Agriculture: Farmers before the harvest - Will the new minister "deliver"?

Combine harvesters are now rolling into the grain fields. And many farmers are hoping for at least a normal harvest after a dry spring. However, the industry also wants to see the first steps from the new federal government in the political summer, which will address more than just the controversy surrounding agricultural diesel. "We're excited to see what the minister has in store," farmers' association president Joachim Rukwied told the German Press Agency before the German Farmers' Day in Berlin. "He has to deliver now."

The new department head, Alois Rainer of the CSU, plans to address farmers this Thursday. The CDU/CSU coalition intends to reverse the end of diesel tax breaks imposed by the traffic light coalition, which sparked fierce protests. However, there are also expectations regarding the change toward greater animal welfare in stables, which has been discussed for years.

"The commitment to further developing animal husbandry sends an important message. But these statements must not remain empty words," Rukwied said. "Society and politics want this transformation, and we want to implement it. But it won't work through the market alone." The transformation will only succeed if investments are co-financed by the state. "This requires fresh money, not reallocations in the agricultural budget."

Rukwied said: "We now expect concrete steps. We will also judge the minister on this." It is crucial that the money reaches the farmers. Investments in stables also require guaranteed planning security for 20 years. And: "In order for investments to take place at all, there needs to be relaxation of building and emissions protection laws."

To ensure that farms aren't left with the sole responsibility for barn conversions, the "trafficking" coalition had already reserved one billion euros for pig farming. However, there has been no progress for years on more comprehensive and permanent funding worth billions. Rainer stated his goal of securing €1.5 billion per year in subsidies. Small price increases or a higher VAT on meat have also been discussed for a long time. Rukwied simply said: "How exactly the conversion is financed is actually irrelevant to us."

Supermarket customers are already feeling the first signs of the new government's intervention. A long-decided state animal husbandry logo for meat will not be available in refrigerated counters in August, but only in March 2026. Rainer wants more time to implement the system. "That was a necessary act of pulling the ripcord," said Rukwied. "It would have been a disaster." The best option would be "to start with a clean slate and, together with the industry, create a completely new, lean and practical design."

Food prices have recently risen faster than general inflation. However, the Farmers' Association does not foresee a new price war. "Our food is worth more," Rukwied argued. "We need retailers as partners to position and promote domestic products that are produced more sustainably in the market in the long term, and of course, to achieve a higher price." On the other hand, low-cost offers that encourage people to buy meat during the barbecue season certainly make sense. "But something like that has to be temporary."

Regarding the situation in the fields, Rukwied said: "The rain came just in time in many regions." After a pronounced spring drought in parts of Germany, rainfall occurred in the second half of May and into June, which corrected some of the situation. "We're not heading for a super harvest of grain and rapeseed," said the farmers' association president. "But there's a chance for an average harvest ." He added that grain prices have plummeted to record lows.

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