‘If you have a lot of manure to get rid of, a nitrogen cracker is virtually essential’

The Groot family runs a dairy farm in Aarlanderveen with 125 dairy cows and 32 hectares of land, so they were paying out a lot for manure disposal. To reduce these costs and lower nitrogen emissions at the same time, the family has been using a Gazoo nitrogen cracker on the farm since June. ‘I’m really happy this solution was available. ‘If you have a lot of manure to get rid of, a nitrogen cracker is virtually essential,’ says Jeroen.

Reduce nitrogen yourself

Jeroen came across JOZ’s nitrogen cracker when, as part of the Boeren met Perspectief cooperative, he started looking for systems with which farmers can reduce ammonia. This group is looking for ways to turn the nitrogen crisis into an opportunity.

‘We looked around every farm and company, and everyone who had an idea,’ he says. ‘We contacted JOZ, who responded well, and the Gazoo nitrogen cracker turned out to be a very useful and original method for farmers to get rid of their manure. When the SBV subsidy [designed to promote sustainability on farms – ed.] was introduced, JOZ asked me if the nitrogen cracker could be installed on my farm so they could continue testing and optimising it. That’s how it all started.’­

Best tested

Jeroen names 3 reasons which decided that the Gazoo nitrogen cracker was the ‘best tested’. ‘Various scenarios to demonstrate what the nitrogen cracker would yield were calculated for us. These concluded that we could reduce our manure disposal costs and ammonia emissions considerably, and the third advantage was the possibility to derogate from European norms. These three reasons made us very enthusiastic about the nitrogen cracker, and we’ve still got that enthusiasm.’

Promising results

The nitrogen cracker has now been in use for about 4 months, and the first measurements are promising. ‘Of course, some piledriving was needed to install it, but it’s fairly easy to fit the cracker in. JOZ has performed some maintenance and measured various results. So far, it has been doing what is says on the box, which I’m very happy with. I’d buy one even if no subsidy was available, because even then it would pay itself back in 7 years.’

One of the most elegant solutions

The family regularly opens the dairy farm to visitors, and they believe it’s important to show others how the nitrogen cracker works in practice. ‘Everyone who sees it thinks it’s an amazing device, and is impressed by what it can deliver for farmers and society. The Gazoo nitrogen cracker really is one of the best solutions for reducing nitrogen emissions. We should be talking about solutions to reduce emissions, not halving livestock. These solutions exist; the Dutch government only has to look at what we’re doing.

The province of South Holland will shortly launch a pilot to lease the released nitrogen rights to other farms. ‘Looking at all the current developments, these are important steps for the future’, concludes Jeroen.

More info?

Interested in how the nitrogen cracker can benefit your specific situation? Please contact your local dealer for full information.