Crop species outcomes from the combined 2025 application

Article Title: A Comprehensive Overview of EU Area-Based Agricultural Funding and Steilhang Förderung

The European Union's Area-Based Measures (Gebietsmaßnahmen) in agricultural policy, particularly those aimed at steep slopes and grazing systems, involve various institutions and actors at different levels. Here's a detailed overview:

EU-level Institutions

European Commission (specifically the General Directorate Agriculture and Rural Development, AGRI): It sets the framework conditions for the Common Agricultural Policy (GAP) and lays the groundwork for the second pillar (rural development, ELER-Fonds).
EU Parliament & Council: They jointly decide on the GAP regulations and their funding directives.

National-level Institutions (Example: Germany)

Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL): It shapes the national implementation of EU guidelines.
Federal States: They carry out the measures within the framework of the ELER programmes (e.g., KULAP in Bavaria, FAKT in Baden-Württemberg).
State Agricultural Ministries: They are responsible for the concept and execution of the measures, including regional adaptations (e.g., steep slopes).

Regional and Local Institutions

District Governments/Departmental Offices: They issue decrees, review applications, and disburse funding.
Water Management Offices, Nature Conservation Authorities: They often participate in the implementation and control of area measures.
Agricultural Chambers, Advisory Offices: They support farmers in application submission and advise on funding opportunities.
Regional Associations, LEADER Action Groups: They promote specific projects in rural development.

Local Administration and Land Users

Agricultural and Forestry Businesses: They submit applications and implement the measures on their land (e.g., steep slope grazing).
Landscape Management Associations, Nature Conservation Associations: They often assist in implementation and monitoring.

Financing & Control

ELER Fund (European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development): It is the primary financing source for the second pillar of the GAP.
Co-financing by the Federal Government and the States: Measures are jointly financed.
EU Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (ELER): It is managed and controlled by the States, with payments made through the district administrations or district governments.

Example: Steilhang Förderung

Objective: Preservation of steep slopes, grazing of dry grasslands, maintenance of the cultural landscape, and biodiversity.

Involved Institutions: Farmers → Businesses → Agricultural Offices → District/Federal State → BMEL → EU Commission.

Actors Overview (Schematically)

| Level | Actor | Task | |---------------------|-------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------| | EU | Commission, Parliament, Council | Framework, Financing, Control | | National | BMEL, Federal States, Agricultural Chambers| Implementation, Advisory, Application Review | | Regional/Local | District Administrations, Businesses, Associations | Application Submission, Implementation, Control | | NGOs | Nature Conservation Associations, LEADER Groups | Projects, Advisory, Monitoring |

Conclusion

The EU financing of Area Measures and Steilhang Förderung is a complex interplay between the EU Commission, national and regional authorities, agricultural chambers, and the agricultural businesses themselves. All levels – from the EU to the Federal States, Regional Administrations, and Communities – are involved, with the implementation and control typically occurring on a regional or local level.

Tip: For detailed information about your specific project, you should contact the local advisory office, the agricultural office, or the agricultural chamber – they can provide advice on funding opportunities and application procedures.

Applicants have until 30 September to make any necessary corrections to the area details or application geometries based on the results. Errors and notes for the application can be viewed in the navigation tree under "Check & Error Log" in FIONA. The Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection (MLR) has made the first results from the evaluation of satellite data for the crop types listed in the Joint Application available on FIONA. Adjustments to the parcel geometry can be made in the FIONA GIS, and the crop code and other application details for the parcel will be changed in the FIONA Area Directory. Orders for submitting photo evidence have been created for certain partial steps in FIONA. Complaints from the physical on-site inspection of areas will be displayed in FIONA in the coming weeks. The ministry's Press Office and Citizen's Representative contact details are available on their respective websites. The area controls are based on an automated analysis of Sentinel satellite image series, known as the Area Monitoring System AMS. Correction is possible until September 30, 2025, for errors and notes in FIONA. The affected applicants have been informed via their mailbox about the need to process errors and notes in FIONA. Unlike the results from the area monitoring, the application data cannot be changed after notification of a complaint from the on-site inspection. The "Findings" table can be accessed in FIONA via the navigation tree, and double-clicking on the corresponding parcel will take you directly to the FIONA GIS. The Area Monitoring System checks each parcel based on satellite data evaluation to ensure that the crop code or cultivation indicated in FIONA matches the actual cultivation of the parcel.