From The Telegraph‘s James Crisp:

Government tries to cut down on nitrogen pollution in a move set to reignite tensions with farmers who say the industry is unfairly targeted

The Dutch government plans to buy and close down up to 3,000 farms near environmentally sensitive areas to comply with EU nature preservation rules.

The Netherlands is attempting to cut down its nitrogen pollution and will push ahead with compulsory purchases if not enough farms take up the offer voluntarily.

Farmers will be offered a deal “well over” the worth of the farm, according to the government plan that is targeting the closure of 2,000 to 3,000 farms or other major polluting businesses.

Earlier leaked versions of the plan put the figure at 120 per cent of the farm’s value but that figure has not yet been confirmed by ministers.

“There is no better offer coming,” Christianne van der Wal, nitrogen minister, told MPs on Friday. She said compulsory purchases would be made with “pain in the heart”, if necessary.

The complete The Telegraph article, originally published November 28, 2022, can be accessed here.  Please note that The Telegraph is paywalled but provides an introductory offer option. 

Note:  To read the CO2 Coalition’s recently published Nitrous Oxide and Climate, an important and timely paper evaluating the warming effect of the gas and its role in the nitrogen cycle, go here.