On Oct. 2, the Rechtbank Midden-Nederland (Middle Netherlands Court) rejected requests for preliminary relief (voorlopige voorzieningen) from major agricultural lobby groups, including LTO, POV, and NMV, which sought to block a government disclosure decision under the Open Government Act (Wet open overheid, or Woo). (Under Venetian style obfuscation, the name of the ruling judge is not published.)

The ruling permits the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature (LVVN) to turn over the “combined statements” (gecombineerde opgaven) of Dutch livestock farmers to Mobilisation for the Environment (MOB). The data, some dating back to 1989, include housing information, stable types, exact farm locations, animal counts, and crop data. The move has thus essentially announced open season on Dutch farmers, who can now be hounded in their homes and on their farms by green fanatics.