New agricultural coordinator: A breath of fresh air for Lüchow-Dannenberg!

In the Lüchow-Dannenberg district, Selina Schmid has hired the first agricultural coordinator to strengthen the connection between farmers and authorities. Schmid, who is 39 years old, has set herself the goal of entering into dialogue with farmers and supporting change processes in agriculture. District Administrator Dagmar Schulz describes Schmid as an “advocate for agriculture”.

Schmid brings a mixture of agricultural training and a law degree. She studied sinology and law in Hamburg and trained as a farmer. In the Lüchow-Dannenberg district, 50% of the area is used for agriculture, which underlines the importance of its position.

Challenges and solutions

Important aspects of her work are contact with farmers and building networks. In future development concepts, Schmid addresses the needs and challenges of agriculture, particularly with regard to planning security, framework conditions and climate change. She has also supported the Climate Protection Office, particularly in the area of ​​land use, and is working on the district's water supply concept.

The Chamber of Agriculture offers advice as the district is not a specialist authority for agriculture. Schmid plans to develop ideas for funding opportunities and model projects and would like to support approval processes and reduce bureaucracy.

While Adolf Tebel, chairman of the Lüchow-Dannenberg farmers' association, expresses concerns about the effectiveness of Schmid's role, Pia Ramp from Maschinenring Lüchow is optimistic and sees advantages in the connection to the authorities. The district, together with the neighboring district of Lüneburg and the biosphere reserve, has the potential for agriculture, tourism and nature conservation.

How landundforst.de reports, Schmid brings valuable experience from working groups into the water supply concept in order to find compromises. She also devotes herself to agricultural policy issues in publications and on the district's website.

Additionally describes ndr.de that 36 other districts in Lower Saxony have not yet set up coordination offices, which underlines the pioneering role of Lüchow-Dannenberg.