Summary of newsmakers of the previous day – 21.5.2008

Government approved application of minister Gandalovič for money to vaccinate cattle

The government will increase a sum determined for farmers to vaccinate cattle against catarrhal fever by 155 million crowns. The Cabinet at today’s excursion meeting approved an application of the Ministry of Agriculture for means to vaccinate ruminants against Bluetongue. The European Union and the state will participate in coverage of the total costs connected with the vaccination.

Slovaks started to fight with Czechs for name of cheese Niva

Almost two months after Czech-Slovakian battle for marks of salamis and sausages (špekáčeks) was successfully settled another “federal” contention burnt up in the European Parliament. Slovakia entered an objection against awarding a protected name for a traditional Jihočeská Niva on Wednesday. Czech producers ask for this trademark so that they were better protected against possible falsifications.

EU: Speculators are responsible for raise in food prices

Not only bad weather, bad harvest, growing demand, and a support of bio-fuels are the cause of fast growth of food prices which the entire world has witnessed recently. From a report published by the European Commission today it results that a significant role was played also by speculators. For example there are whole investment funds based only on speculation for growth of prices of specific foods. “Influence of increasing prices of foods showed itself stronger in some member states than in others and had more consequential impacts on families with low incomes. It brought advantages for farmers dealing with plant production; vice versa it negatively influenced animal production owing to higher prices of feeds” EC introduced.

The most amount of rape in history is grown now; it increases prices of foods and rock-oil

The Czech Republic has never been so yellow. It is because of a record area of fields on which farmers sown oil rape. People start to worry about it. Bigger or smaller difficulties hit almost everybody. Allergic people suffer from the pollen; customers in shops face higher prices of some foods. Drivers have to pay more for diesel oil, and huntsmen record more often death of game. All this is connected with a rape fever. The rape is now one of the most profitable crop-plant for farmers. It is because of a state support of bio-fuels. Two percent of rape oil has to be admixed with diesel oil. In this way the state supports ecologically renewable power sources.