German farmers will go to Berlin on Tuesday (January 26) to express their displeasure through a protest. Various farmers' representatives have drawn up a six-point plan that they want to present to politicians. Better market protection is one of the spearheads.
Farmers in Germany, both arable farmers and livestock farmers, have been dissatisfied for some time about the disappointing yields and stricter laws and regulations. In recent years, this led to several large farmer protests with tractors, similar to the one here in the Netherlands. While the discussion here is mainly about nitrogen, German farmers are fighting for better prices.
Another farmer's protest will take place at the agriculture ministry in Berlin on Tuesday. It remains to be seen how many farmers will show up. What is known, however, is what demands the farmers have with regard to politics. Interest representatives from various corners of German agriculture have formulated this in a six-point plan.
six point plan
One of the points is that there will be an independent committee that will draw up cost price calculations for all foodstuffs. Furthermore, wholesalers and distributors are only allowed to import products that meet German standards. Retailers are only allowed to offer products that are produced according to German standards. In addition, 80% of the meat, dairy and grain products must be domestically produced.
The farmers are also making a case for a support fund to compensate the income of dairy farmers, which has been affected by the corona crisis. There should also be a support fund for pig farmers who saw their income fall due to the outbreak of African swine fever last September.
Manure Act
The points plan also prescribes that the revised manure law, which has been in force since the beginning of this year, will be withdrawn or adjusted. This law makes the spreading of manure a lot more difficult, because the fertilization standards have been sharply adjusted downwards. Not only must the Manure Act be dissolved, this also applies to all regulations and laws that were passed in the past year with regard to arable farming and livestock farming.
At first sight, the commitment of German farmers to politics seems rather ambitious. It remains to be seen to what extent the points plan is feasible. The question that arises is whether German politics is at all capable of regulating the free-market economy with regard to food.
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