Dutch farms that exceed the levy-free surpluses, 1998-2001*

In 2001, 17% of farms exceeded the MINAS levy-free surpluses. The average levy these farms had to pay was more than EUR 3700.

	Farms paying levies¹⁾				Average levy per farm^{1) 2)}
	1998	1999	2000*	2001*³⁾	1998	1999	2000*	2001*³⁾

	%				EUR
Type of farm
Arable farming	29	30	15	7	1 792	1 519	2 919	2 471
Extensive mixed	22	24	16	7	1 530	2 518	3 242	2 291
Extensive dairy	16	28	16	11	1 002	1 108	1 165	1 472
Intensive dairy	31	40	36	27	904	1 124	1 966	1 862

Intensive livestock	43	42	44	29	1 944	1 902	4 056	3 695
Laying hens	42	41	45	35	6 453	5 690	11 818	10 310
Slaughter poultry	24	31	41	33	3 055	3 505	9 924	8 295
Pigs	51	40	54	35	3 625	2 733	5 904	5 121

Small farms⁴⁾	22	21	21	11	3 119	991	1 982	1 688

Total	38	36	32	17	2 693	2 132	4 556	3 708

Source: Agricultural Levies Office, processed by CBS (2003).						CBS/EDC/Sep03/0098
1) Farms that have submitted a detailed return. 2) The average levy per farm (of a specific type) with a phosphate or nitrogen levy, excluding funding levy. 3) Based on unchecked returns from farmers. 4) Farms ≤ 3 ha and ≤ 3 Cattle units.

Fall in percentage of farms that exceed the levy-free surpluses

The percentage of companies that have paid a levy pursuant to a detailed return fell by approximately 6% during the period 1998-2000 (comparison with 2001 is not yet useful, see note 3 of the table). The relative fall is mainly the result of stricter standards, requiring more arable holdings and extensive livestock farms to submit returns. The absolute fall is, despite the stricter standards, only 0.3%. The average levy to be paid per farm has increased. This is due to the stricter levy-free surpluses and to the increase in the amounts of the levies.
Of the pigs, poultry and intensive cattle farms, approximately 40% exceed the levy-free surpluses. Pig and poultry farms in particular paid high levies on average in 1998-2001.
For 2001, only 16% of the farms that submitted detailed returns said that they had had to pay a levy. This halving can be partly explained by an increase in the number of arable holdings that are required to submit MINAS returns in 2001 but that were not required to pay any levy. Furthermore, the figures for 2001 are based on returns that have not yet been checked.
Most of the companies required to submit returns (in 2001: 88%) opted for detailed returns. The detailed returns are generally based on actual quantities.

Levy-free surpluses and MINAS

The aim of the mineral accounting system known as MINAS is to limit losses of minerals. To prevent farms exceeding the levy-free surpluses, a levy has to be paid for each kilogram of nitrogen or phosphate above the levy-free surplus. Farms can offset exceedances of the levy-free surpluses against shortfalls in preceding or later years.
In 2000, the levy-free surpluses were tightened up and the levies increased. The phosphate levy is now EUR 2.27 per kg phosphate for the first 10 kg of exceedance. Above 10 kg, phosphate costs EUR 9.08. This is twice the levy in 1998 and 1999. The nitrogen levy was approximately EUR 0.7 for all three years.
See Legal standards for the use of fertilisers for a detailed explanation of Levy-free surpluses and MINAS.

Technical note

The figures in the mineral returns for 2000 are still provisional since they are not entirely based on returns checked by the Agricultural Levies Office. The levy to be paid for 2001 has been calculated by Statistics Netherlands on the basis of the original, unchecked returns from the farmers.

In the table, the effect of exemptions in 1998 (including those resulting from swine fever and water damage in 1998 and 1999) has been included in the levies.

References

CBS (2003). Monitor Mineralen en Mestwetgeving 2003. Statistics Netherlands, Voorburg/Heerlen.

Relevant sections and indicators in the Environmental Data Compendium

Relevant information outside of the Environmental Data Compendium

More information about the transportation and processing of manure can be found on Statline (Statistics Netherlands).