CDU on agriculture

The CDU wants to push at the federal level for a full reversal of the cuts to the tax refund on agricultural diesel. Farms are also to be allowed to build tax-free reserves for climate-related swings in yields.

Farmers get less tax back on diesel than before. The CDU wants to fully undo this cut. Farmers should also be allowed to save money tax-free. This should help them get through years with bad harvests.

In the CDU's view, the agricultural diesel refund offsets competitive disadvantages compared with neighboring European countries, which is why it considers the cuts wrong. The tax-free climate reserve is meant to help farms prepare for yield fluctuations caused by climate change. In low-yield years they would then depend less on state emergency aid. The CDU intends to pursue both plans at the federal level.

The CDU wants to continue the EU's common agricultural policy so that the incomes of farms and their workers stay secure. At the same time, red tape and rules it considers excessive are to be reduced.

The CDU wants farmers to keep getting money from the EU. This money is called direct payments. There should be fewer rules for farmers. This applies, for example, to rules on pesticides.

The platform applies the call for fewer rules especially to new pesticide regulations and to requirements to set land aside. The common agricultural policy is to take account of the particular farm structure in the eastern German states. The CDU considers direct payments necessary so that farmers can cope with high requirements and constant adjustment.