Farmers' leader denounces the traffic light's government aid plan.
Tractor demonstrations nationwide at the start of the year center on the abolition of Diesel subsidies. Despite acknowledging the need for agricultural reforms, the traffic light coalition factions in the German Parliament aren't cutting it for the Farmers Association and the opposition.
For the German Farmers Association, the agricultural package from the traffic light coalition doesn't meet their demands. Farmers Association President Joachim Rukwied says, "This flimsy package is an outdated and insufficient step." Real relief looks quite different. Moreover, it contains mostly empty promises that need to be backed up with action. "Our farmers require immediate competition fairness in the EU," he said. The Farmers Association had warned over the weekend that relief would arrive and advised against sabotage.
The next moves should involve removing additional burdens, such as the Novelty of the Animal Welfare Law and the Federal Government's Plant Protection Program. Then, a solution for renewable agricultural diesel and the potentiality of a tax-free risk equalization reserve should follow. "We must acknowledge that we are still several years from a genuine compensation for the burdens and tax increases of the past months," said Rukwied.
Union-Faction Vice Steffen Bilger also criticizes the relief package for farmers and forestry by the government. "The traffic light's response to the farmers' protests at the start of the year arrives too late and is incredibly disappointing," said the CDU politician. It is undeniably not a serious financial compensation for the cancellation of agricultural Diesel subsidies. CDU Agricultural Politician Albert Stegemann described it as a mere Band-Aid on a wound that's far too large.
Prior to this, the Parliamentary factions of the ruling parties agreed on reliefs for farmers and foresters. This was announced by the faction leaders of SPD, Greens, and FDP. With the agricultural package, they aim to promote sustainable agriculture. Part of the package includes tax-related profit smoothing for income from agriculture and forestry, as well as a package of measures for bureaucracy reduction.
Traffic light factions in agreement on reliefs
In the end, we now have, as promised, a comprehensive agricultural package finalized, with which we relieve and strengthen the competitive position of German agriculture, said faction leaders Rolf Mützenich of the SPD, Britta Haßelmann and Katharina Droge of the Greens, and Christian Dürr of the FDP in a statement.
With the planned profit smoothing, it is intended to mitigate income fluctuations for farmers and foresters due to changing weather conditions, such as drought periods, without reducing the basic premium. The traffic light factions plan to additionally support grazing livestock on green land in the common agricultural policy.
A tense situation in agriculture and calls for more relief are the main topics for the German Farmers' Day, which begins next Wednesday in Cottbus. The Farmers' Association is demanding further moves from the Traffic Light Coalition. Farmers' Association President Rukwied is standing for re-election in Cottbus for another four years. On Thursday, then Federal Agriculture Minister Cem Özdemir from the Greens and Brandenburg's Minister-President Dietmar Woidke from the SPD are expected at the conclusion of the Farmers' Day.
