The farmers demand NOK 3.9 billion in this year’s agricultural settlement – E24

The farmers are demanding a total of NOK 3.9 billion – NOK 82,900 per man-year – in this year’s agricultural settlement. The smallholder association leader believes the demand is sober.

The demand was handed over to the state’s head of negotiations, head of expedition Viil Søyland in the Ministry of Agriculture and Food on Friday.

Of the income growth per man-year, NOK 57,300 will be what the farmers will experience from closing the income gap with other groups in society.

The Norwegian Association of Farmers and Smallholders says they have emphasized structure in this year’s requirements.

– Sober requirement

Smallholder association leader Tor Jacob Solberg refers to the demand as “sober”, based on assumed cost growth and the framework provided by the agricultural report recently processed by the Storting.

The requirement has been drawn up with the aim of leveling out the income differences between the various productions, writes Småbrukarlaget in a press release.

The framework of NOK 3.930 billion is divided into NOK 2.738 billion in budget transfers and NOK 998 million in target price increases – i.e. increased prices that people have to pay for the goods in the store.

– Must be profitable

It is against the background of considerable unrest around the calculation of farmers’ income that the agricultural settlement is getting under way. The leader of the farmers’ association, Bjørn Gimming, emphasizes that there will be no increase in self-sufficiency without increased income for the farmer.

– We have received a clear marching order from the Storting, said Gimming when he presented the demand.

– We farmers are happy to take on the task of delivering more food, but it must be profitable! he added.

The state presents its offer to the farmers on 6 May. The parties then see whether there is a basis for proceeding with negotiations. They have until May 16 to agree.