-
font size
decrease font size
increase font size
Dutch dairy farmers are queuing for a ‘death subsidy’ for cows as part of a plan to reduce the size of the national herd.
Media reports say 60,000 cows, or 3% of the total number, have to be slaughtered this year to comply with European phosphate norms or the Dutch dairy industry will be hit with a hefty fine. This means dairy farmers will either have to give up their business or return to the number of cows they had prior to July 2, 2015.
The Dutch Government has earmarked €12m in compensation for the first 10,000 cows but the subsidy was oversubscribed by 30,000 within a day. Farmers who fail to get the subsidy, which will now be allocated by drawing lots, will have to wait until the next round of subsidies which are expected to be lower.
Popular Reads
How a Scholarship Helped Build a 1400-Cow Taranaki Farm
On a farm in Tikorangi, North Taranaki, Brent Stevenson is sharemilking 1,400 cows.Record Kiwifruit Harvest Brings Optimism, but Green Growers Face Profitability Challenges
Signs for the 2026-27 kiwifruit crop look good, but there are still some challenges for growers – especially those who…David Seymour Criticises Rural Women NZ Over Submission
Deputy Prime Minister and ACT Party leader David Seymour says advocacy group Rural Women New Zealand (RWNZ) has submitted against…Waikato Duo Win 2026 FMG Junior Young Farmer Title
Two year 10 students from Putaruru College and John Paul College in Waikato Bay of Plenty have been crowned the…Featured
Te Pari Acquires NZ Sheep Handler Brand Combi Clamp
Oamaru-based livestock handling specialist Te Pari has bought Combi Clamp, the New Zealand manufacturer of Combi Clamp manual sheep handlers.
RSE Scheme Changes Coming - McClay
Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has admitted that a scheme bringing workers from Pacific nations to work on orchards has become too hard to navigate but says changes are coming.
New App StockScore Digitises Livestock Condition Scoring
A new app designed in New Zealand aims to help sheep, beef and deer farmers capture, analyse and use body condition score data more effectively.
Andy Macfarlane Joins AgriZeroNZ Board
Canterbury farmer Andy Macfarlane has been appointed to the board of AgriZeroNZ, the public-private partnership designed to accelerate the development and deployment of emissions reduction tools for New Zealand farmers.
Apple sector veteran honoured for 'extraordinary contribution'
For over 50 years Mel Ewers has been supporting the apple sector navigate through compliance and quality assurance issues.
Minister praises apple sector’s growth story
The apple sector is enjoying a bumper harvest season.
National
South Waikato Farmer Cuts Nitrogen With Soil Biology Trial
South Waikato farmer Bas Nelis is always interested in fine-tuning his business to improve results.
How a Scholarship Helped Build a 1400-Cow Taranaki Farm
On a farm in Tikorangi, North Taranaki, Brent Stevenson is sharemilking 1,400 cows.Lodestone's Solar Farm Clears Fast-Track Approval
The managing director of a company seeking to build a solar farm in Canterbury says receiving fast-track approval is a…ACT MPs Slam Green Party's Fertiliser Ban Policy
Retiring MP and dairy farmer Mark Cameron is blasting the Green Party for proposing to ban the use of synthetic…NZ Farm Accident Claims Drop Nearly 35% Since 2020
A huge reduction in ACC claims from on-farm accidents over the last five years is due to thousands of small,…Machinery & Products
Krone Enters Merger Market With First Belt Model, the Swativo T1040 Pro
Already known for its extensive range of mowers, tedders and swathers, German manufacture Krone looks to be joining the trend…
