Ex-ante evaluation of tightening environmental policy: the case of mineral use in Dutch agriculture

Non-point source pollution is notoriously difficult to asses. A relevant example is mineral emissions in the Netherlands. Since the mid 1980s the Dutch government has sought to reduce emissions through a wide variety of measures, the effect of which in turn is monitored using modeling techniques. This paper presents the current generation of mineral emission models from agriculture based on microsimulation of farms in combination with a spatial equilibrium model for the dispersion of manure from excess regions with high livestock intensities within the country to areas with low livestock intensities. The micro-simulation approach retains the richness in the heterogeneity of farm household decision making that are the core cause of the difficulty of assessing non-point source pollution, while using the best available data to track corresponding pollution. Using scenario analysis we are able to assess the possible effects of further tightening of agro-environmental policy.micro-simulation, spatial-equilibrium model, non-point source pollution, Environmental Economics and Policy,

Linking Farm and Market Models to Analyse the Effects of the EU Nitrate Directive for the Dutch Agricultural Sector

This paper presents a modeling system that can be used to analyze the trade off between economy and environment. It takes into account manure policy, farm structure and manure surpluses at farm level as well as the economic effects of manure surpluses at market level. The modeling system consists of two models that are linked to each other by at the one-hand manure prices and distribution of manure over different destinations and at the other hand changes in agricultural and total manure production. One model is the so-called Manure and Ammonia Model (MAM). This model calculates manure surpluses and deficits at the farm level and distribution of manure to own farm, own region, other regions, export abroad and processing at the regional level. Moreover, MAM also calculates ammonia emissions coming from different sources. The second model is a market model that includes the most important agricultural markets. The models are calibrated for 2002. The modeling system is tested to analyze the effects of sharpened manure policies until 2006.farm models, market models, manure, economy, policy, Agricultural and Food Policy,

Gasvormige stikstofverliezen uit stal en opslag: Verschillen in berekeningsmethoden

The Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency of the National Institute of Public Health and the Environment (MNP-RIVM) publishes an Environmental Balance Sheet each year in accordance with the Environmental Management Act. Calculations using the Manure and Ammonia Model of ammonia emissions and other gaseous nitrogen losses form the basis of the figures contained in the publication. The large differences observed between this calculation and comparable calculations by Statistics Netherlands form the motivation for an analysis of the differences. This insight, supplemented with insight into the comparison of calculated and measured mineral levels in the manure, gave rise to a discussion on which starting points and calculation method were the most suitable as a basis for the Environmental Balance Sheet. Ingevolge de Wet Milieubeheer brengt het Milieu- en Natuurplanbureau van het RIVM (MNP-RIVM) jaarlijks een Milieubalans uit. Berekeningen met het Mest- en Ammoniakmodel van ammoniakemissie en andere gasvormige stikstofverliezen liggen ten grondslag aan de cijfers in de publicatie. De geconstateerde grote verschillen tussen deze berekening en vergelijkbare berekeningen van het CBS vormen de aanleiding naar een analyse van de verschillen. Dit inzicht, aangevuld met inzicht in de vergelijking van berekende en gemeten mineralengehalten in de mest, was de basis voor een discussie over welke uitgangspunten en berekeningsmethode het meest geschikt zijn als basis voor de Milieubalans

Ex-ante evaluation of tightening environmental policy: the case of mineral use in Dutch agriculture

Non-point source pollution is notoriously difficult to asses. A relevant example is mineral emissions in the Netherlands. Since the mid 1980s the Dutch government has sought to reduce emissions through a wide variety of measures, the effect of which in turn is monitored using modeling techniques. This paper presents the current generation of mineral emission models from agriculture based on microsimulation of farms in combination with a spatial equilibrium model for the dispersion of manure from excess regions with high livestock intensities within the country to areas with low livestock intensities. The micro-simulation approach retains the richness in the heterogeneity of farm household decision making that are the core cause of the difficulty of assessing non-point source pollution, while using the best available data to track corresponding pollution. Using scenario analysis we are able to assess the possible effects of further tightening of agro-environmental policy

Costs of regulating ammonia emissions from livestock farms near Natura 2000 areas - analyses of case farms from Germany, Netherlands and Denmark

