Saxon farmers to receive EU subsidies in January

Saxon farmers are to receive the EU subsidies they had hoped for in December in January. "As things stand now, there is nothing to prevent payment this month," said Agriculture Minister Wolfram Günther (Greens) on Tuesday after the cabinet meeting in Dresden. Head of government Michael Kretschmer (CDU) had invited representatives of several farmers' associations to the meeting.

Normally, the EU direct payments are transferred at the end of each year. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, there were delays this time due to software problems. However, a newly programmed module has now passed the test run.

Günther had regretted this several times and promised payment as soon as possible. Nevertheless, the state farmers' association had issued a kind of ultimatum: If the money did not flow by the end of January, Günther would have to resign or be dismissed. More conciliatory tones were heard on Tuesday. For Torsten Krawczyk, president of the state farmers' association, the demand was a sign of "how emotional the farming family is right now". At least he now has confidence that there will be a solution.

At the same time, Krawczyk announced that the farmers' protests will now continue on a lower flame. "I recommend that the farmers who want to make their displeasure known should actually engage in an exchange and not necessarily shut down the traffic more, but actually reach out to the citizens and inform them about it." The population had stood impressively behind the farmers. The citizens should not be burdened any further. They are not the addressees, but the allies.

Kretschmer had repeatedly called on the federal government to withdraw planned cuts for agriculture and find a compromise with the associations. Saxony would not agree to the cuts in the Bundesrat. We want to make progress on this issue, he said on Tuesday. Wounds could only be healed if people came together again. Just like the protests against right-wing extremism, the farmers' demonstrations were an expression of a lively citizenry. The farmers had not taken to the streets because of additional subsidies, but to minimize the additional burdens.