After the federal election, the agricultural association expects the reversal of the cuts in agricultural diesel subsidies. “The abolition of the agricultural diesel refund is still an unacceptable additional burden for our businesses” said Association President Joachim Rukwied to the “Rheinische Post” (Friday edition).
To restore the competitiveness of German agriculture in Europe, the next federal government must “adjust agricultural diesel taxation to the European average” Rukwied added. Despite the farmers’ protests in the past year, the SPD-led government had held fast to the gradual abolition of agricultural diesel subsidies by 2026, at which point farmers will have to pay the full tax rate.
The next federal government must also drive a real bureaucratic reduction, Rukwied said. “Our businesses are suffocating under bureaucracy.” Time-consuming documentation requirements, lengthy application and approval procedures, or costly control and reporting obligations would weaken the competitiveness of farmers. “We need more entrepreneurial freedom again” the association president demanded.