Facts
The appellant [X.] operates an agricultural business in the canton of Aargau and received direct payments for mowing catch crops from 1998 to 2005. The Agriculture Department of the canton of Aargau demanded the return of these contributions in 2008 and imposed a sanction of CHF 8'797.-- on the appellant. The appellant lodged a complaint against this decision and claimed that he was entitled to receive the contributions.
The lower court dismissed the complaint and confirmed the recovery of the contributions as well as the imposition of the sanction. The appellant appealed to the Federal Court.
Considerations
The Federal Court examined the complaint and came to the conclusion that the lower court had rightly confirmed the recovery of the contributions. The appellant was not entitled to receive the contributions, as the conditions for the payment of direct payments had not been met.
The Federal Court also examined the imposition of the…