Summary of newsmakers from the previous day - 17.2.2006

Southern-Moravian farmers stayed at a head with pig slaughters last year

Southern-Moravian farmers stayed at a head of the Czech Republic with pig meat last year despite a decrease in pig slaughters in comparison with the previous year by 5,5 percent to 533 461 pieces. Farmers from Southern-Bohemia as the only ones registered the increase in this category. The decrease in cattle slaughters continue on in Southern Moravia, by 13 percent to 18 000 pieces, more then a half of which were bulls. The regional administration of the Czech Statistic Office (ČSÚ) in Brno informed about it.

Coming of bird flu is question of days

After yesterday's announcement that bird flu has appeared also in Hungary we have this dangerous virus literally in front of the door. It seems to be just a question of days when it will be spread by swans or other birds to us. With coming spring due to return of migratory birds this thread still increases. Therefore the State Veterinary Administration (SVS) contacted ornithologists and monitors the bird migration from abroad carefully. “Regarding the development of the situation the question is not if but when the first case appears in the CR. This possibility, unfortunately, can not be excluded”, said the spokesman of the SVS Josef Duben yesterday.

ODS wants so that more money from EU grants flow in rural development

More money than it is now proposed by the Ministry of Agriculture, should flow, according to ODS, from the European Fund for rural development (EAFRD) in development of the countryside in 2007-2013. The shadow minister of agriculture for ODS Jiří Papež said it today to journalists. According to the proposal of the Ministry of Agriculture, every year 57 percent from approximately 10,5 milliard crowns should go directly in agriculture. However, some senators suggest a reduction in ratio to 50 percent in favour of the rural renewal, said Papež.

Milkmen are furious; they have to “portion” milk

To separate milk which will be poured together in the end. Such is a logic of requirements of the State Agricultural Intervention Fund. For milk producers it means hundred-thousand costs in addition, if the state insists on the necessity to separate milk physically from two cow breeders from one cowshed. Nevertheless, milk brought together from one subregion from various producers ends the same in transport to dairy works in one tank together.

Source: Agris, 18.02.2006