I am a farmer

As a farmer, Elia will contact you directly if you farm a plot of land affected by work related to current or future infrastructure. The aim is to carry out the work in a mutually agreed manner so as to minimise its impact upon your activities. In practical terms, compensation is available to offset the loss of income resulting from the presence of infrastructure on the area being farmed. The memorandum of understanding between Elia and the agricultural representatives also defines how the works will be carried out and the compensation for any damage caused during the works. These items are detailed in Articles 6 and 9 of the agricultural memorandum of understanding currently in force and available here.

Elia will contact you directly if this is the case. A company representative will then be your point of contact from start to finish. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact our team by email at agriculteurs@elia.be or by phone on 0800 18 002.

Elia personally contacts any farmers concerned whenever this becomes necessary for the project. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact our team by email at agriculteurs@elia.be or by phone on 0800 18 002.

Elia takes care to keep everyone involved in its projects as well informed as possible, from start to finish. In addition to the project page on the Elia website and the various brochures produced for the projects, there are also newsletters, so don't hesitate to sign up for them. In addition, as the farmer directly concerned, a representative will be your direct and personal point of contact throughout the project. Never hesitate to call them should you need to.

The possible impact on agricultural areas is one of the issues looked into during the environmental impact assessment, which is carried out by an independent external firm during the permit application procedure. Measures to mitigate the impact on agriculture will be included in the project recommendations and Elia will take care to limit, as far as possible, any nuisance associated with the works or maintenance of its infrastructure. During the construction phase itself, Elia has developed a methodology to limit the impact of the construction work on the farming of the land. In addition, Article 9 of the memorandum of understanding sets out each party’s rights and responsibilities during the construction phase and any compensation owed by Elia to the farmer, to ensure that the work proceeds as smoothly as possible. You can find out all about the memorandum of understanding in the dedicated section.

When means of access or infrastructure are located on a plot of land that you farm, an Elia representative will contact you directly to determine how the impact of the construction work on your business can be limited. The necessary means of access and time-frames are discussed and adapted as far as possible. In particular, site surveys are undertaken. All of your rights and responsibilities are set forth in the current agricultural memorandum, mainly in Article 9. This covers compensation for loss of income related to the construction project, as well as any harm or damage and repairs during construction work.

When means of access or infrastructure are located on a plot of land that you farm, an Elia representative will contact you directly to determine how the impact of the construction work on your business can be limited. The necessary means of access and time-frames are discussed and adapted as far as possible. In particular, site surveys are undertaken. All of your rights and responsibilities are set forth in the current agricultural memorandum, mainly in Articles 6 and 9. These cover compensation for loss of income related to the construction project, as well as any harm or damage and repairs during construction.

Although Elia will have a proposal, the company always prefers to speak to farmers to ensure that access and/or infrastructure positioning will have the least impact on their business. Specifically, Elia appoints a representative for each project. This person will be your main point of contact and will support you throughout the project.

Certain safety distances must, of course, be ensured in relation to infrastructures located on or above the plot of land. These safety measures depend not only on the infrastructure but also on what the owner or farmer wishes to do under, or near, the power line. However, opting for an overhead line offers farmers a number of advantages compared with an underground cable. Underground cables reduce the likelihood of the ground level being raised or lowered, no buildings can be constructed above them and no deep-rooting crops may be planted there. For a more detailed answer to your question, specific to your personal situation, please contact your Elia representative or the Contact Centre, for which the contact details can be found here.

Underground cables reduce the likelihood of the ground level being raised or lowered, no buildings can be constructed above them and no deep-rooting crops may be planted there. Besides these specific factors, working the land and/or raising livestock are, of course, compatible with the presence of this type of infrastructure. For a more detailed answer to your question, specific to your personal situation, please contact your Elia representative or the Contact Centre, for which the contact details can be found here. 

It is recommended that a safety distance of 10 metres be ensured at all times. More specifically, the contact centre will be happy to answer any questions you may have regarding this issue. You can find their recommendations and contact details by clicking on the following link.

