Many farmers are angry that their tax advantages for agricultural diesel are to be gradually eliminated. Another cost factor has so far been less discussed.
In addition to the dismantling of tax advantages for agricultural diesel, farmers will face around 247 million euros in costs this year for the rising CO2 price, according to government figures. The Ministry of Economic Affairs gave the number at the request of Left-wing MP Dietmar Bartsch. The answer is available to the German Press Agency (dpa).
For 2025, the ministry estimates the total CO2 price for agricultural diesel to be 302 million euros. In 2023 it was 164 million euros. Bartsch called for the burden to be taken into account and the tax advantages for agricultural diesel to be preserved.
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The price per ton of CO2 has risen from 30 euros to 45 euros
The previous government had already decided that pollution caused by carbon dioxide, which occurs when burning diesel and other fossil fuels, should become more expensive every year in the interests of climate protection. The traffic light government continues this. The price per ton of CO2 has risen from 30 euros to 45 euros; Next year it will be raised to 55 euros. This affects everyone who drives combustion engines.
According to the ministry, the CO2 price share per liter of diesel – regardless of intended use – was 8.0 cents in 2023; This year it will be 12 cents and in 2025 it will be 14.7 cents, both without VAT. This is important for farmers because machines often consume a lot of fuel. According to the Ministry of Economic Affairs, a total of two billion liters of agricultural diesel per year is assumed.
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“Additional burden for farmers of over 700 million euros”
Bartsch told the dpa: “The federal government is apparently completely ignoring the fact that farmers will have to pay an additional 247 million euros for the CO2 price on their agricultural diesel this year.” Anyone who deprives farmers of their tax advantages on agricultural diesel does not understand the situation of many farms. “The bottom line – with the CO2 price, without agricultural diesel discounts – is an additional burden for farmers of over 700 million euros,” calculated Bartsch. That is unacceptable.
Thousands of farmers have demonstrated in recent days against the dismantling of tax advantages for agricultural diesel.
