After the tractor protests against the end of diesel subsidies in winter, politicians want to relieve the burden on the industry in other areas. This is now becoming a reality.
The traffic light coalition is implementing promised relief for farmers. The industry is to benefit from an income tax relief of an average of 50 million euros per year, according to a draft law submitted to the Bundestag on Friday.
In return, companies should be able to offset results from good and bad years. This should mitigate the effect of a higher tax rate being applied to higher incomes. The reduction, which was previously limited to 2022, should now be available to farmers until 2028.
The position of farmers should be strengthened
The plans are part of a relief package that the coalition agreed at the beginning of the year following nationwide farmers’ protests against the end of agricultural diesel subsidies. The plan also includes the reduction of bureaucratic requirements. In addition, the position of farmers in the chain from the field to the supermarket chains is to be strengthened. A draft law has also been introduced for this purpose. For example, it is planned to include certain suppliers in protection against unfair business practices not just for a limited period, but permanently.
As part of the traffic light package, it is also planned to provide additional support for pasture livestock farming without cutting the basic premium from EU agricultural funding. Green Party deputy Julia Verlinden told the German Press Agency: “We are introducing two new organic regulations so that those farms that do a lot to preserve our biodiversity are better supported.” This applies to everyone, whether organic or conventional. Pasture farming on dairy farms should be promoted again, which will mean that more meadows will be preserved and maintained on a permanent basis.
Animal husbandry logo for pork in supermarkets from 2025
The planned expansion of the state animal husbandry logo is also set to move forward. It has been decided that compulsory labeling will initially be introduced for pork in supermarkets in 2025. The next step is to extend it to restaurants and canteens. The parliamentary group vice-chairs Matthias Miersch (SPD), Carina Konrad (FDP) and Verlinden agreed to hold a technical discussion with experts from agriculture and gastronomy, among others, in September. A draft law is to be introduced in the Bundestag in October. The logo has five categories of husbandry during fattening, from the legal minimum standard to organic.
Source: Stern
