Farmer plowed down 80 tonnes of carrots – NRK Rogaland – Local news, TV and radio

– It feels absolutely terrible, I’m almost crying standing here. It is absolutely tragic.

Carrot farmer Asbjørn Stokkeland stands on his field where he plowed 80 tonnes of carrots into the ground today.

– That’s an insane amount. The last thing I want to do is ruin food.

Today, the government promises to distribute NOK 3 billion to Norwegian companies in electricity support.

Stokkeland thought he wasn’t going to get a single kroner extra.

It created fears of having to plow down close to 1,000 tonnes of carrots in the long term. That is half of the crop he produces in a year.

Plowed down 80 tonnes of carrots, then came the electricity subsidy

On Friday afternoon, the news came that the government is increasing electricity support for agriculture.

Today’s upper limit of 20,000 kWh per month is increased to 60,000 kWh. The scheme applies for the rest of the year – starting in October and ending in December. The farmers receive a monthly payment.

The government states this in a press release.

– We have worked all spring and summer to produce the crop and were looking forward to delivering fine vegetables, but it is no use as the situation is now, said Stokkeland to NRK on Friday morning.

When NRK tells Stokkeland about the increased electricity subsidy, he replies that it is good news.

– That is a significant increase. Now we have to sit down and look at the risk and what this means for us. This means that we can put more goods on cooling than we could do with 20,000 kWt.

Stokkeland uses around 80,000 kWh every month to keep the freezer room and onion dryer running.

He points out that if the electricity subsidy had come three weeks ago, he would have been able to plow down 80 tonnes of carrots today.

Will help 20,000 companies

Intensive work has been going on in recent days to put in place a scheme to support Norwegian companies affected by high electricity prices.

The parties have now reached an agreement.

– We have worked closely with the parties in working life to get proper input from them about the needs, said Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre to NRK on Friday morning.

It is assumed that the scheme will be able to help around 20,000 businesses.

The farmers have fixed prices, which are negotiated in the agricultural settlement. This means that they cannot increase the prices they receive for the food they produce.