Summary of newsmakers from the previous day – 20.02.2006

Czech Republic is in threat of fine from EU for too high milk production

The Czech Republic will have to pay a fine into the European Union’s budget of as much as 200 million crowns because domestic farmers will exceed the set national quota of milk production. According to the Ministry of Agriculture it will produce in total by twenty million liters of milk over the limit. The fine should be paid by individuals who exceeded the set individual quotas . Representatives of farmers are going to meet the Minister Jan Mládek today due to the problem which concerns many farms.

Farmers’ incomes in EU decreased last year, however, increased in CR

An average real income per an employee in agricultural sector in EU countries decreased by 5,6 percent last year. It means a principal turn in comparison with the year 2004 when the average income increased by 6,3 percent. The statistic office Eurostat informed about it. A completely different situation is in the Czech Republic. The decrease of incomes per an employee is caused by falling incomes in the whole branch, which decreased by 7,9 percent. Input costs for work in this branch decreased by 2,4 percents, which had favourable influence, but it was not sufficient for stopping of fall of the total incomes of the branch.

Farmers are interested in share in Setuza, they want to negotiate with the state

Farmers would like to get a share in food firm Setuza which is a front domestic processor of oil plants. “We will start negotiating with the Minister of Agriculture“, said the president of Agrarian Chamber Jan Veleba. The Supporting and Guarantee Agricultural and Forestry Fund, falling within the Ministry of Agriculture, holds now four-milliard demand thanks to Setuza controlled by a group of entrepreneurs around Tomáš Pitr.

Poultry meat market can endanger import of surpluses from other countries

The import of surpluses from European countries, where demand for poultry meat due to bird flu decreased, can be a threat for domestic market. It was reported by representatives of the Food Chamber at a meeting with journalists today. According to the FCh director Miroslav Koberna it will be probably a larger threat than a possible fall in poultry meat consumption which in consumers’ eyes profits from a relatively low price. A significant fall in demand for poultry products was recorded after occurrence of bird flu for example in Greece and Italy. Some domestic breeders and processors complained about the decrease in poultry meat prices last week, which, according to them, is connected with the infection spread in Europe.

Source: Agris, 21.02.2006