Germany’s agricultural sector is grappling with the confirmation of its first foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in nearly 40 years. Authorities announced Friday that the disease was detected in a herd of water buffalo near Berlin, prompting swift containment measures.

The outbreak has led to severe restrictions on Germany’s meat and dairy exports outside the European Union, per the World Organisation for Animal Health guidelines.

Foot-and-mouth disease is a highly infectious viral ailment affecting cloven-hoofed animals such as cattle, pigs, sheep, and goats. While it poses no direct risk to human health, it can cause significant economic disruption due to its potential to spread rapidly. Measures to prevent transmission, including a six-day halt on animal transport in affected regions, have been implemented. Local authorities have also set up exclusion and monitoring zones around the outbreak site.

Germany’s loss of FMD-free status under WOAH standards means that veterinary certificates required for exports to non-EU countries cannot be issued. Consequently, exports of meat, dairy products, hides, and other animal-based goods are now “hardly possible,” according to Germany’s federal agriculture ministry, as reported by the National Pig Association. It added that many third countries will likely impose immediate bans on such imports from Germany.

Agriculture Minister Cem Oezdemir emphasized that the priority is to prevent further spread of the disease, writes Reuters. Although Germany’s meat exports within the EU are expected to continue, some non-EU countries, including South Korea, have already imposed restrictions. Joachim Rukwied, president of the German Farmers’ Association, called for urgent measures to limit the outbreak’s economic impact.

According to WOAH, FMD is prevalent in parts of the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and South America. Illegal imports of animal products from these regions pose a continual risk to European agriculture. WOAH praised Germany’s prompt response, noting that early detection and rapid containment efforts are vital in managing outbreaks.

Germany’s last FMD outbreak occurred in 1988. Since then, the country and the European Union have been officially recognized as FMD-free, underscoring the severity of this incident. As investigations into the source of infection continue, authorities and international organizations remain focused on preventing further transmission and mitigating economic losses.

»Related: U.S. now more prepared against Foot-and-Mouth Disease

Five-time Entertainer of the Year Luke Bryan will headline his 16th Farm Tour in 2025, but with a new twist on schedule and location.

For the first time ever, Bryan will head to the West Coast for three Farm Tour shows in California (Merced, Fresno, and Kern counties) scheduled for May 15, 16, and 17, 2025. These concerts land just ahead of the 2025 season finale of ABC’s American Idol, where Bryan will serve as a celebrity judge for an eighth year alongside Lionel Richie and Carrie Underwood. Special guests will be announced at a later date.

Traditional Farm Tour dates and locations will happen in the fall with announcement of those coming this spring. Farm Tour 2025 is sponsored by Bayer, Fendt, and Citi.

“With the farm tour being such a unique type of show in rural towns we have to be really intentional on where we go in order to have the best experience for the fans all while lifting up the farming community and what they do for our country,” shares Luke. “I have always wanted to raise awareness for the West Coast farmer, and I’m so excited to get to do that this year. Going to be amazing.”

Tickets for Farm Tour are on sale January 17 at 10 a.m. central at LukeBryan.com.

Presale tickets for Luke’s Fan Club (the Nut House) and fan App are available beginning at 9 a.m. CT January 13:

• May 15: Atwater, California (Merced County) — The Castle Airport
• May 16: Clovis, California (Fresno County) — The Ponds at Harlan Ranch
• May 17: Shafter, California (Kern County) — Sillect Farms

Bryan is well known for his philanthropic work, with dozens and dozens of appearances and performances, as well as through his Farm Tour concerts. The son of a Georgia peanut farmer, Bryan brings shows to farms across the country and, since the tour’s inception in 2009, has awarded 84 college scholarships to students from farming families attending the local college or university near the tour stops.

More than 9 million meals have been provided through sponsor Bayer’s Take Care, Now campaign and #HerestotheFarmer social initiative. Bryan’s work with these programs has been critical in raising awareness, educating communities, and facilitating access to nutritious food and vitamins and minerals.

