Farmers met in muhlhausen
"Winter is ahead", sang the countrywomen's choir conducted by eleonore marabini at the opening of the BBV farmers' day. For gunther felbner, district chairman of the bavarian farmers' association, this was the first good news that was to be followed by others: that agriculture "is an economic factor worth billions" and creates one in seven jobs in bavaria and central franconia. And that agriculture has a future, as evidenced not least by baywa's investment in the muhlhausen site. "This is a statement of faith in the future of agriculture", said felbner.
District chairman robert ort was able to bury a high-caliber audience in the tent that baywa had set up for its opening ceremony. In addition to many members of the association and local politicians, walter heidl, president of the bavarian farmers' association, was among the guests. Heidl gave the keynote address, which he titled "agriculture – the industry of the future" had posed.
Right at his inauguration, district chairman robert ort packed a "hefty iron" on: the ever-increasing consumption of land. The large companies in the district needed more and more space and also new residential areas devoured more and more land. In addition, there were bypasses such as the one in herzogenaurach, and major projects such as the six-lane expansion of highway 3, the new parking facility at the steigerwald rest area and, finally, two new locks near erlangen. "All these flat fall out of agricultural production. When you think about the compensation areas needed for these projects, it makes you sick to your stomach", said ort. Ort also had a suggestion for the unword of the year: "vermaisung" ("maize overgrazing"), which is supposed to mean that farmers are growing too much corn on their land and thus harming the environment. Place represented on the basis the cultivation numbers that this does not correspond to the truth.
Muhlhausen has taken a path that is shaped by the energy turnaround, said mayor klaus faatz (CSU), himself a part-time farmer, introducing his community to the guests. Many farmers had found a second mainstay in the production of energy. Enormous personal commitment as well as the stimulation and support of several civic associations have led the market town on this path.
State parliament vice president jorg rohde (FDP) addressed the most recent meat scandals. A european authority is not the right way to prevent such scandals. "They will not carry out on-site inspections!" It is much more important to strengthen existing structures. The networking of the various bodies for the exchange of information is crucial in this respect.
"We need more time and a strategy,", demanded district councilor walter nussel. Only then will farmers be able to recoup the funds needed for high investments. But this would not be possible if EC laws were constantly changed. A "breakthrough, not only of a personal nature, but also for the domestic raw material "wood, the chairman of the forestry association of central franconia was recently able to book. All buildings in the district had to be checked to see whether they could be made of wood, nussel reported from the district council.
BBV president walter heidl took a tour of all the hot agricultural topics. From european agricultural policy, animal welfare and food scandals to negative media coverage, he believes there are plenty of "trouble spots" to be tilled. Above all, however, he tried to instill self-confidence in the farmers. Farmers should not allow themselves to be unsettled and should not let their work be criticized. "We must emphasize the quality of our products and our services." In addition to food production, the area of renewable raw materials also contributes to this. This is one of the reasons why agriculture is a real "industry of the future" and contribute a lot to the creation of value.
And finally, the cultural landscape – which is marketed as a tourist attraction, especially in bavaria – is "the product of the normal care of the farmers". To the address of the "environmental freaks he therefore sent out a clear message: "it is our farmers who are responsible for the cultural landscape preservation, not the beaver!"
