Agricultural law is 'a compromise, but not a very good one', says Martine Hansen

On Tuesday morning, MP Martine Hansen from the Christian Social People's Party (CSV) addressed the new agricultural law in an interview with our colleagues from RTL Radio.

During the interview, Hansen described the agricultural law as "a compromise, but not a very good one." She stressed that while the law would offer farmers some planning certainty, it fell short in recognising the production of healthy food as a primary objective, which she considered "a crucial duty" for farmers.

The definition of an "active farmer," an individual eligible for financial support, also raised concerns for the CSV. Hansen expressed that the profession of farming is complex and demands substantial expertise.

However, the current reform stipulates that working on a farm for two years is sufficient to fulfil the conditions. Hansen argued that someone who "does what they are told" for two years cannot be considered capable of running a business.

'If you comply with the rules, you should be allowed to expand'

Criticism was also directed at the drafting process of the law. It was reported that Minister of Agriculture Claude Haagen attempted to rush the legislation last summer to meet climate targets, despite opposition from farmers. Measures to reduce ammonia emissions were proposed by limiting the size of farms based on a theoretical maximum number of employees.

For instance, a farm would be restricted from expanding if it employed more than five people. Hansen criticised this approach, stating that "size has no bearing on whether a farm performs well or badly in terms of environmental protection." She argued that compliance with all regulations should allow for expansion.

Under pressure from farmers, a monitoring system was subsequently developed for businesses with two to five employees to assess actual ammonia production before expansion approvals. The CSV calls for proactive implementation of the monitoring system across all farms, accompanied by guidance on nitrogen-saving measures.

Planning security for farmers

Hansen believes that no further changes will be made to the agricultural law, which she anticipates will be put to a vote in two to three weeks. However, she advocates for a comprehensive evaluation after two years, with necessary adjustments made as a matter of priority.

Video report in Luxembourgish