"A fresh viewpoint is essential"
In the heart of Germany's Heidekreis region, a wave of unrest has swept through the farming community. Thousands of farmers, including the Hankemeyer and Hartig families, have taken to the streets in a protest against the federal government.
Steffen Hartig, a farmer from Steinbeck, attended the Landvolk assembly with his father and son. Hartig's son has been an active participant in the protests not just in the municipality, but also in Winsen. Hartig expresses frustration with the numerous restrictions and requirements at the federal and EU levels, making it difficult to make investments.
Doris Hankemeyer, chairwoman of Landfrauen, is a key organizer in the Heidekreis farmer protests. She shares Hartig's concerns and voices her own, particularly about the consumer's demand for cheap milk while the work remains the same, whether it's organic or conventionally produced.
The current farmer protests are not just about cuts to agricultural diesel subsidies, but a broader restriction by the federal government that has pushed many farmers to the brink. Many farmers in the region have been assisting with sandbagging and other tasks during a typically quiet period on farms, a testament to their resilience.
Hartig's business, which includes pig farming and potato growing, is particularly affected by agricultural diesel costs due to the need for multiple soil sievings to produce high-quality potatoes. The farmers view the cuts to their agricultural diesel subsidies as a random austerity measure, and reject the assumption that it is a subsidy since they do not use public roads with tractors.
Restrictions on the use of plant protection products, cuts to area premiums, and an overwhelming bureaucratic burden are among the reasons for the protests. Pastor Frank Blase has offered support to the farmers, standing in solidarity with them in their struggle.
The Hankemeyer family, particularly Christoph, one of Doris' sons, is deeply involved in the protests. Senior Otto Hankemeyer, a veteran farmer, recalls a past demonstration he participated in over 40 years ago when Bonn was still the federal capital. This, he says, is the broadest protest he can remember.
Everyone in the Hankemeyer family stands behind the protests and supports them. Markus Hankemeyer, another member of the family, operates a combined heat and power plant. Katja Kunick, from Landberatung, expressed gratitude to these farmers at the Landvolk Heidekreis general assembly.
The farmers do not intend to target those who support them, and have been holding "slow driving" protests with tractors in the Heidekreis region. They aim to peacefully express their concerns and seek understanding from the government.
The search results do not provide information about the names of the politicians who canceled the Landvolk Heidekreis Congress. Despite this, the farmers remain undeterred, continuing their protests both on the streets and in the barns, hoping for a brighter future for German agriculture.
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