Neubrandenburg (dpa / mv) - Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania's farmers' association expects only moderate increases in food prices in the coming year. "I rather think that we are over the hill," said association president Detlef Kurreck to the "Nordkurier" (Friday). He does not know how the energy situation and the international raw material situation will develop. For wheat, for example, he only expects slight price increases.
According to the farmers’ association, the year 2022 was in some cases quite good for farmers. Farmers received 5 percent of the higher prices for bread, 20 percent for meat and 36 percent for milk. "This shows, for example, that milk producers had a good year," said Kurreck. But now there are first signs that retail is stepping on the brakes. Since energy and feed have become significantly more expensive at the same time, this could quickly tip over again.
The plus for farmers in the north-east comes mainly from crop production, with pigs or poultry no better operating results were achieved. "The 2022 harvest could be sold at currently very high prices, but the costs were sometimes still at the lower level of 2021 and before the Ukraine war," said Kurreck. That increased the margins.
The farm president denied that farmers had increased their prices beyond the actual increase in costs. Prices would be determined by demand and listings on international stock exchanges. "When we sell something is our decision, the prices are made on the world markets."
