Talks on forming a new coalition in Noord-Brabant province have collapsed after the pro-farmers BBB said it could not support the extremely tight deadline that had been sent for nitrogen-reducing measures at the province’s dairy farms.

By July 1, 2024, all Noord-Brabant’s dairy farms are supposed to have fitted new floors which allow urine to be separated from manure more easily and so slash nitrogen emissions. The measure was drawn up by the previous administration.

The measure is unrealistic, can’t be achieved and won’t stand up in court either, the party said.

The BBB, by far the biggest party in the province, was in talks with the VVD, GroenLinks and the PvdA.

Five of the 12 provincial coalitions have been finalised since the March 15 regional elections. All of them so far involve the BBB, which topped the poll in every province.