Totschnig started “supply security tour” in Salzburg | Federal Ministry for Land
Minister of Agriculture, LK President Quehenberger & Provincial Councilor Schwaiger outlined the situation of Salzburg’s agriculture, relief packages and GAP as a future program
Vienna (OTS) – In order to talk to farmers about current challenges and the opportunities of the new common agricultural policy from 2023, Minister of Agriculture Norbert Totschnig is doing a “supply security tour” through the whole of Austria. The kick-off took place yesterday at the HBLA Ursprung in Salzburg. Information on the other tour dates and registration options is available below www.landwirtschaft.at to disposal.
“The consequences of the corona pandemic, the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine, climate change – we live in a time of multiple. Despite these challenges, we reliably supply our farmers with regional food. Planning security is of crucial importance to ensure that our domestic agriculture remains crisis-proof and that the food supply is guaranteed in the future. The new common agricultural policy will provide this planning security from 2023. Many farmers are wondering what changes the CAP will bring. In order to talk about the upcoming challenges and the CAP as the future program for rural areas, I am going on a security of supply tour throughout Austria. The direct exchange with our farmers is important to me. I want to hear their concerns and encourage them to walk this path with us,” emphasized Totschnig at the start in Salzburg.
In a joint press conference at the “Mirtlbauer” at the farm of the Stumvoll family, the Federal Minister outlined the situation of Salzburg’s agriculture and the put-together relief packages together with LK President Rupert Quehenberger and Agricultural Provincial Councilor Josef Schwaiger:
Minister of Agriculture Totschnig: “In order to provide comprehensive support for family farms, the federal government has put together comprehensive relief packages. In addition, we implement targeted support measures for agriculture. This includes EUR 9 million for the production of fruit and vegetables in greenhouses, which was already paid out at the end of September. The EUR 110 million supply security package will be paid out in December. Around 5.7 million euros of this goes to around 7,500 farms in Salzburg. In addition, we are currently working on a EUR 120 million subsidy for electricity costs for agricultural production.”
State Councilor Schwaiger: “We have responded in the state of Salzburg with support programs to cushion losses and additional costs. With 4.3 million euros in direct payments to around 5,600 cattle, sheep and goat farming companies and associations as well as marketing organizations, we were able to avert emergencies in the Corona crisis. As part of the Landes-Invest program, we supported the implementation of structural measures to improve internal processes with around EUR 19.6 million. In order to improve the sales of regional agriculture, we have placed a third focus on the area of marketing local products. The main focus is on the further expansion of the SalzburgerLand certificate of origin as an externally visible quality feature.”
LK President Quehenberger: “The common agricultural policy is very important in Salzburg. More than 50 percent of the farms operate organically, and a total of 90 percent of all farms participate in the environmental program. The compensatory allowance (mountain farmer support) is also indispensable in order to maintain management in the mountain regions. We are glad that with the new funding period, another comprehensive program for agriculture has succeeded. In Salzburg, the information events on the new GAP have largely been completed and the companies are being comprehensively advised about their options. In Salzburg, we want to continue to be pioneers in the environmental program and in organic farming.”
Salzburg’s agriculture and forestry at a glance:
- Around 9,300 agricultural and forestry businesses
- 44% in the main job, 49% as a part-time job
- At 59%, Salzburg is the federal state with the highest proportion of organic areas
- Salzburg’s agriculture and forestry has a production value of 539 million euros – strong focus on the dairy and cattle sector (approx. 230 million euros)
- Around 1/5 of Austria’s alpine pastures are in Salzburg
Questions & contact:
Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Regions and Water Management
+43 1 71100 extension 606747
to press@bml.gv.at
https://www.bml.gv.at/