Food crisis: “We are the solution, not the problem”

Created: 06/17/2022, 02:00 p.m

By: Hans Moritz

Farmer in the third generation is Jakob Maier from Niederding.

The married father of two children breeds heifers and cultivates fields.

The 59-year-old has been district chairman of the Bavarian Farmers' Association since 2017.

He will stand for re-election on July 4th.

Already on Monday he invites you to the district farmer's day.

© Hans Moritz

Domestic agriculture experienced an upswing during the pandemic, and farmers are now feeling the effects of inflation.

At the same time, Ukraine is no longer a breadbasket.

In Erding, the farmers' association has 1,800 members in almost 40 local groups.

They have been chaired by chairman Jakob Maier since 2017.

We spoke to the 59-year-old from Niederding.

Erding - Mr. Maier, what is the balance of your first term as district chairman?

Cooperation between farmers' association and rural women has improved.

We've done a lot together.

We have also intensified our public relations work in order to present our concerns better.

Why are you competing again?

In the first five years, I was able to lay a foundation – for political parties and non-governmental organizations.

I want to build on that, maybe a little more aggressively than before.

Internally, I want to do my best to work together even better.

The BBV is considered very close to the CSU, but you are not.

Did politics let you feel that?

I've already felt resistance when it came to the question of which speakers to invite to an event.

If you speak out against infrastructure projects, for example, not everyone in politics likes it.

The BBV is independent.

And how do your colleagues like it?

90 percent of the feedback is very positive.

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How did agriculture get through Corona?

Direct marketing has gained new impetus.

Due to the rising prices, it is now decreasing again.

Otherwise, our work was relatively unaffected by the pandemic because very few farms have external staff.

However, meat sales fell again due to the closed gastronomy, which was particularly felt by the pig farmers.

Unfortunately, we are losing them in droves - also because of the unaffordable and even higher demands on stable housing.

What remains of the regional boom?

There are definitely more farm shops.

A lot of people are concerned that it will become another solid mainstay, which I think is good.

Another option besides visiting markets is direct marketing via the internet.

There are good platforms out there.

In the face of inflation, isn't it to be feared that the trend will prevail again: the main thing is cheap?

Yes, and I don't want to judge that at all.

The fact is, people have less money at their disposal.

Where are farmers feeling inflation?

The resources have become more expensive - diesel, fertilizer, crop protection.

Production is becoming more expensive, which means that producer and consumer prices are also rising.

Have farmers also become too dependent on Russian energy?

Definitely yes.

We are also dependent on fossil energy in any form.

Mineral fertilizers and pesticides are produced using a great deal of energy, but were previously available just as cheaply as diesel.

How can the way out look like?

We cannot do without mineral fertilizers if we want to maintain the level of yield.

In the future, more organic fertilizers will certainly be used again, i.e. liquid manure or fermentation residues.

The use must become even more efficient.

But overall there is not enough organic fertilizer available to completely replace mineral fertilizers.

Actually, we have too little animal husbandry and biogas instead of too much.

Consumers eat less meat and drink less milk.

Why is it?

This is certainly also a consequence of the animal welfare and climate debate.

Despite all attempts to explain animal husbandry, we producers cannot control it, that is the reality.

This also includes: The consumption of animal products is increasing worldwide.

What grade would you give the first green and vegetarian Minister of Agriculture, Cem Özdemir?

A five - failing because he didn't read the signs of the times.

He takes out the old speech bubbles again.

He wants less animal husbandry and sticks to the four percent set-aside.

Apparently, biogas no longer has any justification for him either.

We farmers are also in favor of more biodiversity, but that has to be integrated into production.

Removing areas completely is the wrong approach.

It just doesn't add up when at the same time you demand that we should produce more.

Has your anger about the species protection referendum from 2019 now subsided?

No!

The sweeping vote of no confidence in agriculture continues to annoy me – especially in Bavaria.

We experience an encroachment on our property, for example with the riparian strips.

This is depreciation.

There is no other profession like this.

Where is the society's contribution?

You personally are strongly committed to combating land use.

How do your colleagues see it?

There are also critical voices.

However, I get a lot of positive feedback.

The farmers' association is often and rightly accused of being too abstract, especially when it comes to saving land.

Here it is very concrete, above all my no to the northern bypass.

But you should be pretty much on your own with that.

I do not believe that.

We have to make a decision: do we build something new, or do we work off the renovation backlog – on the road and on the rails.

Sealing less area is active protection of the environment, floods and species.

In addition, local politics could act here.

Why does agriculture not succeed in shedding its negative image?

There have already been campaigns like “We produce food!” But the question is: who cares when food of the best quality is always available at very low prices?

Agriculture is always seen as a problem, never as a solution.

However, I don't even think that we have a negative image among the majority.

Are farmers whining too much?

No!

Perhaps it is perceived that way because we are not asked about measures that are imposed on us and because politicians are not interested in our expertise.

And we often feel that we are not being taken seriously.

One must also be allowed to denounce that.

What would your dream farm look like?

It's the family farm that doesn't need a lot of space, keeps animals, sells directly and is broadly based.

It would be nice if there was good cooperation in the profession and if we felt the appreciation of the population and politics, which we supply with everyday necessities.

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