Bryan is also partnering with Fendt for a fifth time. Following the Rise Before Sunrise content series, Fendt and Bryan expanded their partnership with the creation of Boldly Grown Popcorn in 2022 and Boldly Grown Peanuts 2023. As part of this two-year collaboration, Fendt donated $75,000 to the National FFA Organization.

DAILY Bites

• SB-705 bans most agricultural burning to improve air quality.

• Farmers face high cost for alternatives.

• Burning reduced from 1 million tons in 2021 to 122,000 tons by 2023 in one area alone.

DAILY Discussion

The timing could be any more eyebrow-raising as a two-decade-old bill to ban agricultural burning has finally fully gone into effect in California. The long-delayed effort, called Senate Bill 703, officially started last week and bans nearly all agricultural burning in an effort to reduce air pollution. This comes while “California” and “fires” are at the front of people’s minds nationally, as the Eaton and Palisades fires have claimed 24 lives and destroyed more than 10,000 structures. (The causes of those blazes is suspected to be either arson or utility lines.)

The bill in question, SB-705, was introduced over 20 years ago by then-State Sen. Dean Florez and aims to curb the spread of air pollutants by prohibiting the open burning of agricultural waste.

Florez, who now serves on the California Air Resources Board, acknowledged the lengthy process to bring the law to fruition, describing it as “tough sledding.” Despite the challenges, he expressed satisfaction in seeing the ban finally enforced, emphasizing its significance in protecting air quality.

The bill defines agricultural waste as including field crops, prunings, weed abatement, orchard debris, and surface harvested prunings. According to the National Institutes of Health, just a few years ago, California burned the largest acreage of crop residue of any state, producing an estimated six tons per day seasonally of fine particulate matter. By comparison, a densely populated city like Los Angeles produces 11 tons per day (when there are no wildfires raging).

Advocates of the regulation, such as Stephen Montgomery, chair of the Kern-Kaweah Chapter of the Sierra Club, told 23abc that they view the law as a critical step toward limiting harmful emissions. Sierra Club consistently opposes agricultural practices from larger-scale operations with few exceptions. 

However, farmers expressed significant concerns. Jonny Holtermann, a fourth-generation farmer and president of the Kern County Farm Bureau, pointed out to the news station that the transition to alternatives has been costly.

Subsidies from the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District have been made available, but the funds are limited, and it remains uncertain whether additional financial support will come from state or federal sources.

A series of postponed deadlines marked the path to enforcement before a staggered rollout began in 2021. While some financial assistance was provided to help farmers adapt, the overall costs of compliance have left many growers frustrated.

Critics argue that the new regulations place California farmers at a competitive disadvantage due to the higher costs of alternative waste disposal methods.

Despite the opposition, the deadline for full implementation held firm this time. As of last week, the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District may issue agricultural burn permits only under limited conditions, such as for disease prevention or specific crop types.

Florez reflected that while he initially advocated for an immediate ban, he now recognizes the importance of a gradual transition. “Farmers needed time to adopt new technologies and practices, and giving them that time has made this transition more sustainable and lasting,” Florez said. “There will be no delays, no loopholes, and no turning back.”

Historically, burns in California have been concentrated in three regions: San Joaquin Valley, Butte County, and Imperial Valley. Growers in the San Joaquin Valley, for example, burned over a million tons of agricultural waste annually. In 2021, it was agreed that the law would be phased in, with large farms the first to be affected and a near-total ban coming into force at the start of 2025.

As of this month, the  San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District can only issue burn permits for certain crops to prevent the spread of disease.

In 2021, these renewed efforts reduced the amount of waste being burned by San Joaquin Valley farmers from around 1 million tons to 480,000 tons. By 2023, Air Quality News notes that this had dropped to 122,000 tons.

Top Third Ag Marketing helps farmers become better agricultural marketers with the goal of marketing crops and livestock in the top third of prices. Mark Gold and his team provide AGDAILY.com with the latest information and a look ahead in their audio commentary.

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