Summary of newsmakers of the previous day – 14.11. 2006

Honey production will be this year above-average – about 8000 tons

Domestic honey production should be above-average according to last estimations this year – about 8000 tons. A secretary of the Czech Beekeepers Union (˙SV) Miloslav Peroutka said it to journalists. Long winter caused almost fifth death of colonies of bees, however, thanks to favourable weather harvest of honey exceeded in some cases as much as till September which increased production. Still in half of July beekeepers supposed an average yield, so about 7000 tons. Last year’s volume of 8400 tons was the highest in last five years.

Farms want to use biogas

Among farmers in Vyso˙ina an interest in energy from waste grows significantly. Meantime perhaps only one older bio-gas station works in farms in the region. However, recently more than ten intentions of their building have appeared Farmers wants to produce electricity and heat from gas which will arise by fermentation of manure, slurry and plant residues. The new production would ease liquidation of wastes and surpluses and at the same time it would mean additional income. However, the station costs tens of million crowns and farms want to find money also i the EU funds.

ACH: Farmers protest against closure of sugar refineries ES will be next Wednesday

About 150 growers of sugar beet is about to meet on Wednesday, the 22nd of November to demonstrate in front of German and British embassy due to an intention of the sugar refinery company Eastern Sugar (ES) to close its five plants in central Europe, including three sugar refineries in the Czech Republic. Jan Veleba, the president of Agrarian Chamber said it to CTK after today’s negotiation of organizational staff of farmers. According to ACH Eastern Sugar owned by British firm Tate&Lyle and French firm Saint Louis Sucre which is controlled by German Süd Zucker. “We are a democratic country where people can do what they want, so I can not to inhibit them from it”, said the general director of Eastern Sugar Št˙pán Hoda˙ to the protests of farmers.

Null tax for bio-fuels has to be approved still by EU

A null consumption tax for pure bio-fuels which the Senate approved in frame of the amendment of act on consumption taxes will have to be still approved by the European Union. There will be no tax relieves for bio-fuels used in a mixture with fossil fuels. The Ministry of Agriculture supposes that the bio-component should start to be added in fuels from a half of next year. By that time all necessary changes in legal rules should have been made. Addition without dotations will not have to be put forward to be approved in Brussels, the office points out.