Dairy farmers in the Netherlands say they face being driven out of business after being told to slash greenhouse gas emissions.

It follows calls by the Hague government for a 50% cut in nitrogen emissions by 2030 – a target that has seen farmers take to the streets in protest.

One of the world's most densely populated countries, the Netherlands is home to some 16,000 dairy farmers milking some 1.57 million cows.

Dairy farmer Herman Miedema milks 175 cows across some 100ha of grass and maize silage in Friesland province – the Dutch dairy capital.

Mr Miedema is one of the lucky ones. Under the Dutch system, he still has his licence to farm. But the permits of 3000 other farmers have been declared invalid.

Those 3000 farmers find themselves in a “nitrogen crisis”.

The banks won't lend them money to invest in their businesses. But they can't sell-up either – because no-one want to buy a farm with an invalid permit.

In this episode, we find out what is happening, some possible solutions, and what lessons farmers and consumers can learn from the Dutch experience.

Written, recorded and produced by Johann Tasker for Farmers Weekly. Contact:  johann.tasker@markallengroup.com or WhatsApp +44 (0)7967 634971.

Before making any changes to the way you farm, it's important to ask: is your farm business financially robust?

Stress testing and financial modelling are valuable tools in identifying overall farm business vulnerabilities and finding answers to all your “what-ifs”.

Measuring how vulnerable you are to changes in interest rates, market price fluctuations, inflation and rising input costs could make the difference between success and failure.

In this Transition Podcast, we look at:

• How are all these factors influencing your farm’s working capital?
• What changes should be implemented to make your farm more resilient?
• Financial modelling: Why and how should you do it?
• How are gearing rates, borrowing, assets and liabilities affecting your business?

Our panellists are Jeff Claydon, of Claydon Drills; Tim Coates of Oxbury Bank; Tom of the Environment Bank; and William Foyle of Hutchinsons.

This episode of Transition Agriculture is hosted by Hugh Broom and recorded on 8 December 2022.

In this episode, we are discussing food security – and the need to balance profitable food production with care for the environment.

Agriculture faces a defining decade – with farmers expected to do much more than simply produce safe, affordable and nutritious food. 

Growers and livestock producers are increasingly required to provide environmental benefits too – as well as helping to mitigate climate change.

Discussing ways we can get this balance right are three special guests:

• Carl Atkin, chairman of the Institute of Agricultural Management
• Emily Norton, head of rural research at Savills
• Phil Jarvis, chairman of farming and the environment at Albanwise Farming

The Farmers Weekly Transition project is working to secure a more sustainable future for UK farm businesses.

For details, visit www.fwi.co.uk/transition.

This episode of the Farmers Weekly Transition Agriculture Podcast is hosted by Johann Tasker. Recorded on Monday, 24 October 2022.