Friday morning at 11 o’clock, the farmers’ claims to the state in the agricultural settlement will be delivered.
It is the farmers’ organizations Norges Bondelag and Norsk bonde-småbrukarlag that jointly deliver the requirement.
Simply explained, the requirement is how much money the farmers think they need to be able to farm in the coming year.
Next week, the answer, or offer, will come from the state – that is, how much money they put on the table for the farmers.
Dairy farmer: – High hopes
Jon Fjeldet is a dairy farmer in Gausdal, and has 60 dairy cows with a milk quota of around 600 tonnes a year.
He is excited about this year’s agricultural settlement.
Jon Fjeldet is a dairy farmer on the farm Alme in Østre Gausdal.
Photo: Roar Andre Berntsen / NRK
– I have high hopes, as we have every year – and I am usually disappointed. Now soon those who set our framework conditions must realize the seriousness, says Fjeldet.
He believes the seriousness of this year’s settlement is that he and the farmers will have an income like other people, considering the workload.
– That we can have a return on what we do. Have an income that allows us to live a normal life. We like everyone else, and don’t fly to our deaths, he says.
– Can have money to pay our bills, quite simply.
Dairy farmer Jon Fjeldet says he has no choice but to continue as a farmer.
Photo: Roar Andre Berntsen / NRK
In recent years, he has scaled up and made his own farm more efficient.
– But we feel it very well now, we who have taken the step, then, he says.
Even if he were to be disappointed in this year’s agricultural settlement, quitting as a dairy farmer is not an option.
– I have to continue, because I have invested and borrowed a lot of money. So I have no choice. And then you have to hope that it can be enough that you can continue in a normal way, says Fjeldet.
On the farm Alme, Fjeldet has 60 dairy cows.
Photo: Roar Andre Berntsen / NRK
Negotiations underway
When the farmers have submitted their claim to the state, this marks the start of the agricultural negotiations.
These are negotiations that take place over a few weeks between the farmers’ organizations and the state.
Among other things, price regulations and the distribution of budget support are being negotiated.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Food presents the government’s offer to agriculture on 6 May.
Negotiations must then continue until an agreement is reached. The deadline for the negotiations is 16 May.
The farmers campaigned
On Thursday last week, the Storting voted on the income calculation for farmers.
In advance of this, farmers all over the country took action, and many demonstrated in front of the Storting.
The farmers responded to the number of hours in this calculation, i.e. how many hours should form the basis of the farmers’ income.
For: Should a farmer’s working year have the same number of hours as a salary recipient year?
No, the government thought, but agreed to adjust from 1845 hours to 1750. The farmers demanded 1700, which is the usual for wage earners.
Many farmers gathered in front of the Storting last week to demonstrate.
Photo: Stine Bækkelien / NRK
While the proposal that the income gap between agriculture and other groups should be closed by 2027, was rejected.
- In March, the government also presented a plan for increased self-sufficiency, but many farmers were not satisfied with the economics of this plan either:
Tags: farmers demands state agricultural settlement NRK Innlandet Local news radio
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