Beautiful dairyfarm in Bayern/ Oberallgäu

As of 3 October 1990, the social security laws of West Germany apply to the whole of Germany. Regarding health costs, reimbursements are made for medical care, medicines, hospital costs, maternity costs, and home care. The employer pays the national insurance contributions and sets them off against the employee’s income. On 1 January 1992, a compulsory pension insurance plan took effect in eastern Germany. The costs of this are shared by the employee and the employer. In Germany, farmers take part in three compulsory insurance plans, which will be described below. Health care The Krankenkasse is the insurance plan for health costs. Contributions are income-dependent. This basic insurance plan covers everything, such as doctor’s-, dentist’s-, and hospital costs. However, for medicines and special treatments, such as lenses or acupuncture, a personal contribution applies or a supplementary insurance policy can be taken out. Pension The Old-Age Pension plan is built up over the years, and this applies to both the farmer and the farmer’s wife. Contributions are income-dependent. The pensionable age is 67. Business insurance plan This insurance plan, a.k.a. Berufsgenossenschaft, is also compulsory for all farm operations in Germany. For this insurance plan, an annual amount has to be paid, depending on the size of the farm. Farm inspections can take place 1x each year. On these occasions, special attention is paid to safety and environmental measures. If certain matters are not in order, they will have to be repaired within two weeks. If this does not happen in time, a fine will be imposed. Once the farm has been approved, then everybody present at the farm, both the family and their visitors, are insured against accidents and/or damage. Child benefit plan Child benefits take effect at the time when the first child is born. Child benefits are paid each month.

The German climate is characterized by moderate westerly winds from the Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea. Extreme weather conditions or large fluctuations in temperature do not occur. Germany’s temperate climate is therefore defined as a maritime climate. In the east, the climate somewhat resembles a continental climate, yet maritime climate features prevail. In the north, Sauerland, Rhineland-Palatinate and the Harz are wet regions with approximately 1400 millimetres of rainfall. The east of Germany is considerably drier. In Berlin, annual rainfall is 591 millimetres and in Magdeburg 513 millimetres. Elsewhere in the country, there is between 600 and 800 millimetres of rainfall.

In Germany, there is plenty of fertile soil. Due to its good climate, the country is suitable for agriculture. The agricultural sector supplies about two thirds of the German demand for food. The cultivated crops are mainly potatoes, rye, rapeseed, sugar beets, wheat, cabbage, and grapes. German wines and beers are popular. They are exported to countries all over the world. In the northern part of West-Germany, land can still be purchased at an acceptable price. Some guidelines: Northern pasture lands: Grassland on peaty soil EUR 8,000 – 10,000 per ha.; grassland on clay EUR 9,000 – 12,000 per ha.; grassland on sandy soil EUR 10,000 – 15,000 per ha.; arable land EUR 10,000 – 17,000 per ha.; leasehold land EUR 225 – 400 per ha. Land at Emsland/ Osnabrück sells for EUR 12,000 – 20,000 per ha. and can be leased for EUR 300 – 500 per ha. In Rhineland-Palatinate, land prices are between EUR 6,000 – 10,000 per ha., and prices for lease-land are EUR 60 - 150 per ha. In the east, prices in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania are EUR 6,000 – 21,000 per ha. In the Magdeburger Börde prices are EUR 10,000 – 18,000 per ha.

Beieren €60.864

Noordrijn-Westfalen €48.085

Nedersaksen €33.497

Sleeswijk-Holstein €26.875

Baden-Württemberg €26.821

Mecklenburg-Voor-Pommeren €21.822

Saksen-Anhalt €17.903

Hessen €15.330

Rijnland-Palts €13.504

Saksen €11.742

Brandenburg €11.372

Thüringen €10.552

Saarland €9.676

Gemiddeld Duitsland €24.064 (2019)

Milk quota Milk quotas are issued on personal/farm-related title, but they can be sold. Three times a year, on 1 April, 1 July, and 30 October, milk quotas are sold and bought on the exchange. One month in advance, a request for sale or purchase must be submitted. This system was introduced on 1 April 2001. Since then, the possibility of obtaining new lease-contracts has been abolished. However, lease-contracts can be transferred when a farm is taken over in its entirety. Details of the milk-quota exchanges may be found in the Archiv on the Internet site: www.bauernverband.de