Natura 2000 areas are designated according to the EU's Birds and Habitats Directives in order to protect particular habitats and species. A variety of these habitats and species are particularly sensitive to deposition of nitrogen caused by ammonia emissions. Livestock farming is the primary source of this pollution. The purpose of this paper is to compare the costs of reaching the ammonia emission targets for different livestock farms near Natura 2000 sites in the Netherlands, Germany (Schleswig-Holstein), and Denmark. These countries have some of the highest NH3 deposition rates in Europe, and Germany in particular will have to implement new measures to reach the NEC requirements for 2030. This will also benefit nature sites in Denmark as a large share of the ammonia emissions is dispersed over long distances. The general regulation includes implementation of BAT technologies and emission ceilings. The analysis looks at regulatory aspects, the emission requirements and the cost of implementing the technologies to reduce emissions further. The selected case farms are a finisher farm and a dairy farm, and the distance to a Natura 2000 site is 400 and 2000 m. In all three countries, relatively few livestock farms are situated near or inside Natura 2000 areas. The regulatory approach is very different in the three countries and key issues are: additional deposition from projects, neighbouring livestock farms (cumulation), the inclusion of background deposition and the use of the critical loads concept. The Dutch PAS system is interesting as projected reductions in emissions are distributed as additional “room for development” today. The costs for the case farm with finishers in Schleswig-Holstein are the highest as the Filter Decree requires the use of air scrubbers. The findings suggest that farms 400 m from a Natura 2000 site in the Netherlands face lower and less costly constraints than in the other countries, whereas the opposite is the case for farms 2000 m from Natura 2000 sites. The requirements near Natura 2000, where strict requirements apply, are so high that farms will expand at a different site instead.</p

Linking Farm and Market Models to Analyse the Effects of the EU Nitrate Directive for the Dutch Agricultural Sector

This paper presents a modeling system that can be used to analyze the trade off between economy and environment. It takes into account manure policy, farm structure and manure surpluses at farm level as well as the economic effects of manure surpluses at market level. The modeling system consists of two models that are linked to each other by at the one-hand manure prices and distribution of manure over different destinations and at the other hand changes in agricultural and total manure production. One model is the so-called Manure and Ammonia Model (MAM). This model calculates manure surpluses and deficits at the farm level and distribution of manure to own farm, own region, other regions, export abroad and processing at the regional level. Moreover, MAM also calculates ammonia emissions coming from different sources. The second model is a market model that includes the most important agricultural markets. The models are calibrated for 2002. The modeling system is tested to analyze the effects of sharpened manure policies until 2006

Micro-simulation as a tool to assess policy concerning non-point source pollution: the case of ammonia in Dutch agriculture

Non-point source pollution is notoriously difficult to assess. A relevant example is ammonia emissions in the Netherlands. Since the mid 1980s the Dutch government has sought to reduce emissions through a wide variety of measures, the effect of which in turn is monitored using modeling techniques. This paper presents the current generation of mineral emission models from agriculture based on micro-simulation of farms in combination with a spatial equilibrium model for the dispersion of manure from excess regions with high livestock intensities within the country to areas with low livestock intensities. The micro-simulation approach retains the richness in the heterogeneity of farm household decision making that are the core cause of the difficulty of assessing non-point source pollution, while using the best available data to track corresponding pollution. Examples are provided that illustrate the strengths of the modeling framework for both pollution monitoring and environmental policy scenario analyses

Micro-simulation as a tool to assess policy concerning non-point source pollution: the case of ammonia in Dutch agriculture

Non-point source pollution is notoriously difficult to assess. A relevant example is ammonia emissions in the Netherlands. Since the mid 1980s the Dutch government has sought to reduce emissions through a wide variety of measures, the effect of which in turn is monitored using modeling techniques. This paper presents the current generation of mineral emission models from agriculture based on micro-simulation of farms in combination with a spatial equilibrium model for the dispersion of manure from excess regions with high livestock intensities within the country to areas with low livestock intensities. The micro-simulation approach retains the richness in the heterogeneity of farm household decision making that are the core cause of the difficulty of assessing non-point source pollution, while using the best available data to track corresponding pollution. Examples are provided that illustrate the strengths of the modeling framework for both pollution monitoring and environmental policy scenario analyses.micro-simulation, spatial equilibrium model, non-point source pollution, Environmental Economics and Policy, Research Methods/ Statistical Methods,