[ad_1]
Status: 09.10.2020 17:15 h.
In front of the district building in Meppen (Emsland district), farmers demonstrated with their tractors on Friday morning. They asked for a solution after the closure of the Sögel slaughterhouse.
Farmers complain about the lack of space in the stables and fear economic losses. The background is the decision of the authorities, which belong to the Tönnies group The Sögel slaughterhouse will close due to a crown outbreak. This means that significantly fewer pigs are slaughtered. Agriculture Minister Barbara Otte-Kinast (CDU) had the tense situation on Thursday Emotional speech presented in the state parliament.
Videos
Farmers demand contingency plan
The organization “Land Creates Connection” requires an emergency plan from the Emsland district. The demonstration is not fundamentally against the closure of the slaughterhouse, protection against infections continues, said farmer Stefan Lüken from Lorup NDR 1 Lower Saxony. But farmers now need suggestions from the district on what to do with their slaughter-ready pigs.
The county is looking for alternatives
District Administrator Marc-André Burgdorf (CDU) said he took farmers’ concerns seriously. The district is in talks with the slaughterhouse and is looking for alternatives. Whether parts of the area can be reopened will be discussed, provided the slaughterhouse presents a conclusive concept.
Tönnies has the closure legally verified
Meanwhile, the Tönnies Group is taking legal action against the closure of the Weidemark slaughterhouse in Sögel. The company submitted an urgent application to the Osnabrück Administrative Court on Friday, confirmed a spokeswoman for the Lower Saxony court NDR 1. But a decision is not expected before next Tuesday. Until then, the Emsland District has time to comment.
Additional Information
