The Young Farmers Commission of Switzerland (JULA CH) has engaged actively in discussions on AP 30+ from the start, advising the BLW in an advisory group. JULA CH explicitly welcomes this inclusion of the next generation.
Last month, JULA CH used another meeting with the BLW to reaffirm key concerns once more. The goal is a bold system change towards stable framework conditions, more planning security and innovation on farms, appropriate incomes, and manageable workloads in all regions, and reducing the tension between market and politics to increase value creation.
However, during discussions, JULA CH notes that key concerns have been increasingly disregarded. Although digitalisation is recognised as an opportunity, the desired shift from a measure-oriented to a results-oriented direction is inadequately pursued. Instead of real relief for the farms, there is rather a tendency towards more monitoring and simplified controls. Moreover, from JULA CH's viewpoint, it remains unclear how domestic production is to be specifically strengthened.
JULA CH fundamentally supports the inclusion of the entire value chain. However, the previous target agreements with the retail trade do not yield the desired effect. In particular, economic sustainability is not considered at all. JULA CH expects the retail trade to take responsibility and actively strengthen the sale of Swiss products. With an additional letter to the retail trade and meetings on a farm, JULA CH aims to exert further pressure on the retail trade.
For JULA CH, a critical lever lies in border protection. This must be specifically strengthened to relieve the federal budget and improve sales opportunities for Swiss products. Pure production promotion falls short when processing and sales are not secured.
JULA CH acknowledges the challenges in farm succession and does not see itself as privileged young farmers, as National Council member K. Baumann described. JULA CH rejects the increase in the age limit for start-up assistance under the Baumann motion as it could further delay farm handovers. Instead, JULA CH calls for targeted adjustments to the tax burden on market values.
Moreover, JULA CH demands the consistent implementation of the Wismer motion to uphold proportionality in DZV.
Finally, JULA CH calls for income comparison based on the median earnings of agriculture with the median wages of the 2nd/3rd sector. Other comparison measures are neither scientific nor objective.
We remain confident that the BLW will recognise and consider our concerns as well as possible in their developments.
Inquiries:
Damien Rey, President Young Farmers
079 566 38 10
www.junglandwirte.ch