Electronic equipment used by farmers that is compliant with current legislation and installed as per the manufacturer's instructions, is not subject to any interference due to the presence of a high-voltage power line. It is therefore important to ensure the quality and regularity of earthing, the use of cable types and to abide by the recommended lengths as a reference signal.

The memorandum of understanding establishes a uniform and transparent legal framework for all parties relating to the presence of infrastructure required for the transmission of electricity in an agricultural area and its construction site. Specifically, it clarifies matters such as the organisation of the works, compensation for the presence of the infrastructure and compensation for any harm or damage caused during the works.

This memorandum is the result of consultation between Elia and the various Walloon and Flemish agricultural representatives. It concerns both landowners and farmers, and applies to all projects, whether they involve a high-voltage substation, an overhead line/underground cable or other infrastructure.

In 2012, Elia had already signed a memorandum of understanding with the Fédération Wallonne de l'Agriculture in Wallonia and with the Boerenbond and the Algemeen Boerensyndicaat in Flanders. The purpose of this was to provide the best possible solution to the realities on the ground and to everyone's expectations. This memorandum therefore served as a basis for work and discussion with all the representatives of the various farming organisations and Elia.

The protocol consists of two parts: one concerning the presence of the infrastructure on agricultural land and the other concerning the work associated with this infrastructure. In each case, some articles are specifically for farmers and others for owners of agricultural land, depending on the type of infrastructure (overhead or underground). There are also nine appendices to the memorandum of understanding, including models, standard contracts and methods for calculating compensation.

In addition to continuous dialogue between the farmer and Elia through its representative, the memorandum of understanding sets forth the various stages, rights and responsibilities of all parties to ensure that the construction project takes place as smoothly as possible. Article 9 concerns the construction project and any harm or damage caused. It sets forth everyone's rights and responsibilities before work begins, the necessary site surveys and how they are carried out, how compensation is calculated in the event of damage during the construction work, and what needs to be done if you have a drainage system installed on your plot of land, for example. Excavation work, management of fencing during the construction project and the presence of underground piping or cables are also factors taken into consideration during construction and specified in this article. The question of the guarantees provided by Elia is also detailed at this point in the memorandum. The full memorandum can be found here.

In addition to continuous dialogue between the farmer and Elia through its representative, the memorandum of understanding sets forth the various stages, rights and responsibilities of all parties to ensure that the construction project takes place as smoothly as possible. Article 9 concerns the construction project and any harm or damage caused. It sets forth everyone's rights and responsibilities before work begins, the necessary site surveys and how they are carried out, how compensation is calculated in the event of damage during the construction work, and what needs to be done if you have a drainage system installed on your plot of land, for example. Excavation work, management of fencing during the construction project and the presence of underground piping or cables are also factors taken into consideration during construction and specified in this article. The question of the guarantees provided by Elia is also detailed at this point in the memorandum. The full memorandum can be found here. 

The various studies and research carried out to date on farm animals do not show any biological effects caused by exposure to high-voltage power lines. The only potential impact is indirect, generated by a parasitic electric current caused by the phenomenon of induction. For example, currents flowing through conductive components, the ground or metal structures can accidentally circulate through the animal's body. Animals are often far more sensitive than humans and can therefore experience discomfort or even stress. Parasitic currents can have different origins. Some are external, such as a high-voltage line, while others originate from the farm. When this sort of problem is identified, the source must be determined and the problem remedied. In addition, some studies have been carried out to determine the possible impact of an electromagnetic field on crop growth or production. To date, none has been demonstrated. If you have any further questions about electromagnetic fields, please visit the specific page by clicking on the following link.

Electronic equipment used by farmers that is compliant with current legislation and installed as per the manufacturer's instructions, is not subject to any interference due to the presence of a high-voltage power line. It is therefore important to ensure the quality and regularity of earthing, the use of cable types and to abide by the recommended lengths as a reference signal.