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Manure mountain

THE DUTCH government has reached an agreement with livestock farmers to reduce pollution-causing manure surpluses by 2000 and thereby avert forced cuts in pig, cattle and poultry herds.

The amount of harmful phosphorus in manure produced on farms will be reduced by 30 per cent of the 1986 level by 1995. Thereafter, farmers will be allowed 150 kg of phosphorus a year per ha and by 2000, only 65 kg per ha. This is meant to encourage livestock farmers to give up surplus manure, which can then be exported.

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