It’s just right warm and well lit here under the glass panels in Lier. The humidity is optimal. 20 hours of daylight, and four hours of night, make this absolutely perfect for those who live here; the cucumber plants. There are many of them, because tons of cucumbers go out here in the course of a year, but the price of electricity means that life as a cucumber farmer has become very demanding. – I sleep, but I don’t sleep well, says cucumber farmer Inger-Irén Eriksrud. The largest electricity bill of all time Both agriculture and the green industry have their own electricity subsidy scheme, and greenhouses are also among these. No tax, but many cucumbers are under the glass ceiling in Lier. Photo: Morten W. Røkeberg / news The problem is that those with greenhouses have to pay the electricity every single month, while the electricity subsidy is only paid out every three months. Thus, those who have greenhouses have to pay three or perhaps four electricity bills themselves before they receive support. And it is no small matter that they have to deal with when it is winter in Norway and summer under the glass roof. An electricity bill of 3 million a month can quickly become a reality if prices continue to be high. – I wish there was a buried treasure here, but I haven’t found anything from my grandparents, says Eriksrud. Tomato, lettuce and herbs are produced all year Cucumber, tomato, lettuce and herbs are what are produced all year round in greenhouses in Norway. All distributed among around 30 manufacturers. – I think everyone who produces throughout the year has now counted the buttons and considered all possibilities. In the worst case, there will be no plants and it will be completely dark, but we have come to the conclusion that we cannot help but plan operations through the coming winter, says Eriksrud. – Why have you and the family come to that conclusion? – This creates great uncertainty for us every single day, at the same time we have faith that the Minister of Agriculture will make changes so that we can receive support every month and not just every quarter. It’s that simple, says the cucumber farmer in Lier. There are many plants that produce all year round in the greenhouse in Lier. Photo: Morten W. Røkeberg / news No to payments per month The Minister of Agriculture writes to news that very many of the greenhouses have fixed price agreements and/or security agreements on electricity. She believes it must be emphasized when the electricity subsidy is to be paid. The letter from the Ministry of Food and Agriculture further states: Sandra Borch, Minister of Agriculture and Food (Sp) Photo: Dan Henrik Klausen “The electricity support scheme for greenhouses, unlike the scheme for agricultural enterprises, does not have an upper limit for support, but must be compensated on the basis of the greenhouses’ actual electricity costs. It is therefore necessary to practice this scheme as an application-based scheme. This is administratively demanding and the support is therefore paid out quarterly.” It also says: – I have a great understanding of the liquidity challenge in the greenhouse industry and am therefore happy that the greenhouses can now sign up for the state loan guarantee scheme to remedy any problems related to this, writes the Minister of Agriculture and Food, Sandra Borch. In Lier, the cucumber farmer gets to see the answer from the minister, without being impressed. Inger-Irén Eriksrud believes that it is not just about borrowing money from the bank. It also costs money in the form of establishment and interest, but also in time. – Sandra Borch has only one thing she needs to do. It’s easy. One writes only monthly instead of quarterly. She would like to come and see why. – Is it an invitation? – Yes, it is. Here she can see what we do and also meet my employees, says Eriksrud. Time-consuming and expensive loans Kristian Solberg, chairman of the Norwegian Gardeners’ Association, writes in an e-mail to news that: “Several greenhouse gardeners have been in contact with their banks and the feedback is that the banks are reluctant to grant liquidity loans of such magnitude. At the same time, it is difficult to know what the exact need will be. It strongly depends on what the electricity price will actually be during the winter. Such loans are also time-consuming and expensive.”
ttn-69
Farmers have to pay millions while they wait for electricity support – are told to take out loans – news Oslo og Viken – Local news, TV and radio
