Ferring, a 21-year-old student, took up his presidency in late July, hoping to not only maintain the hard work of his predecessors, but to build upon it. “Agriculture really is close to my heart,” he adds.
To Ferring, agricultural professions no longer appeal to young job seekers due to their enormous financial commitment and lack of flexibility. Another major challenge is climate change.
The rainy period of the last two weeks has been especially difficult for this year’s harvest, with bread wheat impacted in particular. While not all produce has been affected, farmers are hoping for drier times. Fortunately, farmers are insured for their crops by the state, and research on how to achieve more resilient crops is underway. These may seem like small details, but Ferring believes they could have a big impact on agriculture in the future.
The new president also speaks of inflation, and how its unpredictability makes forecasting difficult in the long-term. One production sector is doing well, the other not so much. Ferring notes that marketing costs also vary greatly at the moment.
When asked about the new agricultural draft bill, Ferring expressed his satisfaction. He is particularly positive about the updated definition of an ‘active farmer’, arguing that the training standards established in the framework now valorise the profession.
However, he has identified a few new challenges for farmers in the draft bill. For example, those who invest in the livestock sector are subject to increased monitoring procedures. What exactly this will look like in practise, he’s not so sure of either.
