Anna Håland Berget has refused to have another child after she took over a farm six years ago. But now she is expecting her third. As the sole operator of the farm, she must therefore hire replacements. It costs money. Money she does not have. – I am dependent on the family showing up for volunteer work, says Håland Berget. After this year’s agricultural settlement, the farmers will receive more support to be able to hire replacements from 2023. It seems the farmer in Rauma is good, but says there is a long and big battle that remains. The man has to step in – It’s not good that you have to be dependent on people working for you for free, says Håland Berget. Because that’s how it is now. Her husband, Ole Jonny Håland, has to step down from his regular job and contribute on the farm for free. – If you work in a nursing home then? Should your husband take time off work and work for free in a nursing home? asks Håland Berget, and adds that it has been put on the line. She says it is too expensive to hire people, in relation to the support you get. There was an increase in support in this year’s agricultural settlement, but it should have been higher to cover the need for the help needed, she believes. – We do not work 37.5 hours a week. You have to be available around the clock, says Håland Berget, who is also deputy leader of Møre og Romsdal Bondelag. Ole Jonny Håland runs his own company and already works full time. Now he has to step down in that job, to be able to contribute on the farm. But he has to do it for free. Photo: Øyvind Berge Sæbjørnsen / news Increases support The Minister of Agriculture and Food, Sandra Borch (Sp), writes in an e-mail to news that they have placed strong emphasis on improving welfare schemes in this year’s agricultural settlement. – We have increased the allocation for subsidies for replacement in the event of illness and birth by NOK 35 million. The scheme helps to finance the farmers’ use of work aid when they become ill or have children. The support has increased by NOK 430 per day. It requires about an hour and a half extra with a replacement, according to the farmer in Rauma. It’s good, but not good enough, she thinks. – This year’s agricultural settlement is a start to the government’s work to improve welfare schemes, and this work will be followed up in the coming agricultural settlements, Borch emphasizes. Minister of Food and Agriculture Sandra Borch says they have placed strong emphasis on improving welfare schemes in this year’s agricultural settlement. Photo: Dan Henrik Klausen – A long way to go This autumn, Anna Håland Berget and her husband Ole Jonny Håland will have their third child. At the same time, 48 calves are expected to arrive in the autumn. – I can not take maternity leave longer than I have to. There is too much work to be done on the farm. I wish I could concentrate more on the baby, she says. This year’s agricultural settlement shows a result of the fact that there has been more awareness of the welfare schemes, the future mother of three believes. – I have a hope that it can improve in the years ahead. There is still a long way to go. Anna Håland Berget says there is a lot of work left to improve the welfare schemes in the profession as a farmer. She has hired two replacements to help her with the farm during her pregnancy, but that is not enough. Photo: Øyvind Berge Sæbjørnsen / news
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Pregnant farmer: – I am dependent on the family showing up for volunteer work
