German Farmers' President Calls for Immediate Political Action Amid Ongoing Drought
German Farmers' President Joachim Rukwied highlights the dire situation in agriculture due to ongoing drought, calling for immediate political measures to support farmers.
13.08.2026 – 18:44
PHOENIX
German Farmers' President Calls for Immediate Political Action Amid Ongoing Drought
Bonn/Eberstadt (ots)
On August 13, 2026, the persistent drought is severely impacting German agriculture, prompting the German Farmers' Association to demand urgent government assistance. "The current situation is toxic. On one hand, we have below-average yields, and on the other, high costs for energy and diesel, combined with low producer prices," stated Farmers' President Joachim Rukwied during an interview with the television channel phoenix. He added, "Farmers cannot endure this much longer."
Rukwied emphasized the need for political support, including increasing the EU fertilizer subsidy from 60 million to 180 million euros and advancing the payment of 80% of EU direct payments to farmers to October. He also proposed a significant reduction in diesel taxes until at least the end of November, asserting that this would provide immediate relief to farmers.
Furthermore, Rukwied urged the government to implement the coalition agreement regarding agriculture. "It is politically crucial to introduce a tax-free risk compensation reserve," he explained, which would help create a financial cushion for challenging years. He noted that the agricultural sector has been adapting to climate changes for many years and now urgently requires heat-tolerant and resilient crop varieties for both grain and vegetable production.
Looking ahead to 2027, Rukwied foresees significant challenges for German farmers. Due to a lack of financial resources, many farms are currently purchasing insufficient amounts of fertilizer, which has also become considerably more expensive. "This will ultimately lead to further declining harvests next year," warned the Farmers' President. Additionally, there are shortages in animal feed resulting from the subpar harvest. "In the worst-case scenario, this means farmers will need to reduce their livestock numbers," he added.
The entire interview can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTQs-p1anpU
Pressekontakt:
phoenix-Kommunikation Telefon: 0228 / 9584 192 [email protected] Twitter.com: phoenix_de
