"I can't promise you more government support from the federal budget today. But together we can fight for you to have more freedom and confidence in your work again," said Minister for Finance Christian Lindner from the stage, and was met with boos from the crowd.
The government's decision to phase out diesel subsidies for agriculture has been met with strong reactions. Over the past week, thousands of tractors and trucks have marched through German cities, and motorway slip roads have been blocked.
"Overloaded with food from abroad"
Several of the demonstrators are calling for the government's resignation, and alarms that the farmers are on their knees.
"We have more and more requirements and are overloaded with food from abroad that is produced below our standards. That's not possible," says Alfred Wrinkler, a farmer.
The protests gained momentum before Christmas and have now grown into a nationwide movement that attracts government critics from several quarters.
Despite the fact that the government has made concessions and decided not to abolish a tax reduction on new agricultural machinery, the industry is not satisfied.
"If the government withdraws the tax increases, we will pull the tractors off the streets," said Joachim Rukwied, president of the German Agricultural Association (DBV), today.