German farmers face leadership changes and EU budget disputes

The German Farmers' Association is facing leadership transitions at both national and regional levels. In Baden-Württemberg, three candidates—Hans-Benno Wichert, Jürgen Maurer, and Stefan Kerner—are competing for the presidency of the Landesbauernverband (LBV) in an election scheduled for December 3, 2026. This follows the decision by current president Joachim Rukwied not to seek re-election. At the federal level, the race to succeed Rukwied as president of the German Farmers' Association remains open, with Holger Hennies and Torsten Krawczyk identified as potential candidates.

Simultaneously, tensions are rising regarding European agricultural funding. During an EU summit in Brussels, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz rejected calls to increase the EU agricultural budget for the 2028–2034 period. This stance opposes a demand from 17 EU member states to maintain or increase funding levels. The German Farmers' Association has called for the Common Agricultural Policy (GAP) budget to be increased to at least 500 billion euros, citing economic pressures from inflation and rising environmental and animal welfare requirements. Joachim Rukwied warned that budget cuts could jeopardize European food security and the stability of rural areas.