Westphalian-Lippe Agricultural Association

The Westfälisch-Lippischer Landwirtschaftsverband e.V. (WLV), known in English as the Westphalian-Lippe Agricultural Association, is a registered association that unites farmers and foresters in the Westphalia and Lippe regions of Germany. It represents the interests of its members in all matters before political bodies, businesses and public authorities. Beyond improving the economic situation of its members, the association also aims to improve living conditions in rural areas. Because of its role as a professional agricultural association, nearly all farmers and foresters in the region are organized within the WLV. Its headquarters are in Münster. The WLV traces its roots to the Westfälischer Bauernverein of 1871, which itself grew out of the first farmers' association founded on 10 June 1862 in Wettringen by Burghard Freiherr von Schorlemer Alst and 36 other farmers. This makes the WLV's origins the oldest free agricultural professional organization in the German Empire. The association has existed in its current form since 1947, following the Second World War. The association's jurisdiction covers the Westphalia-Lippe region and is divided into 20 district associations (Kreisverbände). Its area of responsibility corresponds exactly to that of the Landschaftsverband Westfalen-Lippe, with which it works closely. The WLV's governance is structured in four hierarchical levels: the state association assembly (Landesverbandstag) elects the state association committee (Landesverbandsausschuss), from which the board (Vorstand) emerges as the second-highest level, headed by the president. The WLV is indirectly linked to the Westphalian-Lippe Rural Women's Association (WLLV), the Westphalian-Lippe Rural Youth (WLL), the Ring of Rural Youth Westphalia-Lippe, and the Employers' Association of Westphalian-Lippe Agriculture and Forestry (WLAV). The WLV's responsibilities include regions with the largest pig-fattening populations in Germany, namely the districts of Coesfeld and Warendorf. The association is active in agricultural policy, renewable energy, crop protection, livestock markets, milk policy and rural development. Its website provides agricultural market information services, including prices for cattle, grain, rapeseed, eggs, poultry and pigs. The WLV also engages in association elections, such as the upcoming WLV elections and the Landwirtschaftskammer (Chamber of Agriculture) election in 2026, and it advocates on issues such as bioenergy, faster approval of active substances in crop protection, and adjustments to the German Building Code (BauGB) to give agriculture room for stable conversion. Since 17 February 2020, Hubertus Beringmeier from Hövelhof-Espeln has served as president. Previous presidents include Fritz Hollmann (1947–1955), Antonius von Oer (1955–1968), Constantin Heereman von Zuydtwyck (1968–1997), Franz-Josef Möllers (1997–2012) and Johannes Röring (2012–2020).

The Westfälisch-Lippischer Landwirtschaftsverband (WLV) traces its origins to the earliest free agricultural professional organizations in Germany. The first farmers' association was founded on 10 June 1862 in Wettringen by Burghard Freiherr von Schorlemer Alst and 36 other farmers; a boulder in front of the Wettringen town hall still commemorates this founding. This local initiative led to the establishment of the Westfälischer Bauernverein in 1871, which was the first association of local farmers' associations. The WLV emerged from this tradition after the Second World War and has existed in its current form since 1947. In its early post-war years, the WLV was led by Fritz Hollmann, who served as president from 1947 to 1955. He was succeeded by Antonius von Oer (1955–1968), Constantin Heereman von Zuydtwyck (1968–1997), Franz-Josef Möllers (1997–2012), and Johannes Röring (2012–2020). Since 17 February 2020, Hubertus Beringmeier from Hövelhof-Espeln has been president. The association's structure reflects its broad membership base. It is organized into 20 district associations (Kreisverbände) covering the Westphalia-Lippe region, with boundaries that do not always correspond to administrative districts. The WLV's area of responsibility matches that of the Landschaftsverband Westfalen-Lippe, with which it cooperates closely. The association's governance has four hierarchical levels: the state association assembly (Landesverbandstag) elects the state association committee (Landesverbandsausschuss), which in turn produces the board (Vorstand) headed by the president. The WLV is indirectly associated with several related organizations, including the Westphalian-Lippe Rural Women's Association (WLLV), the Westphalian-Lippe Rural Youth (WLL), the Ring of Rural Youth Westphalia-Lippe, and the Employers' Association of Westphalian-Lippe Agriculture and Forestry (WLAV). Over the decades, the WLV has evolved into the primary representative body for farmers and foresters in the region, with nearly all of them organized within its ranks. Its responsibilities include regions with Germany's largest pig-fattening populations, the districts of Coesfeld and Warendorf. The association engages in a wide range of activities, from agricultural policy advocacy and market information services to organizing association elections and participating in the Chamber of Agriculture elections. In recent years, it has advocated on issues such as renewable energy, bioenergy, crop protection approvals, and adjustments to the German Building Code to support agricultural stable conversions.

• 2020

  Hubertus Beringmeier becomes president on 17 February.

• 2012

  Johannes Röring becomes president (until 2020).

• 1997

  Franz-Josef Möllers becomes president (until 2012).

• 1968

  Constantin Heereman von Zuydtwyck becomes president (until 1997).

• 1955

  Antonius von Oer becomes president (until 1968).

• 1947

  WLV established in its current form after the Second World War.

• 1947

  Fritz Hollmann becomes first president of the WLV (until 1955).

• 1871

  Westfälischer Bauernverein founded as the first association of local farmers' associations.

• 1862

  First farmers' association founded on 10 June in Wettringen by Burghard Freiherr von Schorlemer Alst and 36 other farmers.

Professional association representing nearly all farmers and foresters in Westphalia-Lippe, with a focus on agricultural policy, rural development and market information.

• AgrarInfo market price services

  Provides current market prices for cattle, grain, rapeseed, eggs, poultry and pigs.

• Policy advocacy

  Represents members' interests before politics, business and authorities.

• Association elections

  Organizes elections at local, district and state levels.

1. 1WLV official websitewlv.de
2. 2Westfälisch-Lippischer Landwirtschaftsverband - Wikipediade.wikipedia.org
3. 3Westphalian-Lippe Agricultural Association - Wikidatawikidata.org