agriculture
Farmers before the harvest – does the new minister “deliver”?
For farmers, the most important time on the fields begins again. And the industry wants to demand better conditions at the farmers’ day in the capital. Animal husbandry is about billions.
The combine harvesters are now rolling on the grain fields. And after a dry spring, many farmers hope at least for a normal harvest. In political summer, the industry also wants to see the first steps of the new federal government, which should not only heal the noise around the agrardiesel. “We are excited to see what the minister has in our luggage,” said farmers’ President Joachim Rukwied of the German Press Agency before the German Peasant Day in Berlin. “He has to deliver now.”
The new head of department, Alois Rainer from the CSU, wants to speak to the farmers this Thursday. The end of the traffic light coalition for diesel tax breaks that triggered violent protests wants to collect Schwarz-Rot again. However, there are also expectations for change to more animal welfare in the stables that have been discussed for years.
“Fresh money” for conversion of animal husbandry
“The commitment to the further development of animal husbandry is an important signal. However, there must be no empty words,” said Rukwied. “Society and politics want this conversion and we want to implement it. But it won’t work through the market alone.” The renovation only succeeds if investments are co -financed by the state. “This requires fresh money, no shifting in the agricultural budget.”
Rukwied said: “We are now expecting concrete steps. We will also measure the minister.” It is crucial that the money arrives among the farmers. For investments in stables, guaranteed planning security is also needed for 20 years. And: “In order to invest at all, it takes relief in building and emission protection law.”
Minister wants to fight for funding
So that farms do not only stay at the expense of stable conversions, the traffic light had already reserved one billion euros for pig farming. Nothing has been happening for years with a more comprehensive and permanent billion-dollar financing. Rainer named the goal of wanting to fight for 1.5 billion euros per year as funding. Small price premiums or a higher VAT for meat have long been discussed. Rukwied only said: “We don’t really care how exactly the conversion is financed.”
Supermarket customers can already feel the first intervention by the new government. A long -term state animal husbandry logo for meat should not come to the refrigerated counter in August, but only in March 2026. Rainer wants to give more time to implement the system. “It was a necessary pulling of the ripcord,” said Rukwied. “There would have been a disaster.” The best thing would be to “take a white sheet and to put it on again with the industry slim and practical.”
Food recently more expensive than general inflation. However, the farmers’ association does not see a new price war. “Our food is worth more,” Rukwied argued. “We need trading as partners to place and advertise local products that are generated more sustainably in the market in the market in order to of course also achieve a higher price.” On the other hand, cheap offers that now make you want to buy meat in the barbecue season make sense. “But something like that must be limited in time.”
Rukwied said about the situation in the fields: “The rain came just in time in many regions.” After a pronounced spring dryness in parts of Germany, rainfall came in in the second half of May and June, which could correct a lot. “We do not run for a super harvest at grain and rapeseed,” said the farm president. “But there is a chance for an average harvest.” It is worried that the cereal prices have broken down to a low.
dpa
Source: Stern
