Summary of newsmakers of the previous day – 6.9.2006

Czech Republic exports more milk and milk products but also import grows

Czech farmers increase export of milk and as well dairy works sale more products abroad. The export volume still exceeds import, however, while export grows year-on-year by about eight percents, import of milk and milk products after the entrance in the EU has increased by more than 90 percent. The chairman of Czech-Moravian Milk Union Michal N˙mec said at a press conference today that foreign firms inland successfully win recognition for cheeses and cottage cheeses. Last year farmers exported about nine percent from the total volume of milk in the country. In recent months the export has increased to 15 percents and according to sales cooperatives it will still grow presently.

Weather extremes reduce expected crop

According to the state to the 15th August the Czech Statistic Office estimates harvest of basic cereals in height of 6 034 thous. tons; of potatoes 665 thous. tons and of technical sugar beet 2 913 thous. tons. In comparison with the last year the estimation of harvest of basic cereals is lower by 910 thous. tons (By 13,1 %); estimation of potatoes harvest by 348 thous. tons (by 34,4 %) and estimation of technical sugar beet harvest by 582 thous. tons (by 16,7 %). In this year-on-year decrease of harvest of cereals share hectare yields 62,2 %, area under crops 37,8 %. Decrease of estimated hectare yield to 4,22 tons (in comparison with the last year by 8,5 %) is a consequence of continuing unfavourable weather development when the extreme July heat and drought was changed by particularly cold August with many rains.

Premier Topolánek introduced in function Minister Kalaš

The Prime Minister CR Mirek Topolánek introduced Petr Kalaš to the function of Minister of Environment today afternoon. The function and resort was handed over to him personally by the present Mionister of Environment Libor Ambrozek. He wished to Minister Kalaš good luck and promised his cooperation as a representative and probable a chairman of parliamentary Committee for Environment.

Tenth of cereals remains to be harvests, according to AK harvests will end this week

Less than a tenth from 1,43 million hectares of cereals remains to be harvested. The average yield during harvesting decreases further and actually it is 4,22 ton per hectare, year-on-year by 8,5 percent less. It results from data of the Ministry of Agriculture. According to the president of Agrarian Chamber Jan Veleba harvest of cereals will end obviously with some exceptions this week because the weather is now favourable. Crop from 292 000 hectares of oil rape is almost all under roof. Average production of cereals from hectare will decrease to 4,1 ton and the total harvest will reach about 5,9 million tons which is in comparison with the last year by 15 percent less, Veleba reported.