Summary of newsmakers of the previous day – 2.10. 2007

Catarrhal fever of sheep - extraordinary veterinary measures

A vaccine is not approved in the EU; the most efficient is prevention. A principal measures which regional veterinary administrations adopted for the regions Karlovy Vary, Ústí, Pilsen and Central-Bohemian region as extraordinary veterinary measures concern all breeders who raise ruminants in supervision zones. There the breeders are forbidden to move ruminants from these zones. A regional veterinary administration can permit exceptions on base of written application of breeder where it has to be given reason, a way of protection, event. veterinary investigation, a place of destination and number of animals (Conditions of exception permission are involved in a decision of the Commission No. 2005/393/ES).

Majority of Czechs still lives in unsatisfactory air, the government will hear

Almost two thirds of inhabitants of the Czech Republic live in areas with worsened quality of air. Compared to the year 2005 a number of places where people breathe polluted air decreased, however, a rate of pollution is still unsatisfactory. Areas with worsened quality of air represent 29 percents of the state territory while last year it was by six percents more. Nevertheless, localities with the most density of people still stay affected. The more and more serious problem is transportation. It is stated in a Report on Environment 2006 which will be put forward to the government by the Minister Martin Bursík (Green Party) on Wednesday. According to the report the most serious situation is in Moravian-Silesian region where producers of pollution are large industrial plants; and in Prague. Problem is caused especially by dust elements whose areal limits set by the European Union the Czech Republic exceeds already second year.

GM corn is grown for commercial purposes in the CR

It is used as feed for animals. Last year about 1290 hectares from the total 80 000 hectares of all kinds of corn was sown with GM corn; this year it was already about 5000 - 6000 hectares. Except potatoes also genetically modified flax could be grown for experiment. Farmers in Žďár region harvested their first crop of genetically modified potatoes this year. A variety which should serve for production of starch for industrial purposes in the future was tested by the company Proagro Radešínská Svratka on six hectares of field. First experiments with genetically modified potatoes had been already made by the firm BASF together with a workplace at the Research Institute of Plant Production in Humpolec.

South-Bohemian farmers reduced numbers of cattle

A cause is growth of costs and low buy-out prices. South-Bohemian farmers raised 215 651 pieces of cattle at the end of June which was after Vysočina the most in the CR. From it 87 000 cows were in stables and pasturage. Year-on-year numbers of cattle decreased by 4363 pieces in the region to 215 651 pieces which meant two-percent decrease Czech Statistic Office). From last year's October milk buy-out price is permanently under average of the EU countries which joint the European Union together with us. An evidence of unfavourable development is also the fact that farmers produced 161,4 million liters of milk in the first half-year; year-on-year by 6,4 million liters less thereby also Central-Bohemian producers got in ahead of them. The leadership is taken by Vysočina with 226 millions. In the region only average daily milk yield increased by 0,2 l to 16,18 liters of milk.