Farmers can apply for subsidies to invest in clean and sufficient water
Starting Monday, September 13, at 10:00 a.m., farmers can apply for a one-time (investment) subsidy for measures that improve the quality of surface water or promote water retention on agricultural land. Applications can be submitted via www.dawnoordnederland.nl.
The subsidy scheme from the LTO Noord project 'Implementation incentive for water and soil quality' was officially launched on Friday, September 10. This took place during a visit to the organic dairy farmers Erik and Marjan van der Velde in Niehove. This family business is committed to sustainable agriculture, with a strong focus on soil and water quality.
Investments in water and soil quality
The Noorderzijlvest Water Authority, together with the province of Groningen, is making more than €1 million in subsidies available to farmers so that they can invest in improving the quality of surface water and soil. Within this project, subsidies are also available for at least 120 farmers who invest in materials, machinery, or soil. These investments ensure:
- Healthier and more fertile soil (e.g., by increasing organic matter, improving soil structure, or using non-inversion tillage);
- More precise agriculture (including GPS technology, soil scanning);
- Improved water management (including with the help of level-controlled drainage or small dams);
- Less yard runoff (by purchasing wastewater treatment systems or collecting juices from roughage storage);
- Less runoff of crop protection products (e.g., through investments in spraying techniques that prevent crop protection products from being blown away).
Registering for the subsidy scheme
Registration for the subsidy scheme will be possible from Monday morning, September 13, at 10:00 a.m. via the website www.dawnoordnederland.nl.
Who is it for?
The subsidy scheme is for arable farmers and/or dairy farmers in the Groningen part of the Noorderzijlvest Water Authority's working area. There is room for 120 participants. A one-time subsidy of up to 40% can be applied for on all physical measures—with the exception of yard layout measures and/or purification systems—up to a maximum amount of €10,000 per farm.
There is also room for individual farm visits if required. Herb-rich grassland "The past few years have been challenging for us, with three dry summers, torrential rain, and damage caused by mice," says dairy farmer Erik van der Velde. 'The herb-rich grassland helped us through the drought, because that part yielded twice as much as the old grassland during the dry period. Investing in healthier and more fertile soil has therefore helped us greatly.
With the new subsidy scheme, we want to ensure even better soil and water quality. Agricultural water management is something we must do and develop together, says Annette van Velde, director at the Noorderzijlvest water board. 'It really helps us deal with too much or too little water. After all, we are seeing more and more extreme weather conditions, with periods of excessive wetness or dryness. Let's not forget that agricultural water management also yields better results for agricultural businesses. So it's a win-win situation.'
Background
The project 'Implementation incentive for water and soil quality' is in line with the objectives of the Delta Plan for Agricultural Water Management (DAW) and focuses on reducing the leaching and runoff of crop protection products and nutrients into groundwater and surface water. The project contributes to improving the quality of surface water and groundwater. In addition, the project aims to have a positive effect on water availability by promoting more conscious use of the soil, soil structure, and organic matter content. This will enable agricultural land to retain water more effectively. The project is being implemented by LTO Noord. The LTO Noord area coordinator will advise farmers on how to combine their wishes, plans, and measures.
Collaboration
The subsidy scheme stems from agreements laid down in the national Delta Plan for Agricultural Water Management. In this plan, provinces, water boards, LTO Noord, and agricultural collectives work closely together to achieve the goals of governments and farmers participating in this program. This broad collaboration plays an important role in the success of the projects.