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It is idyllic at Hof Inselmatt in Bernese Zealand. There is no sign of farmers’ protests. A cat walks past the five oxen, who curiously stick their heads between the slats of the fence. Kilian Baumann (43) has just fed them before he leaves for Bern at noon for the session.
Farmers like to complain, Kilian Baumann. Should we even take their protests seriously?
Kilian Baumann: There are already reasons for the protests. Especially in European countries such as the Netherlands, France or Germany. The high price pressure, more bureaucracy and ever new demands from politics and society. In the EU the pressure is even greater than in Switzerland.
So Swiss farmers are simply emulating those abroad?
Agriculture here is much better protected and supported, for example with more direct payments and tariff protection. But we also have problems – for example, many deaths on farms. Every day a farmer gives up. Over the past forty years, the number of farms has more than halved to just under 50,000. Every agricultural company counts for diverse, crisis-resistant agriculture. But in politics it is always simple: grow or give up.
Is the situation really that bad? In 2015, farmers were left with almost 45,000 francs per year. In 2021 that was 60,000 francs.
There is a wide variation in agricultural incomes. In a report, the federal government notes that many farmers invest relatively large amounts in expensive stables and large tractors. They are encouraged to do so by the agricultural companies. So of course there is less money left over.
Farmers complain that the prices for their milk are too low. But from July it will be 82 cents, the highest since 2008.
This is a tricky issue because buyers always have more influence and farmers are exposed to the market. Through the demonstrations, the farmers were able to show that they are not prepared for everything. Even the farmers’ association has relented and promised to do more to promote producer prices and guide negotiations – something they have neglected so far. The protests have therefore had a positive effect here.
Is it really a problem of francs and cents, or is it about appreciation? Appreciation is a central theme. Agriculture is used as political momentum. The right-wing side has been successfully representing the interests of the wealthy elite in the Edelweiss shirt for years. That’s why Christoph Blocher is always sitting on a bale of hay somewhere. The folklore of the peasants with the wrestling festivals and the rural women’s cuisine is celebrated as an ideal Heidi world. On the other hand, many farmers feel strongly criticized, especially by city residents. These portray farmers as climate sinners, even though they often fly far and wide on holiday, while farming families often live modestly. This leads to frustration.
The climate glues have caused enormous damage to the climate movement. Are the farmers also damaging their business with the protests?
It’s a balancing act. If matters escalate, this immediately leads to a change of opinion. But in principle the population has much more sympathy for farmers than for climate glue. In Belgium, farmers drive their tractors towards the police and drive over barriers – and no one says anything! The climate activists, on the other hand, simply sit on the street and are insulted as terrorists. Those are two worlds. But of course the politicians know: don’t do anything against farmers, otherwise you will have a problem.
Did you participate in the demos?
No, because I couldn’t estimate in which direction they would develop. In some countries, protests are being exploited by right-wing extremist groups. As chairman of the small farmers’ association, I support all demands so far. Our red line is the protection of the climate and species. If the demands are against them, we’re out! Because we are the profession most affected by global warming.
Designated SVP President Marcel Dettling said global warming is not bad for farmers at all.
This is of course completely absurd. But it was exciting to see how the audience reacted to it. In the agricultural bubble, debates arose about whether this could be true and whether the benefits outweighed the benefits. In the urban bubble, people just shake their heads. For me, that also explains the gap between city and countryside. But otherwise I get along well with Marcel.
They said the protests were a wake-up call for lawmakers in rural areas.
This lobby, which is often described as the strongest lobby, must finally ensure that things are going well for the farmers in this country. But they have to take to the streets. There’s something strange about that, isn’t there? Almost one in four members of the farmers’ lobby is or has never been a farmer. They often sit on the board of directors of larger agricultural companies, work for large distributors, for insurance companies that insure crops, or the like. These parliamentarians are considered rural and are thus elected in their rural cantons. But they represent the economic interests of the upstream and downstream sectors, leaving the agricultural base behind.
Why don’t farmers demand to be properly represented?
Yes, they should. I’m trying to make this transparent somehow, but it’s relatively difficult.
You have been excluded from the Parliamentary Group of Agriculture…
…yes, the morning after the National Council elections. I found out through the media. That was a bit of a shock, apparently I had become too unpleasant.
Does farmers’ association chairman Markus Ritter decide who is there and who is not? Evidently. The amazing thing is that no one is fighting it. In the group, you will receive a form with each transaction showing how you should vote. And it’s clear who decides what’s on this thing, right? I think this casts a strange light on this group. And after my expulsion, everyone is afraid to work with me because they’re afraid they’ll be next. It’s a gross power thing.
Your political enmity with Markus Ritter is almost legendary. How are you actually doing?
I don’t really have a problem with him other than his political stance on environmental issues. He certainly has more trouble with me because I make his power politics transparent.
Farmers live from intact nature. However, they reject all attempts to protect nature. Can’t farmers think beyond the next harvest?
In the short term, the environmental regulations are burdensome for individual farmers. In the longer term, however, they are vital for agriculture. But this has not yet reached the minds of all farmers. Unfortunately, they are exploited by companies that are only interested in making a profit. Their sales will of course be smaller if a few hectares of flower meadow have to go somewhere and fertilizer can no longer be used on this area and therefore nothing can be sold.
They have been asked to take a rope and hang themselves from the nearest tree, they have received threats and drawings of burning houses. How do you deal with that?
When the police had to patrol the yard for a number of weeks, that was a new level. But the most important thing for me was always to protect my family. I often felt bad about having to leave my wife and three children home alone. The situation has now calmed down and I have actually been able to put that aside.
Why did you become a farmer?
I grew up on the farm, that’s how it happened. It was only during my internship that I saw what an exciting and wonderful job it was. Although as a child I was never the one who wanted to be a farmer. But neither do politicians (laughs).
This article was first published in “Schweizer Illustrierte”. You can find more exciting articles at www.schweizer-illustrierte.ch.
This article was first published in “Schweizer Illustrierte”. You can find more exciting articles at www.schweizer-illustrierte.ch.
Her parents, Stephanie and Ruedi Baumann, were the first married couple on the National Council. Your parents’ phone line was also full of death threats, and the courtroom was often full of insults. Didn’t that put you off?
Apparently not (laughs). I thought for a long time that I would not end up in the National Council. But I have always been a political person and see the many positive sides of politics, not just the negative ones. I can make a difference if I do my best. That is the most important.
Her parents now live on a farm in France. How are you?
They have now lived in Traversères for more than 20 years. During the session they come here and help us with childcare. But they also get older. I don’t think they will run the farm in France for much longer.
Can you imagine taking power in France?
Yes, that’s not impossible. But there is still plenty to do here.
Source:Blick
I am Liam Livingstone and I work in a news website. My main job is to write articles for the 24 Instant News. My specialty is covering politics and current affairs, which I’m passionate about. I have worked in this field for more than 5 years now and it’s been an amazing journey. With each passing day, my knowledge increases as well as my experience of the world we live in today.
