Spring is advancing, and with it comes a flurry of activity and news from Germany's agricultural and livestock sectors. This week saw developments ranging from market price shifts and policy discussions in Brussels to important updates on animal health following the winter's Foot and Mouth Disease outbreak.

Agriculture: Prices, Policy, and Precipitation Woes

  • Market Watch: The latest official figures (February 2025) show a mixed picture for producer prices. While overall agricultural prices rose 2.6% compared to the previous year, this was driven mainly by the livestock sector. Plant product prices actually decreased by 3.2%. However, there were bright spots for fruit (+18.1%), grain (+16.3%), and rapeseed (+23.7%). More recent market reports indicate wheat prices are facing headwinds due to the strong Euro. Meanwhile, organic farms continue to feel market pressures despite overall growth in the organic sector.
  • Weather Watch: A significant concern across many German regions is the persistent lack of rain over recent weeks. This dryness is impacting nature, raising concerns for crop development and potentially affecting river navigation important for agricultural transport.
  • EU Policy Corner: The EU Commission has unveiled its "Vision for Agriculture and Food," a roadmap aiming for a fairer, more competitive, resilient, and sustainable food system leading up to 2040. Key goals include ensuring fair incomes (especially attracting young farmers), bolstering food security, aligning standards for imported goods, rewarding climate-friendly practices, and supporting vibrant rural areas. Simplification packages for existing agricultural laws are expected later this year. In a more immediate development, EU bodies have agreed to ease planned requirements for farmers under the new soil monitoring directive, although the German Farmers' Association (DBV) finds the compromise insufficient.