What is the peak load approach?
The buyout scheme for so-called peak loaders was presented last year and is intended to buy out farmers with high nitrogen emissions in or within a radius of 25 kilometers from protected nature reserves.
A farmer is a peak loader if his company emits more than 2,500 particles of nitrogen. The nitrogen is bad for the vulnerable Natura 2000 areas. Farmers can apply to be bought out by the government for an amount equal to 120 percent of the value of the company. They can also choose in the application to become more sustainable or to relocate their company.