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Protests by farmers in Baden-Württemberg at the end of February

Photo: Christoph Schmidt / dpa

The German Farmers' Association is open to a compromise on planned subsidy cuts for agricultural diesel.

They will not insist on tax breaks to the full extent "if, in return for additional fuel costs, there are real reliefs elsewhere," said DBV General Secretary Bernhard Krüsken to "Welt am Sonntag."

There are also similar suggestions from the ranks of the traffic light coalition.

The federal government had decided to gradually reduce tax advantages for diesel for agricultural vehicles such as tractors and combine harvesters.

The Bundestag has already passed a law, but the final discussion in the Bundesrat is still missing.

Federal Agriculture Minister Cem Özdemir (Greens), among others, suggested relieving the burden on agricultural businesses elsewhere, for example when converting stables for animal welfare reasons.

Protests are becoming more radical

DBV General Secretary Krüsken also received criticism for his initiative.

Three associations in Saxony-Anhalt criticized the willingness to compromise in a joint statement.

Martin Dippe, President of the Farmers' Association of Saxony-Anhalt, said they did not take to the streets for months only to meekly backtrack.

Shortly before the agriculture ministers' conference next week, the credibility of the entire protests should not be questioned.

According to their own information, around 90 percent of farmers in Germany are organized in the German Farmers' Association.

Krüsken also commented in the newspaper on the increasing radicalization of protest actions by some farmers, in which bystanders have recently been injured: "We don't want to pretend to our members that whoever shouts loudest will be heard best."

Those involved in farmers' protests are being investigated in several federal states for various legal violations.

In Brandenburg last week, several people were injured after driving their cars into piles of dung and other obstacles that protesters had erected on a highway.

A death after an accident in Hesse may also be linked to a protest.

Brandenburg sees itself as a role model

Politicians from various parties advocated a middle course on agricultural subsidies.

“Any possible compromise that is intended to pacify the situation now must be discussed with the farmers,” said Union parliamentary group vice-president Steffen Bilger, also in “Welt am Sonntag”.

He called for a quick agreement to prevent further radicalization.

However, it is “advisable for the government to accommodate the farmers now.”

Brandenburg's Prime Minister Dietmar Woidke (SPD) also called for a balance.

"The federal government should seek a compromise with the farmers that relieves them of the burden that it is forcing them to bear," he told "Welt am Sonntag."

Brandenburg has already done this at the state level.

“Our farmers will receive an additional 30 million euros from 2025,” said Woidke.

msk/AFP/dpa