Saxon farmers are to receive the EU subsidies they had hoped for in December in January. "As things stand now, there is nothing to prevent payment this month," said Agriculture Minister Wolfram Günther (Greens) on Tuesday after the cabinet meeting in Dresden. Head of government Michael Kretschmer (CDU) had invited representatives of several farmers' associations to the meeting.
Normally, the EU direct payments are transferred at the end of each year. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, there were delays this time due to software problems. However, a newly programmed module has now passed the test run.
Günther had regretted this several times and promised payment as soon as possible. Nevertheless, the state farmers' association had issued a kind of ultimatum: If the money did not flow by the end of January, Günther would have to resign or be dismissed. More conciliatory tones were heard on Tuesday. For Torsten Krawczyk, president of the state farmers' association, the demand was a sign of "how emotional the farming family is right now". At least he now has confidence that there will be a solution.
