Niedersachsen: Düneverbot trotz Frosttau – Was Landwirte wissen müssen
Agricultural practices in the German state of Lower Saxony are facing unusual restrictions regarding fertilization, even during conditions considered optimal for the process. While applying fertilizer to frozen ground that thaws during the day is generally accepted in several other German states, Lower Saxony currently prohibits the practice.
The Dispute Over Winter Fertilization
According to information provided by Landvolk Niedersachsen, the conditions – nights with ground frost followed by daytime thawing – are, in fact, suitable for fertilization. However, the Niedersächsisches Ministerium für Landwirtschaft (ML) continues to enforce a ban. Landvolk Niedersachsen stated that, provided water protection measures are observed, fertilization on slightly frozen ground is “reasonable from a professional point of view.”
Specifically, Landvolk Niedersachsen explained that under certain conditions – appropriate weather, suitable soil conditions, vegetated and level surfaces and sufficient distance from bodies of water – fertilizer application to ground frozen to a few centimeters deep is acceptable. This is contingent on a forecast of timely thawing after application and the absence of heavy rainfall in the following days to ensure water protection.
Ministry Remains Firm on the Ban
Despite repeated attempts to persuade the Landwirtschaftsministerium to reconsider, Landvolk Niedersachsen reports no success. The organization communicated with the Niedersächsisches Ministerium für Landwirtschaft (ML) to highlight the potential benefits for emissions protection, soil protection, and climate protection, weighed against the risks to water protection.
However, the ML Niedersachsen is unwilling to allow local farmers to make this assessment themselves, maintaining a legal interpretation that differs significantly from its neighboring states. Landvolk Niedersachsen suggests a uniform interpretation by the Bundesministerium für Landwirtschaft, Ernährung und Heimat (BMLEH) would be beneficial.
What Could Happen Next
Landvolk Niedersachsen will continue to advocate for a change in policy, potentially seeking intervention from the Bundesministerium für Landwirtschaft, Ernährung und Heimat (BMLEH) to establish a nationwide standard. Alternatively, the current situation could persist, leading to continued frustration among farmers in Lower Saxony. A possible next step for the ML Niedersachsen could be a re-evaluation of its legal interpretation in light of the practices in other states and the arguments presented by Landvolk Niedersachsen.
Frequently Asked Questions
What conditions are considered suitable for fertilization according to Landvolk Niedersachsen?
Landvolk Niedersachsen states that appropriate weather, suitable soil conditions, vegetated and level surfaces, and sufficient distance from bodies of water, combined with ground freezing to a few centimeters and a forecast for timely thawing, are suitable conditions.
Which neighboring states allow the fertilization practice prohibited in Lower Saxony?
North Rhine-Westphalia, Hesse, Thuringia, and Saxony-Anhalt currently allow the practice of fertilizing ground that is slightly frozen.
What is Landvolk Niedersachsen’s primary concern regarding the current regulations?
Landvolk Niedersachsen believes the ML Niedersachsen is not adequately weighing the benefits of the practice – emissions protection, soil protection, and climate protection – against the risks to water protection.
How might differing regional agricultural regulations impact broader national environmental goals?