Summary of newsmakers from the previous day 4. 4. 2005

Vegetable acreage is likely to fall by a third this year

Vegetable growers are likely to respond to the last year´s drop in purchase prices, which caused a cheap export, by reducing this year´s acreage. The Greengrocers Union of Bohemia and Moravia estimates they might cut down the acreage by almost a third, that is approximately 4,000 hectars of land. The Union expects the growers to bring down above all the production of cauliflower, cabbage and onion. „Vegetable producers are now seeding and planting. Therefore, we can estimate the drop in the acreage only according to some suggestions, which we have from the growers. We will have more accurate figures at the end of April,“ said Jaroslav Zeman, the chairman of the Greengrocers Union.

Maltreatment of cows

Veterinary surgeons are not surprised at all by the embitterment of people, who have seen a maltreatment of some animals. „The term of maltreatment cannot even describe what is actually happening in some cases,“ said Josef Duben, the spokesperson of the State Veterinary Office. Veterinary surgeons try to prevent the animal maltreatment by carrying out stricter monitoring of cattle breeding. „As long as a breeder does not report any changes in the herd, either loss or growth, within six months, it is suspicious and we go and check it. In a period of six months, inspectors from Regional Veterinary Offices also check on farms where some problems had occurred in the past,“ explains Duben.

Unconsolidated income of Delta group increased by 4.5 milliard CZK

Last year, the unconsolidated income of Delta group accounted for 4.5 milliard CZK, which meant a growth of 637 million CZK in comparison to the previous year. Jaroslav Pomp, the company´s spokesperson, claims the reason lies in ever-increasing popularity of Delta pastries. The growth of sales was also influenced by the price increase in automn 2003. The prices of pastries responded to the price increase of corn after seven years, added Pomp. Delta has not announced the net earnings so far since audits of individual companies in the group has not been carried out yet. The Delta bakery division of fresh pastry, which has the largest share on the turnover, recorded a bumper sale of 114,010 tons. When compared to the previous year, it was approximately 4,500 tons more.

Municipalities object to not having a right to decide on trees cutting

Many mayors in Olomouc district are dissatisfied with the forthcoming amendment to the act on nature and lanscape protection, which concerns permits to cut trees and other woody plants beyond the forest. Provided that lawmakers approve of the amendment, it will be the municipalities with extended competences instead of municipal authorities that will decide upon trees cutting. According to mayors, the modification contradicts the principles of the public administration reform, as reported today in Olomoucký Den magazine. The Ministry of Home affairs intends to submit the draft of the amendment to the government by the end of June. „Providing a vast number of permissions to cut trees, growing beyond the forest, can cause a significant damage to the environment. To simplify the administration of such cases, with regard to an applicant it is advisable to solve the case as a whole via the most competent authority for nature protection,“ claims Petr Vorlíček, the spokesperson of the Ministry of Home affairs.