Fertiliser usage standards

If you have a farm in the Netherlands and you use fertiliser, you must take usage standards into account. The standards dictate the amount of each of these substances that may be used annually per hectare.
There are three usage standards:

• Manure usage standards
• Nitrate usage standard
• Phosphate usage standard

Calculating fertilizer use

A number of calculations should be performed to determine whether your business is adhering to the usage standards. You must keep your records up-to-date with data on the supply, removal and use of fertiliser.

Phosphate offset scheme

If your use of phosphate on your arable land exceeds the usage standard, you may offset this use under certain conditions in the following year. If you would like to be eligible for this offset scheme, you must register with the Regulations Department (Dienst Regelingen, DR) of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation by no later than 31 December of the year in which you exceed the usage standard.