Belgium - Wallonia

Pilot Farms in Belgium - Wallonia

In 2007, about 5,500 farms produce milk in the Walloon Region (or 35% of the total number of Walloon farms). 40.5% of the dairy farms are specialized in dairy production (OTE 41) and 30.5% of the dairy farms are oriented in mixed bovine production “milk and meat” (OTE 43). Most of the specialized dairy farms are located in the district of Liege (36 % of the Walloon dairy herd and 29.5% of the total number of dairy cows holders): in the grassland region and in Haute Ardenne. There are also a lot of farms in the loamy area, Condroz and Ardenne.

Environmental regulations and main constraints

Nitrogen Sustainable management programme (PGDA) (started in February 2007) puts constraints on:

  • The soil linkage rate (the quantity of organic nitrogen produced reported to the spreading capacity) must be lower or equal to 1.
  • The spreading norms: 115 kg organic N/ha/year on crops, 230 kg organic N/ha/year on grasslands, with a maximum of 170 organic N/ha/year in average, on the farm, when located on vulnerable areas.
  • The maximum total nitrogen quantity: 250 kg total N/ha/year on crops, 350 kg total N/ha/year on grasslands.
  • The storage conditions for the organic Nitrogen on the farm and in the fields.
  • The spreading periods and conditions.

Water quality of the region

  • There was an improvement of the river quality in the Walloon Region during the last 30 years: the organic pollution and the phosphorous content have decreased. Regarding to the nitrogen (NO3- and NH4+), the evolution of the river quality is slower. There is also an important variability between the rivers.
  • The contamination of the groundwater by NO3- (concentrations higher than 40mg/l) is still slightly increasing, especially in some vulnerable areas.