The German wine sector is facing its most severe crisis in decades, prompting a direct plea from the President of the German Farmers’ Association, Joachim Rukwied, for consumers to prioritize domestic wines. In an interview with the “Rheinische Post” Rukwied warned of significant vineyard losses if current market conditions persist. He urged a shift in consumer behavior, asserting that German wines can readily compete in quality with those from established European powerhouses like France, Spain and Italy.
Rukwied’s concerns extend beyond the viticulture. He painted a broader picture of widespread distress within the agricultural sector, describing the situation in many areas as “disastrous”. The escalating costs of inputs – particularly energy and fertilizers – are dramatically outpacing the prices farmers can command for their produce, squeezing margins to unsustainable levels.
The President’s remarks represent a sharp escalation in the farmers’ ongoing critique of government policy. Rukwied explicitly called for a change in direction, identifying excessive bureaucracy as a primary impediment to recovery. While stopping short of demanding radical reform, he utilized a metaphorical analogy, declaring that while “we don’t need a chainsaw” a “lawnmower” is essential to accelerate the process of reducing bureaucratic burdens.
The appeal underscores a growing frustration amongst German farmers, who feel increasingly unsupported by current regulations. It also subtly questions the efficacy of existing agricultural subsidies and policies, suggesting a need for rapid and demonstrable action from policymakers to prevent further contraction in a vital industry. The call to action ultimately positions the consumer as a key player in the survival of the German wine industry and, by extension, signals a desire for a fundamental reconsideration of the government’s approach to supporting its agricultural base.