Agriculture: Farmers’ president does not rule out further protests

Farmers’ Association President Joachim Rukwied has not ruled out further protests against the federal government’s agricultural policy. “We reserve the right to hold further protests,” he said on ZDF’s “Morgenmagazin”. After nationwide tractor protests by farmers at the beginning of the year, the coalition of the SPD, Greens and FDP agreed on a relief package on Tuesday. It includes tax relief and less bureaucracy. However, the Farmers’ Association is calling for further steps. The situation in agriculture is also the central theme of the German Farmers’ Day, which begins today in Cottbus.

“The traffic light coalition has not delivered,” criticized Rukwied. The agricultural package that was agreed was “just a small package.” “We have to reorganize agriculture, focus on knowledge-based innovations, and give our young generation prospects,” said the association president. The frustration among the younger generation is enormous.

Rukwied called on the government to involve farmers and builders more. “We are not pursuing a confrontational course,” he asserted. “On the contrary, we are making offers and expect that the offers will be accepted and that things will be implemented together with us so that the younger generation has a future.” The protests at the beginning of the year were mainly directed against the expiration of diesel subsidies.

Ruckwied calls for higher food prices

Previously, Rukwied had advocated for higher food prices at the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland (RND): “Consumers must be aware that food from Germany, such as meat or sausage, is produced to higher standards than elsewhere. These foods must then also have a higher price.”

“We need a social consensus that food from Germany cannot be taken for granted and must also have its value,” warned Rukwied. “Otherwise we will increasingly import food from abroad and further reduce regional, domestic agriculture.”