German farmers will have a few more years to decide on the future use of their vacant barns and farm buildings. Such buildings will retain their agricultural status for ten years, which they currently lose after seven years of vacancy. In addition, more attached farm houses for family members or employees will soon be allowed to be built on farms.
These changes were included in an amendment to the German Spatial Planning Act at the suggestion of the BMEL Ministry of Agriculture. In doing so, Berlin hopes to contribute to the abolition of administrative and bureaucratic regulations. The government wants to encourage German farmers to rent out or lease their unused stables and farm buildings to agricultural colleagues who need expansion, or to convert these farm buildings into homes.
In addition, preference is given to the extension of residential buildings on farms. This is intended to take into account the housing needs of several generations of a farm. Due to the increased life expectancy of the population, more than two generations often live on a farm.
Therefore, in addition to extensions of existing residential buildings on the property, the construction of an independent residential building as an extension must also be made possible. In both cases, the number of possible homes is also increased to four. The condition is that these are used by the previous owners and their families.
This relaxation of procedures for German farmers comes on the eve of the Bundestag's 2025 budget debate. Despite significant cuts of around half a billion euros, the agricultural sector is largely spared.
BMEL Minister Cem Özdemir (Greens) has argued that investments in agriculture are crucial, especially in times of economic uncertainty. "Farmers need to know where they stand," he said earlier. He therefore criticized the fact that his coalition partners SPD and FDP do not want to make a decision yet on the billions needed for more animal welfare, more biodiversity and the implementation of the ZKL future plans. That is why he again argued last week for his preference to pay for this agricultural transition partly by increasing VAT on food.
The decision to largely spare the agricultural sector from the cuts underlines the strategic value that Germany attaches to its agricultural sector, says BEML. While other sectors face significant cuts, financing for agriculture remains largely intact, including the promised support for the introduction of a new agricultural insurance