"Unfortunately, it is not that simple. In fact, wheat prices are already falling again," says Johannes Brünker. And that can quickly change: "It’s a mood based market," he says with a shrug. Since grain can be stored for a long time, at least farmers can wait for a good time to sell. But even that sounds easier than it actually is, says Brünker: "I have to pay fees to the cooperative for storage, I have to factor that in."

Even if everything goes well, he will not be a rich man at the end of the year, says the Swisttaler. "If I'm lucky, I can offset the high costs for mineral fertiliser and energy," is his modest hope. The price of fertiliser has been shooting up for some time, but the Ukraine war has accelerated the trend. At the same time, diesel fuel, which is needed on the farm for vehicles and machinery, has become a precious commodity.

"We are also considering storing up gas before the tap is turned off. That is worrying us a lot," says the agricultural economist, looking ahead to the coming months. Normally, he tries to protect himself and his family against risks by planning ahead. For example, he sells part of his crop in advance at a fixed price, and the Hohn Farm has long become independent of arable farming as its only source of income. Horse stables and equestrian facilities for hire are an additional source of income that brings a special benefit, Johannes Brünker finds: "You're still in control of things yourself."

He is referring to the high reliance on state subsidies, without which organic farmers in particular would not be able to exist. "My son and I think about switching to organic practically every year," Johannes Brünker reveals. So far, however, the decision has always been clearly in favour of conventional farming methods. "The pure organic route doesn't work for us." Nevertheless, sustainable cultivation is important to him. If it were just a question of money, he would only grow wheat and rapeseed, but instead he plants half a dozen different crops in rotation, including sugar beet and peas.

The aim is to increase and maintain the quality of the soil. Growing the same type of plant over and over again in a field leads to poor crops in the long run. This is not only about the nutrient content, but also about the root penetration of the soil and the network of mycorrhiza fungi. "This is a complex issue," adds the Swisttaler, who is in regular contact with his colleagues in the sector on such matters. "The majority of farmers already think sustainably," he says, but many feel they are being treated unfairly. "We feel more and more pushed into unequal competition," he says, referring to the legal requirements for agricultural production methods that make it "virtually impossible" to compete with suppliers from abroad.

In principle, Johannes Brünker shows an understanding for the need for structural change in agriculture: "We have to change, there's no question about that. What is disappointing, however, is that despite many promises by politicians to provide better support for farmers, not much has changed since the time before the Bundestag elections.