Chamber of agriculture · Germany · regional
Mandatory levy, no membership
The statutory chamber of agriculture of North Rhine-Westphalia, formed in 2004 by merging the Rhineland and Westphalia-Lippe chambers, based in Münster. It advises farms (management, crops, livestock, forestry, horticulture), runs agricultural vocational training and supports producer cooperation and regional marketing. It serves all farms and forestry holdings in the state; it is partly financed by a levy (Umlage) paid by landowners.
You do not join the chamber; farmers are not members but pay a levy (Umlage). The levy applies to every agricultural and forestry holding in North Rhine-Westphalia under § 2 No. 1 of the Property Tax Act (GrStG), unless no property tax base was set because of an exemption (UmlG §§ 3–4). The property tax debtor (usually the owner) pays; for leased land, owner and tenant are jointly liable (UmlG § 5).
The base is the property tax value (Grundsteuerwert) excluding the capitalised net return from forestry (UmlG § 6). In 2025 and 2026 it is EUR 1.60 per EUR 1,000 of Grundsteuerwert (1.6 per mille); amounts below EUR 12 are not charged (Mindestbetrag). The State Finance Office (Landesamt für Finanzen) calculates, assesses and collects it; it is due on 15 October each year.
Fee basis: land-value based (collected with tax)
For information only, not legal advice. Mandatory membership is set by local law — each profile lists its source.