
The Swiss are buying up German farmers and increasing land rental rates. As a result of unequal competition, more and more Swiss farmers farm on German soil. All because of the old agreement on international cooperation in border areas – we read in Südkurier.
In the minority at home
The conflict between German and Swiss farmers arises in Baden-Württemberg in the areas near the border with Switzerland. In the district of Waldshut, in the region of Freiburg, for example, more than half of the arable land is in the hands of farmers from Switzerland. The Germans have to compete very fiercely with them for every piece of land put up for lease or sale, and they usually lose. The Swiss are always willing to pay more.
Purchasing and especially leasing land on the German side is very profitable for Swiss farmers due to the German-Swiss agreement of 1958. According to it, Swiss farmers can import goods from Germany to Switzerland duty-free from a ten-kilometer border zone.
Unequal competition
Agricultural land in Switzerland is more expensive and agricultural production costs are higher than in Germany. Having land in the German border zone, they can produce cheaper and sell at a higher price in Switzerland without paying customs duties. In addition, they can benefit from EU subsidies. So they benefit twice. That's why they buy and rent land in Germany, and they are willing to pay higher rates per hectare than German farmers, because it will be profitable for them anyway. In this way, they displace local farmers.
Regional industry organizations are sounding the alarm and demanding the authorities' intervention in this matter. They demand that they also be given the opportunity to export duty-free to their neighbors to level the playing field. According to estimates by the agricultural association, more than half of the arable land in the Waldshut district is already owned by 300 Swiss farmers.
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