrative agreement. With these signatures, the collaboration for the coming years has been formalized.
Delta Plan for Agricultural Water Management
With the Delta Plan for Agricultural Water Management (DAW), the agricultural sector supports the joint water and soil challenge and works towards a future-proof agricultural sector. Various projects have been launched in Groningen, a number of which are in collaboration with the Gouden Gronden (Golden Soils) programme. That programme also offers farmers opportunities for better soil management. All projects contribute to improving water quality and reducing flooding and the negative effects of drought.