Premature termination of aid for pig farm animal welfare: the reasons explained
In a move that has sparked controversy, the federal program aimed at enhancing animal welfare for pig farmers in the USA is set to be discontinued prematurely. Launched in 2024, the program supports farmers who wish to convert their stalls to provide more outdoor space and room for animals.
However, only 12 million euros of the 150 million euros allocated for species-appropriate pig stalls flowed last year, leading to justifications for its premature discontinuation due to lack of expected impetus.
The program, a project of the current traffic light government, was initially planned to run until 2030 with a budget of 1.5 billion euros. The discontinuation is now scheduled for 2028, with less money allocated.
Rainer, the Minister of Agriculture, defended the planned discontinuation during the budget debate. However, Joachim Rukwied, president of the farmers' association, criticized the move and demanded an adjustment of the criteria for the federal program to access available funds.
Rukwied described the discontinuation as a 'severe setback for our animal keepers'. Many farmers are annoyed because the funding program is discontinued before they can know the conditions for investments in new stables.
To address this issue, the ministry plans to finance stall conversions through the Joint Task for Improving the Structural Condition and Coastal Protection (GAK) in the future. However, it's unclear if the 907 million euros provided for GAK in 2025 will increase to promote stall conversion more strongly.
The German Farmers' Association has demanded an adjustment of the existing funding criteria of the Federal Program for the Transformation of Animal Husbandry (BUT) to actually utilize the available funds. The association emphasizes the need for reliable co-financing and planning security to make the transformation economically viable.
Without these adjustments and continued financial support, the modernization of animal husbandry risks stalling, negatively impacting especially small and medium-sized farms and hindering sustainable improvement of animal welfare. This situation presents a significant setback for the future development of livestock farming.
Rukwied also emphasized the importance of necessary changes in building and approval law for investments in the conversion of animal husbandry. The farmers can apply for financial support for the conversion and new construction of stalls or receive support for their ongoing additional costs if their animal husbandry meets certain criteria, including ensuring that animals can lie down comfortably and have enough space to eat and drink.
The deadlines for applications have been shortened due to the program's discontinuation. Applications for ongoing additional costs can only be submitted until December 31, 2025, and those for new and conversions until April 30, 2026.
The conservative butcher taking over the Ministry of Agriculture, Rainer, faces major challenges, with the German farmers' association demanding an adjustment of the criteria for the federal program. The future of animal welfare in pig farming hangs in the balance.
