Overview
- Hesse's agriculture ministry announced the new Streuobstwiesen guideline on Thursday, July 2, 2026, opening online applications and fixing the subsidy for each newly planted tree at €105.
- The rule expands who can apply by allowing private citizens, clubs, associations and small farms to seek funding for new planting, replacement trees and direct sowing from the state.
- The ministry commits up to €1 million per year to the programme and offers targeted support for age-adjusted long-term care, harvest work and the creation of local Streuobst collection and processing points.
- Officials and conservation groups welcomed the measure but warned it is an initial response to urgent threats such as heat and drought stress, bark damage and pests that are killing old trees.
- Streuobstwiesen are culturally rich, biodiverse landscapes with about 17,500 sites covering roughly 9,100 hectares in Hesse, and the guideline aims to bolster volunteer networks, local value chains and the survival of century-old fruit varieties.