Tourists should pay "cow tax".

Created: 07/01/2022Updated: 07/01/2022 11:42 am

A feast for the eyes is the cultural landscape in the district of Miesbach with its Simmental cattle and the sustainably managed grassland.

This idyll, shaped by farmers, attracts tourists and day trippers to the region.

© THOMAS PLETTENBERG

Lush cow pastures, rustic farmhouses: the beauty of the Oberland is also a result of agriculture.

But the future of many companies is uncertain.

A state-funded project is now showing perspectives.

District - It all started with a round table in the district office on the subject of agriculture, which took place for the first time two years ago: "It was a tough affair," reported Kathleen Ellmeier at the most recent meeting of the district development committee.

“The farmers complained about the consumers because they only buy the cheapest.

The consumers scolded the farmers because they only oedel on Saturdays.” It quickly became clear that further talks were needed.

From the following round table, the "Future workshop agriculture" developed, a project of the ecological model region Miesbacher Oberland, which the qualified agricultural engineer heads.

Half of the costs for this are borne by the Bavarian State Ministry for Food, Agriculture and Forestry.

The aim is to develop a concept that will lead agriculture in the district of Miesbach into the future.

Ellmeier spoke to experts for this – and against the background of the pandemic, he produced the podcast “Miesbacher Milchkandl” with eleven episodes (www.miesbacheroberland.de).

In this way, she can make the results of her research accessible to interested parties and those affected, even in the case of contact limits.

Status quo

Ellmeier first determined the strengths and weaknesses of agriculture in the district.

Accordingly, a high proportion of grassland is characteristic, a "real rural" agriculture with small family businesses and a cultural landscape shaped by them, which is an important location factor, especially for tourism.

"There are farmers without tourism, but there is no tourism here without the farmers." It is therefore in everyone's interest to preserve agriculture.

This is more important than ever: According to Ellmeier, 60 percent of the more than 1,000 farms in the Miesbach district do not know who should take over the farm.

In the past 20 years, agricultural land has shrunk by five percent.

"In favor of residential construction, commercial areas and traffic areas," as Ellmeier explained when asked by district councilor Anastasia Stadler (CSU).

In addition, the economic situation of many farms is difficult.

There is a significant investment backlog.

Added to this is the social trend of eating less meat while at the same time having fewer options for plant-based foods.

"We can't go on like this," said Ellmeier.

desires and visions

Kathleen Ellmeier heads the project.

© Leonie Lorenz

Farmers in the Miesbach district want extensive meat and milk production on grassland.

Your products should be marketed as premium products.

Guests and locals should be able to buy the agricultural offer bundled in regional market halls.

More cereals, potatoes and vegetables for human consumption are to be grown in the north of the district.

Ellmeier told of a gardener who, contrary to expectations, succeeded in cultivating vegetables in the foothills of the Alps.

In addition, a permanent exchange between farmers and non-farmers should be aimed at in order to achieve appreciation for the farmers.

It is also important to offer farmers professional management advice in order to develop sustainable business models.

Politicians must protect the cultural landscape in the district and support its care by the farmers.

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concrete implementation

Stakeholders such as the Office for Food, Agriculture and Forestry (AELF), the Bavarian Farmers' Association (BBV) and the machine and business aid ring could offer farmers advice to develop new business models.

So-called family coaching sessions are also helpful in order to clarify, for example, successors to the farm.

Advice should be offered on the cultivation of arable crops.

Municipalities should serve regional food at their events and in their facilities such as kindergartens and schools.

They should also support the establishment of cooperatives and start-ups.

"The natural cheese dairy Tegernseer Land is not enough," said Ellmeier.

For example, a cooperative or AG for the marketing of organic cattle from the Oberland is currently planned.

Furthermore, it should be examined how tourism can be made responsible for co-financing the maintenance of the rural cultural landscape.

"Such co-financing would be possible if tourists not only pay a visitor's tax, but also a cow tax," suggested Ellmeier.

Last but not least, farmers must develop more entrepreneurial activity: "Farmers should and may think like an entrepreneur," said Ellmeier.

She also recommended that they do more public relations.

Alois Fuchs (CSU), himself a farmer, confirmed: "We're not that good yet." One public relations tool is adventure farms, which could create awareness among children for the production of food.

What's next?

Funding for the future workshop is coming to an end, Ellmeier is in the process of tapping into other funding sources in order to continue as a so-called organic value chain manager.

At the suggestion of FW Councilor Josef Bogner, the results of the future workshop are to be presented at the upcoming Landfrauentag.

"If you can't get any further with the farmer, you have to talk to the farmer's wife." District Administrator Olaf von Löwis (CSU) should appear in this context to show appreciation for agriculture.

In addition, ways should be identified to better reach consumers.