20 Industry News continued from page 19 difficult.” In late April, the ministry agreed to offer subsidies to grain producers who have been impacted by market destabilization. Subsidies were offered to producers who sold wheat, triticale, rye, barley, and grain mixtures between January 1 and May 31. In a meeting in mid-May following another Polish farmer protest, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of National Defense Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz pointed out that Europe must protect food security and should not accept unequal conditions of competition. “These two issues confirm the need to return to the protection of the European market against the influx of agricultural products from outside the European Union, which are not produced using the requirements of EU farmers,” he said. Like other European nations, Polish farmers have also protested greenhouse emissions regulations and animal welfare laws brought about by the European Green Deal. In Belgium, the farmer protests that began in January were driven by three main factors, including over-regulation, legal uncertainty, especially around new nature restoration regulations, and low incomes, said Elisabeth Mertens, head of communications for the Flemish farmers union, the Boerenbond. “Farmers in Belgium had been pretty unhappy for years already,” she said. “There was a feeling that they were not heard by the government at different levels.” Belgian farmers took to the streets in January when new nitrate legislation took force. The legislation limits farmers’ ability to expand their operations at a time when many see expansion as the only option for keeping their business viable. Belgian farmers are also concerned about the legal ambiguity that comes with nature restoration laws. Farm businesses are being scrutinized for their impact on the natural habitats surrounding farms. Young farmers have been left particularly disillusioned, as they no longer know if there is a future in agriculture. Over-regulation was another driving factor behind the Belgian farmer protests. Arable farmers, for instance, are required to register which crops they plan to grow before the season starts, as they are subsidized based on what they’ve registered. If they don’t grow what they’ve registered, they risk incurring fines. Mertens pointed to this growing season as a prime example of why farmers should have that decision-making power. The spring of 2024 has been extremely wet. Fields were so soggy that planting was put off for weeks. “This year is a really good example,” said Mertens. “It’s too wet. We couldn’t foresee this. A lot has not been planted yet – for example, potatoes.” “Farmers say, ‘Maybe we will get a fine because what we planted is different from what we registered in advance,’” she added. “This is not fair because this is something we didn’t have any power over.” Low income is the third driver behind the farmer protests in Belgium. Like producers in other European nations, Belgian farmers feel threatened by the sheer volume of cheap products that are being or will be imported into the EU. THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION RESPONDS By April, European farmers were protesting so regularly and in so many countries that it was difficult to ignore. Policymakers in Brussels had to respond, especially with European Parliament elections just around the corner. Their response was to scale back rules that protect nature, draw up limits on the import of tariff- and quota-free Ukrainian grains, and get rid of new legislation that aimed to limit pesticide use. In early May, policymakers agreed to extend subsidy allowances by six months until the end of 2024 to support the region’s agricultural sector. In mid-May, the European Council formally adopted a targeted review of certain basic acts of the CAP. The review, the Council said, came as a direct response to the concerns voiced by farmers in recent months. It also takes into consideration the geopolitical developments of the past two years. “This targeted review of the common agricultural policy is a concrete result of our efforts to cut red tape and ensure simplification for farmers,” said David Clarinval, Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Agriculture. “The adoption comes only two months after the proposal was presented by the Commission. This clearly demonstrates we are delivering on the promises we have made to European farmers.” The protests, however, continued right up until the European Parliament elections, which took place June 6–9. As the new parliament settles in, it remains to be seen how the change will impact Europe’s farmers, but they remain hopeful. Melanie Epp is a Canadian farm writer based in Belgium.• MINISTER CZESŁAW SIEKIERSKI SPOKE WITH POLISH FARMER PROTESTERS IN APRIL. HE ADMITTED THAT THE TALKS WERE DIFFICULT, BUT HELPED HIM GAIN A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE COMPLEX PROBLEMS THAT POLISH FARMERS FACED. (PHOTO: MRIRW).
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