Dozens of farmers from Upper Austria feel abandoned by their interest group. On Wednesday there was a drastic wake-up call for the Agriculture Chamber in Linz with angry farmers and many smelly boots, partly full of dirt…
Dairy farmer Paul Kerschbaummayr (35) from Waldburg drives a fully loaded trailer to the entrance of the Landbouwkammer in Linz on Wednesday morning. Hundreds of used rubber boots, some still covered in farmyard manure, are unloaded and placed in front of the chamber officials’ door. “Unfortunately, we no longer feel represented as we would like by the legal professional representation. Since our criticism has fallen on deaf ears, we unfortunately have to send out a signal and sound the alarm,” emphasizes the father of three children in Mühlviertel.
Price increases threaten existence
The situation of farmers – especially that of dairy farmers – is now threatening their very existence due to the general price increases (energy, raw materials, fertilizers) and the reduction of butter prices. “The costs are rising. The dairy has reduced the milk price by 3.2 cents, which in my case means 2,240 euros less per month. Electricity prices, on the other hand, have risen enormously – instead of 1,000 euros, I now have to pay 2,100 euros,” complains Kerschbaummayr, who is also a member of the Independent Agricultural Community in Austria (AGÖ).
“Work 14 hours a day”
Martina Mittermayr and her husband run a 60 hectare farm with 60 dairy cows in Andorf. “We work 14 hours a day – on duty every Saturday and Sunday and also at night. We can’t work anymore. And our 80-year-old grandfather puts his pension into the business by investing in the purchase of agricultural machinery,” says the 40-year-old. One third of farmers had to give up in the past ten years. “Unfortunately, our room is now too far from our reality, listening too much to the economy.”
She presented Chamber President Franz Waldenberger with a position paper with five demands. His response: “I understand the concerns of the farmers, but I feel that the addressee may not be the right one.”
Source: Krone
I’m Ben Stock, a journalist and author at Today Times Live. I specialize in economic news and have been working in the news industry for over five years. My experience spans from local journalism to international business reporting. In my career I’ve had the opportunity to interview some of the world’s leading economists and financial experts, giving me an insight into global trends that is unique among journalists.
