Nationwide protests by farmers have been going on since Monday, opposing what they perceive as increasingly challenging political conditions and the relentless pricing policy of the retail trade. Georg Boekels, President of the Provincial Association of Rhineland Fruit and Vegetable Producers, also took part in the protests. "No sooner had we managed to prevent the European 'Green Deal' in November, the latest decisions came in through the back door, which was the last straw," he said.
Georg Boekels (3rd from left) presents the farmers' resolution to the politicians. Resolutions were handed in at three party headquarters in Düsseldorf, after which the farmers were invited to a discussion by the parties. Photo: Pia Theuerkauf
2,000 vehicles on the road
Apart from minor exceptions - manure was dumped in one place, some farmers drove their tractors onto the highway, and one person was hurt - the protests went "very good, peaceful and considerate". However, "Whoever takes to the streets runs the risk of being killed," says the farmer. He himself drove his tractor for ten hours through Cologne on Wednesday, covering 77 km. "We were on the road for ten hours, disrupting and delaying people's daily routines."
Following the latest discussion on wage increases, the food retail trade announced three quarters of a year in advance that producers would receive less for their goods, according to Boekels. "In view of the high toll charges and other costs, transport companies have also joined the protests. Of course, the food retail trade also has to cope with rising costs. Therefore, there is certainly the fear that they will again push down prices at the expense of the producers."
Farmers provide aid during disasters
Boekels also believes that farmers are particularly needed in times of crisis. "When there was a forest fire in the Sauerland, the farmers came with their manure spreaders and tractors to bring water into the forest because the fire brigade did not have the capacity. If there is a disaster somewhere, sometimes farmers who can help the population quickly. Of course, this is not possible if we are not allowed to use our vehicles anymore," says Boekels.
Protest in front of the SPD party headquarters in Düsseldorf. Photo: Pia Theuerkauf.
Good year 2023 for strawberries and other products
The majority of the strawberry producers of the provincial association have received satisfactory prices overall. "The significantly more labour-intensive open-field cultivation is still declining. It has no chance of surviving at the price level. After all, a higher harvest performance is necessary, as the wage price is significantly higher in special crops than in other products."
In 2023, there was an average yield for pome fruit compared to 2022. "In 2022, we had the largest harvest for a long time, which was sold out relatively quickly when we started the new season. The special offers, which always affect the price level, also decreased in 2023. This made it more bearable for the companies. However, apples have been sold far below the production level for a long time. Even if some companies are doing well, the overall mood is tense."
The great trading power that the food retail trade represents sometimes leads to unfair trading practices against farmers. "It is completely undisputed that we have to rely on imported goods at certain times. But if we have agreed that only domestic goods should come onto the market at certain times and the trade still tries to push down prices with other, cheaper products, that is not good. These are unfair measures that they impose on the producers. It is also clear that the Big Four are in competition with each other. But if the situation cannot be regulated, the legislator must intervene," says Boekels.
"Iceberg lettuce was already ready for harvest in spring and good quantities were agreed and scheduled for trade. Then the trade said that they would still use Spanish goods for another week. This means that the most expensive culture at the beginning of the year could be scrapped directly again. We have to demand fair treatment of each other," Boekels appeals. "It cannot be that we have to produce goods to the most expensive standards and the trade then claims to want to offer regional goods when they prefer to rely on imported goods."
Another problem is still the lack of young talent on the farms. "In the last ten to fifteen years, the number of trainees has only fluctuated slightly. But since last year, this number has dropped drastically, by about 60 to 70 percent. This is the case with companies that have sometimes been unprofitable in recent years. This means to me that there are some farm managers who advise their children not to continue the farm. But it is now the responsibility of politics to ensure that the agricultural businesses in the regions do not die out and that there is proportionality. That is my goal and also something that politics must work on." The farmers will meet in Berlin on Monday, 15.01.
For more information:
Georg Boekels
Provincial Association of Rhineland Fruit and Vegetable Producers e.V.
Rochusstraße 18
53123 Bonn
Phone 0228 - 52 006 700
Email: info@provinzialverband.de
Web: provinzialverband.de