Farming Minister Till Backhaus Challenges Federal Government's Austerity Plan
In a video conference with fellow state ministers, Agriculture Minister Till Backhaus (SPD) of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania voiced his disagreement with the federal government's savings measures, arguing they unfairly target German farmers and the food industry. As part of his proposal, he suggested seven alternative approaches to achieve savings objectives without ruining agriculture and related industries.
Minister Backhaus called for another meeting before January 8, inviting other heads of the federal states to advocate for the cancellation of the planned cuts and the exploration of alternative solutions with the Finance Minister, Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, and the Federal Chancellor.
Backhaus saw merit in protesters' frustration and deemed the federal government's ambitious 17-billion-euro saving goal overly aggressive toward agriculture, which accounts for a mere one billion euros in contribution. To propose a balanced solution, Backhaus suggested abolishing the company car privilege for hybrid vehicles, addressing some of the funds allocated to improve animal welfare, and addressing price pressures from the trade.
Thousands of farmers took to the streets in Berlin on Monday, condemning the government's plans to reduce agricultural diesel and vehicle taxes. Farmers' President Joachim Rukwied urged the coalition government to reconsider these proposals due to their potential to further decrease farmers' income, which is already being battered by the escalating costs of energy, fertilizer, and fuel.
In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, agricultural businesses are estimated to sustain annual losses of 200 to 300 million euros due to poor price compensation for increased costs.
Additional Insights:
- Simplified Fertilizer Laws: Minister Backhaus called for streamlined and effective monitoring of fertilizer laws to support sustainable farming practices.
- Simplification of EU Agricultural Policy (GAP): He advocated for updating and streamlining the EU's Common Agricultural Policy (GAP) to ensure equal valuation of each hectare of land, minimizing bureaucracy.
- Support for Organic Agriculture: Encouraging successful organic farms to serve as consultation centers for interested farmers and promoting the pros of organic farming methods.
- Animal Shelter Funding: Minister Backhaus proposed providing funding for animal shelters, with applications available until March 15, 2025.
These alternative proposals aim to address the challenges faced by German farmers and the food industry while reducing bureaucratic hurdles and promoting sustainable farming practices.
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