This week, with its plenary vote, the European Parliament sent a signal in support of Europe’s farmers. A majority of Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) voted against harmful amendments pushed by representatives of industrial interests and in favour of a progressive report that continues to pursue the goal of strengthening producers’ position in the food supply chain: a first important step towards fairer markets.

In early September, the Agriculture Committee of the European Parliament adopted a draft opinion on the proposals tabled by the European Commission to amend the Common Market Organisation (CMO). The German family farmers’ association AbL especially welcomes the proposed changes to rules that require mandatory written contracts as they would strengthen the position of farmers in negotiations for fair producer prices.

This summer, the German dairy farmers’ association BDM celebrated its 20-year anniversary with summer fests and dairy farmer evenings. Two key events took place in September: the Fair Milk Conference in Dortmund and the Agriculture Ministers Conference in Heidelberg. We are currently gearing up for our symposium, which will be held on 7-8 November in Arnstadt near Erfurt – for the first time outside of the International Green Week. Against this backdrop, setting the political agenda comes strongly into focus.

Since the beginning of the year, Germany has had to implement compulsory grazing for dairy cows as stipulated in the EU regulation on organic production. For a sizeable proportion of organic producers, this would mean giving up organic milk production. This is something we pointed out at the beginning of the year and BDM board member Manfred Gilch also raised awareness about this issue with European Commissioner for Agriculture Christophe Hansen in a discussion during the International Green Week. Another opportunity to speak to the Commissioner now presented itself during an event in Bavaria.

Christophe Hansen asked Manfred Gilch of his own accord whether the issues faced by many organic dairy farmers stemming from compulsory grazing had been solved. Following a negative answer, the Commissioner for Agriculture provided clear assurances that this matter would be addressed at EU level and that the EU regulation on organic production would be reopened or reworked over the course of the year. Manfred Gilch also brought up the urgent need to act on the Common Market Organisation (CMO).

The current ideas of the Von der Leyen Commission on the Multiannual Financial Framework and the Common Agricultural Policy have not been particularly well received. The projected funding of 2 trillion euros required between 2028 and 2034 was immediately rejected by the financial heavyweights among the Member States. At the same time, the European Parliament is wary of potentially losing its influence if the position of the Commission and the Member States were to be strengthened.

When it comes to CAP proposals, things are not much better: While some warn of cuts in payments from the first pillar, others reject the transfer of funds from the second pillar to national competence. However, many agree with the assessment that the CAP proposals will result in an unprecedented need for coordination as well as systematic uncertainty. In any case, discussions in Brussels are far from over. Let’s not forget that EU Heads of State and Government were only able to agree on the current Multiannual Financial Framework in 2020 after a summit that lasted four days and four nights. The proposals unfortunately do not say much about the long overdue restructuring of the entire CAP and the CMO.

Bundesverband Deutscher Milchviehhalter e.V. (BDM)

From the outside, it looks like things are calm on the dairy market. But a closer look reveals that milk standards are unravelling and leading to greater price opacity. Modules, bonuses and animal welfare levels are distorting the concept of base price. Where is the market for producers, and how can they ensure a fair share for themselves?

Denmark has introduced mandatory feed-based measures for larger dairy herds in order to curb climate emissions from cows. Turning policy into practice is a real-world test – technically speaking, in rations and routines, and politically across the sector as costs, logistics and acceptance are widely debated.