Summary of newsmakers of the previous day – 20.11. 2007

Brussels wants to cancel radically endowments for big farms; CR is against

The European Commission considers a radical reduction of agricultural endowments for big farms and big agricultural cooperatives. It results from a “revision” of common agricultural policy which the European Commission passed today. This step would have significant effect on the Czech Republic which has one of the highest concentration of large agricultural enterprises in the EU. According to a credible source of ČTK Czech representatives do not agree with the idea of endowments reduction. The reduction should affect farms which got more than 300 000 Euros from the Union yearly till this time, so more than eight million crowns. In this case, according to Euro-commissioner for agriculture Mariann Fisher-Boel, farms could drop as much as 45 percent of EU financial means.

Farmers will fight for bigger support of pigs

Czech farmers will demonstrate for bigger support of domestic pigs in Prague. About five hundred farmers will come in front of the Ministry of Agriculture to exact more money. Farmers assert that Czech pig meat is in danger of bankruptcy because chains purchase meat for liquidation prices. If it happens, prices will raise rapidly the same as in butter, they threaten. Breeders stated that they want a direct help from the state in a volume of roughly one billion crowns, ČTK reported. Already this year they want to get a contribution for cleanness of pigs before delivery; extra-money for transport and preventive vaccination or disinfection. Next year they require still wider support.

GM corn is healthier

Genetically modified crops are in disfavour. Authorities hush up pieces of information which speak in their favour. At a press conference taking place in Milano last week Italian scientists draw attention to the fact that the government and a research instituted managed by the government conceal results of tests examining growing of genetically modified corn. Biologists Piero Morandini from a university in Milano and a geneticist Roberto Defez from the Institute of Genetics an Bio-physics consider as very alarming above all a confidentiality of information on increased occurrence of toxins which can endanger health of people and animals. In 2005 field trials took place on a farm of the University in Milano in Lombard Landriano whereat growing of genetically modified corn and similar varieties cultivated classically without methods of gene engineering was compared.

Fishmen form Klatovy have finished fall hauls of all 203 ponds today

By a haul of eight-hectare pond Mělký in Tachov region Klatovské rybářství (fishery in Klatovy) has finished hauls of 203 ponds planned for the main fall season. Quality of fish is very good; a price of Christmas carp will by six crowns higher than last year, so 65 crowns per kilogram without tax at store-ponds in Klatovské rybářství. The price in shops before Christmas will exceed 80 crowns. A director Václav Voráček said it to ČTK. Costs for feeding, for wheat, for rye and triticale, which we consumed same as the last year 1600 tons, raised year-on-year by 80 to 100 percent”, he explained the main reason of the rise in price.