– It feels absolutely terrible, I’m almost crying here. It is absolutely tragic. Carrot farmer Asbjørn Stokkeland stands on his field where he plowed 80 tonnes of carrots into the ground today. – It’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. The government’s electricity measures for businesses On Friday morning, the government presented measures to help Norwegian businesses struggling with sky-high electricity bills. Companies that carry out energy mapping will be able to have up to 25 per cent of the electricity price over 70 øre covered for the months of October-November 2022. Companies that also invest in energy efficiency measures will be able to get up to 45 per cent of the electricity price over 70 øre. The state guarantees 90 per cent of the amount in new bank loans to companies facing an acute lack of liquidity as a result of high electricity costs. The loan guarantee scheme will open in November and last until late spring 2023, subject to approval from the EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA). Companies that receive subsidies cannot take out dividends in 2023. Source: news.no Stokkeland thought he was not 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 came the news that the government is increasing the electricity subsidy 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, Stokkeland told news on Friday morning. When news tells Stokkeland about the increased electricity subsidy, he replies that it is good news. – This 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. The carrot farmer at Brusand accounts for 12 percent of carrot consumption in Norway, and is thus the largest carrot farmer in the country. Photo: Kjersti Hetland / news To help 20,000 businesses In recent days, intense work has been going on to put in place a scheme to support Norwegian businesses 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 news 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.
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Farmer plowed down 80 tonnes of carrots – news Rogaland – Local news, TV and radio
