The president of the Association of Young Farmers and Ranchers (Asaja), Pedro Barato, has pointed out that in the latest draft of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) to which he has had access, "there are situations that are changing," although he stressed that "45 billion euros are still missing within the global budget."
Barato made these statements to the media before the closing of the Ordinary General Assembly of Asaja Toledo, where he was accompanied by the provincial president, Blanca Corroto, the president of the Provincial Council of Toledo, Concepción Cedillo, and the Deputy Minister of Common Agricultural Policy and Agro-environmental Policy, José Manuel Martín.
Among the novelties incorporated in the draft, he highlighted that "some concepts are being removed," such as that of degressivity —the progressive reduction of public aid—, that the basic income for young people is raised from 3 to 8%, and that historical demands of Asaja, such as the definition of an active farmer, are included.
"From my point of view, 45 billion euros are still missing within the global budget, and the 50 billion that Meloni obtained with the Mercosur issue are incorporated into the CAP budget directly, because otherwise, that money would be available for member states to request, and it can be spent on agriculture or on other things," he argued, also warning that discussions are advancing "quite slowly" and expressing his reservations about the new CAP being able to start in 2027.
In relation to foreign trade, Barato has called for "exports to work" and has urged the central government to demand that countries like Morocco do not establish restrictions or "any type of impediment" for operations to "flow." Even so, he pointed out that in recent days two ships loaded with calves have left Spain and that "two or three more ships will leave shortly."
The agricultural leader also indicated that he trusts that the tax on fertilizers will be postponed "for at least a year," harshly criticizing the current approach. In his opinion, it is "a fallacy" because "they tax my fertilizers but they do not tax natural gas, which is what fertilizer is made from here in Europe."
Water, a key issue for the countryside
In his speech, Barato also addressed the issue of water, emphasizing that Castilla-La Mancha possesses "a very important sword" in this area. He called for the water debate to be removed from partisan confrontation: "Here, either we remove the component of political party acronyms from water or in the end one side will go one way, another side will go another. And water needs more solutions, fewer restrictions, and fewer sanctions."
He recalled that "there are all sorts of promises here that have not been fulfilled" and insisted on the need to guarantee water resources: "what is needed is to provide water because we have pipes that, perhaps what is needed once and for all is that first it is --water-- for people and secondly for agriculture, industry, and for others because Spanish agriculture needs water and there is water."
In this context, he assured that he finds "no problem" when he talks about water "neither in Valencia, nor in Alicante, nor in Murcia, nor in Toledo." "I have never had it because what I am asking for is water for farmers and in this regard, with the regional government, full unity and with the opposition, full unity, because if we don't have water, the future will be very uncertain," he warned.
Fall in Cereal and Need for Health Prevention
The president of Asaja also referred to the cereal campaign, lamenting that forecasts are worsening week by week and that 14 million tons will not be reached. He recalled that at the beginning 15 million were calculated, but production has been lost and, "particularly here in Castilla-La Mancha, I estimate that we have between 25 or 28 percent less harvest."
Therefore, he called on the Junta to, together with Asaja, implement "the medicine of prevention," to avoid "when we have the mess, neither the Junta nor anyone else can fix it." In this regard, he asked to "be prepared" with preventive vaccines for sheep and cattle.
Regarding wildlife, he denounced that the situation is "an absolute barbarity" and criticized the "dereliction of duty" of both Agroseguro and the administration. He gave as an example the damage caused by rabbits: "The rabbits are not ours, they are on the highways and when I am the owner of a hunting ground and I cause damage to a farmer, I pay him. Well, that is what the administration has to do."
Balance of the General Assembly of Asaja Toledo
The provincial president of Asaja Toledo, Blanca Corroto, has explained that in the General Assembly, a balance of 2025 was made and the accounts of the previous year, as well as the budgets for 2026, were put to a vote, with "everything" being approved.
She detailed that the members have conveyed their concerns regarding cereal, warning that the high temperatures of the last month have seriously harmed the harvest. "If it continues like this, we believe we will lose a quite significant percentage of production," she warned, adding that in the olive grove, "some decrease" is also foreseen.
Regarding water, Corroto recalled that Asaja has formalized objections to the hydrological plans of the Tajo and Guadiana to oppose the proposed cuts. Likewise, the assembly has studied the problem of rabbit overpopulation and has evaluated the latest decisions of the Ministry of Sustainable Development, although it considers them "insufficient."
Finally, she indicated that the Asaja Toledo Assembly has addressed the Mercosur agreement, lamenting the lack of reciprocity; and the regularization of immigrants, showing its support but expressing doubts about the availability of labor for the different campaigns due to the certificate of vulnerability that is being required.