Irish dairy farming in 2024 is at a crossroads. The first half of the year has been characterised by poor weather conditions, high costs and an uncertain policy environment, not helped by this year’s local and European Parliament elections. The poor weather has been the most notable negative factor as we head into the second half of 2024. Even those parts of Ireland that normally escape the heaviest rainfall experienced record-breaking precipitation, and we have had livestock being housed in Ireland until April – a full month after they would normally be turned out to grass.

Alongside protests across Europe, Swiss farmers decided to speak out and voice their frustration. Among their concerns, the administrative burden is high up the list, which is why a new measure that the Federal Office of Agriculture plans to progressively implement as of 2025 was rejected at once.

DigiFLUX is a digital platform that will compile data about all agricultural inputs in use. Plant protection products and fertilisers must be recorded in scrupulous detail. The government’s goal is to trace all active substances and nutrients applied in our fields from manufacturers through distributors all the way to the users. This stems from the “Switzerland without pesticides” initiative, which was rejected in a public referendum in June 2021. The obligation to declare these products is to be implemented as a compensatory measure as part of the roadmap to reduce the use of fertilisers. Faced with an outcry, the Federal Office for Agriculture (FOAG) decided to push back the compulsory use of DigiFLUX.

This measure comes on top of the discontinuation of the 10% tolerance afforded to producers to date, when it comes to nitrogen and phosphorus amounts in their use of fertilisers. As of the 2024 period, they cannot exceed 100% of their own needs. It is also possible to voluntarily reduce use, that is, cover only 90% of nitrogen and phosphorus requirements in exchange for compensation of about 100 euros per hectare of arable land.

These measures are just some examples of the political will to reduce the environmental impact of agriculture. One can discuss the relevance and effectiveness of these measures; however, it is clear that the Swiss government continues to ignore the key issue of producer prices, which is a critical aspect and where an increase would play a much more significant role in achieving environmental goals. Thankfully, the FOAG has initiated the mammoth task of a comprehensive recast of agricultural and food policy, to be implemented by 2030. Uniterre will provide its input to ensure that agricultural policy truly benefits producers and consumers.

In the meantime, however, the situation on the dairy market remains grim. The farmer protests aimed at exerting pressure on the negotiations held in March led to an increase of only 2 centimes per kg in the indicative price, and that only as of July, which can be deemed a modest victory at best. This does not even offset the decrease in prices introduced in December 2023. Processors and retailers continue to work hand in hand to keep farmers in a state of total submission, an even greater affront in light of the recent farmers’ protests.

Vanessa Renfer, farmer, Policy Officer, Uniterre

The German Farmers’ Union (DBV) and German Raiffeisen Association wrote an open letter to Federal Finance Minister Christian Lindner. The aim is probably to gain his support in preventing the transposition of Article 148 CMO into national law. By now, the dairy sector association (MIV) seems to take a more relaxed stance on this matter, stating that the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) should finally take action and do what they couldn’t help doing.

On 29 May 2024, dairy farmers from AbL, BDM and MEG Milch Board protested with a cow at the Gänsemarkt square in Hamburg. They called on the Liberal party to stop blocking obligatory milk supply contracts and on the two other parties in the three-party coalition not to give in to this pressure.

EU citizens have elected a new parliament and have voted against ‘business as usual’. This election has shown that politics must finally be for and with citizens. In agriculture, too, political strategies must be developed together with the people who work and operate in the sector. Farmers have felt left behind and socially and economically marginalised for many years.