Tractor protest in Vienna

UBV rages: “The flood of regulations is getting worse!”

The farmers' low income meets with strong disapproval at Verbund.(Bild: APA/HELMUT FOHRINGER)

Despite concerns, the EU Commission successfully concluded negotiations on the controversial Mercosur deal in December. The independent farmers' association reacted indignantly and gathered for a tractor protest rally in front of the Vienna Parliament on Thursday: "We're not doing this because we're bored, but because it's about the farmers!"

The independent farmers' association takes stock: the obvious failure of the current negotiations in Vienna to form the new federal government is a reflection of agricultural policy in Austria and Europe. The association paints a bleak picture for the future of agricultural policy in Austria.

UBV: Farmers' income "a disgrace"
According to the UBV, farmers are in a particularly bad financial situation. According to the Green Report, they would end up at the bottom of all income classes. From an economic point of view, according to their calculations, they would need an income two to three times higher to make ends meet "reasonably". This is because the majority of farmers' incomes, at 16,000, are "a disgrace" by comparison, while civil servants receive an annual income of 62,000 euros.

They have been pointing out a brutal imbalance in farmers' incomes for years. This is because, while index-linked expenditure on operating resources is often increasing by double digits, income is stagnating or falling significantly. 

For the first time, the Independent Farmers' Association is calling for a tractor protest march from many parts of Austria to Parliament.(Bild: APA/HELMUT FOHRINGER)

(Bild: APA/HELMUT FOHRINGER)

Association accuses parties of indifference
The Independent Farmers' Association sees the parties and their own representatives as the main culprits and accuses them of indifference: "Some of them are shrugging their shoulders," it said in a press release on Thursday. "They are trying to justify the impractical means with all kinds of conditions."

The flood of regulations and the incomprehensible requirements are getting worse every year! The UBV will now take a different approach to raise public awareness of the concerns and challenges facing farmers.

Der Unabhängige Bauernverbund in einer Aussendung

Farmers in front of the parliament in Vienna(Bild: krone.tv)

Walter Rosenkranz (FPÖ) in conversation with the farmers(Bild: krone.tv)

Many talks have been futile, concrete proposals for solutions have been shot down by those responsible. They are calling for new approaches to agricultural policy and want to raise public awareness of the concerns and challenges facing farmers with the tractor protest rally that took place on Thursday. The event was not just a protest, but also a sign of solidarity. With music, food and lively discussions, the farmers showed that they are optimistic about the future despite the challenges. Walter Rosenkranz (FPÖ) took the time to address the farmers' concerns and assured them that he would examine their demands in detail. 

"Positively received" 
"We farmers have been well received in the big city," a farmer from Lower Austria told Krone.tv. "Some people cheered us on with thumbs up - but we had already feared the worst."