Optimism of European farmer is increasing

Confidence in the future among European farmers is increasing. General confidence among agricultural entrepreneurs is also increasing in the Netherlands, although this is not the case for all individual sectors.

This is evident from the confidence index conducted by Copa Cogeca. The confidence index, conducted in the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Sweden and the United Kingdom, shows that farmers were more optimistic about the economic situation and the future of their farms in the first half of 2021 than in the second. half of 2020. On average, European confidence has increased.

However, there are significant differences between them. In Belgium, confidence in general has risen, due to increasing optimism about the future. In France, sentiment based on own business activity is at its highest level since 2008. A stable trend to slightly increasing trend can be observed in Sweden.

In Germany, the index has stabilised, but at a low level. Future expectations pull the index down somewhat, preventing it from rising. In Hungary, the index will move stable in the coming period due to a slight persistence of optimism. Confidence has declined in Italy, where farmers expect a worsening situation due to less good weather and a decrease in demand for certain products.

The Netherlands
Confidence continues to increase among Dutch farmers. This is mainly due to the strong increase in the first quarter. Arable farmers were an exception to this, where confidence actually declined somewhat. The confidence index among greenhouse horticulturists, on the other hand, was at its highest level ever. Confidence has also increased among pig, dairy and poultry farmers.

Chanti Oussoren

Editor at Boerenbusiness who studies the dairy, pig (meat) and feed markets.

c.oussoren@boerenbusiness. Nl

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