Since 2018, the materials balance administration required all German farmers to keep track of how many raw materials, feed, and other inputs were brought onto and removed from the farm. According to the previous governing coalition, this provided more insight into how and where fertilizers were used, and thus into environmental impact.
The European Commission had already taken Germany to the European Court ten years ago due to excessive nitrate levels in groundwater and surface water. In that procedure, a multi-million-euro fine loomed in 2018. Partly for that reason, the waste and manure administration was introduced at the time.
The withdrawal is part of a broader package that the new CDU/CSU-SPD cabinet wants to implement to reduce bureaucracy for farmers. Minister Alois Rainer (CSU), recently responsible for agriculture, believes farmers should be given more room again. According to him, other green regulations are also up for discussion.
According to environmental organizations, the abolition is a significant step backwards. The German Nature and Environmental Council BUND fears that Germany will again fail to meet Brussels’ nitrate reduction agreements, making a new fine inevitable. They call the abolition “hasty” and “policy at the request of the agro-industry.”
Farmers' organizations react with mixed feelings. Some farmers find the administrative burdens disproportionately high, while others point out that preparing the resource balance takes at most five hours of work per year. Smaller farms especially feel pressured by the paperwork.
Under the previous government – a coalition of SPD, Greens, and FDP – a Green minister of Agriculture prioritized sustainability and environmental rules. The new direction under CDU/CSU marks a clear break with that policy. Minister Rainer now speaks of “agriculture with common sense.”
Other decisions also point to a more farmer-friendly approach. Germany must comply with EU rules for a minimum wage of at least 15 euros per hour. Minister Rainer wants an exception for seasonal workers in agriculture, a proposal supported by CDU-aligned farming organizations. Environmental groups are strongly opposed.
The change of course comes just before the annual national Agriculture Day, where the new policy will likely take center stage. Whether Germany will remain compliant with European environmental rules is still unclear. Several environmental organizations are considering legal action.