As of: January 30, 2024, 10:20 a.m
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Nothing has changed on the dairy farmers' board (from left): assessor Karin Käß, deputy chairman Josef Kaspar, assessor Nikolaus Friesenegger, chairman Michael Friedinger, assessor Fritz Geiger and deputy chairman Georg Diethelm.
© Michele Kirner
Diemendorf – At the annual general meeting of the Starnberg “Federal Association of German Dairy Farmers” (BDM), the existing board was confirmed in office without a dissenting vote.
BDM state chairman Hans Leis went into more detail about the demonstrations and expressed what was bothering the dairy farmers.
Starnberg's official veterinarian, Dr., was also at the Trachtenheim in Diemendorf.
Susanne Stöckl was present, who explained in detail the obligations of farmers regarding their animals.
Chairman Michael Friedinger reflected on the year.
He reported on court discussions with politicians such as SPD MP Carmen Wegge and Nikolaus Kraus from the Free Voters.
“We will continue to talk to politicians to explain our demands,” emphasized the organic farmer.
He said he took part in the demonstrations himself.
These were protests that “will go down in history,” Leis suspected to the around 30 visitors, including Tutzing’s designated mayor, Ludwig Horn.
Leis emphasized that far-reaching measures are necessary.
Above all, “fair prices,” he told our newspaper.
One solution that has already been worked out is the EU-wide regulation of milk quantities.
“This stabilizes the price and is good for the environment,” he summed up.
Because with lower production, less fertilizer and water would be used.
These environmental aspects were explained by the presence of BN chairman Günter Schorn, who was already part of the panel discussion at the dairy farmers' evening in the summer with the Federation for Nature Conservation.
Protection from sun and rain for animals is mandatory
The head of Starnberg's veterinary office delved into three subject areas relating to livestock farming.
In the epidemics that are currently circulating and PCR tests and hygiene measures are intended to prevent the spread.
She mentioned the obligation to offer the animals in the (recently mandatory) playpen a soft surface such as straw or a mat.
And the prescribed protection from the sun or constant rain on the pasture.
“Anything else is animal cruelty,” she said.
If a veterinarian prescribes medication, she continued, they must record each dose with the corresponding animal, the date and quantity, and a signature.
Otherwise there could be problems with an audit of the court by her office - and when the word "auditor" was used, there was a lot of rumblings among those present.
“A gentleman” probably has his own rules, not only one complained.
When asked, Leis referred to spider webs and cracks in the tiles, which were denounced.
Dr.
Stöckl is still relatively new in office and was therefore unable to provide an assessment.
However, she suspected a communication problem behind this and emphasized that the dual control principle prevented arbitrary warnings.
“Make money with products, not with subsidies”
“Documenting the administration of medication and the application of fertilizer” is one of the bureaucratic monsters that makes sense in Leis’s eyes.
Things are different when it comes to the tedious process of applying for grants.
“60 percent of farmers’ profits come from income-generating subsidies,” he said, and assured: “We want to make money with our products, not with the subsidies.” Some farmers complained that consumers were to blame for the low prices.
There is no leverage there, said Leis and then came back to the topic of regulating the amount of milk.
The current situation is not having a positive impact on dairy farmers, which is reflected in the number of active milk producers in the district: there are currently 79, three fewer than in 2022. The association's membership has also fallen: from 58 five years ago to now 34. Chairman Michael Friedinger, his deputies Josef Kaspar and Georg Diethelm as well as the assessors Nikolaus Friesenegger, Karin Käß and Fritz Geiger were elected.