Silje Skarstein is a dairy farmer. In 1991, the farm received NOK 5 and 50 øre per liter of milk. Now, 32 years later, they get 6 kroner and 24 øre. An increase of a mere 2.3 øre a year. – It is simply ridiculous. Worse than child benefit actually. Name one other thing that has had as bad price growth as this, she says to news. She believes there will be far fewer Norwegian dairy farmers in the future. Something that can make the “milk crisis” worse, and lasting. On Tuesday, Agriculture Minister Geir Pollestad (Sp) called Tine and Nortura “into the carpet”. – We don’t have a choice. Skarstein and the man’s farm produce 500,000 liters of milk a year. A considerable amount. But despite farmers like Skarstein, Tine has a shortage – and imports to replenish. Dairy farmer Erling Berge is a neighbor of Silje. He and his family have written down the prices of milk since 1945. In the account book for 1991, he can confirm that the annual price for milk in 1991 was NOK 5.50. According to Nibio, the average price of milk then was NOK 3.19. Photo: Tordis Gauteplass / news Agriculture Minister Geir Pollestad had a meeting with Tine today. – I clearly expressed that I am not satisfied with the current situation, says Pollestad to news. He says it is agriculture’s responsibility to ensure that we have a market balance for agricultural goods. – I received assurances that Tine will do what is necessary, so that we get enough Norwegian milk as quickly as possible. Geir Pollestad says the government has worked to increase profitability for those who produce food, including through two solid agricultural settlements. It also includes milk production. Photo: Håvard Greger Hagen / news Pollestad does not want to say that we have a food crisis. And believes there will be no shortage of Norwegian dairy products in the shops. Nevertheless, he believes it is unfortunate that goods that we could have produced ourselves must now be imported. The Minister of Agriculture says they will continue to increase profitability for farmers. – It will form the basis for both the escalation plan for income in agriculture, and future agricultural settlements. Silje Skarstein and her husband get just over six kroner per liter of milk. Both she and the head of the Norwegian Farmers’ and Smallholders’ Association say there is about three kroner per liter missing for it to be profitable. Farmer Silje Skarstein thinks it is absurd that he calls Tine on the carpet, when the problem lies with the Ministry of Agriculture. – They are the ones who decide how much we have the opportunity to earn. Actually, he should be called on the carpet by the farmers. Skarstein believes that Norwegian farmers can produce enough food for the whole country. If they get paid for it. – We negotiate on old numbers. Pollestad must do something about that. Skarstein adds that it is a complex problem. They are waiting for an escalation plan based on the correct figures on how the Norwegian farmers are doing financially. – Can’t afford to quit The farmer says that producing milk feels like an important job, especially with regard to emergency preparedness. But the fact that there is now a crisis does not come as a surprise, she says. The farm itself is great, says Silje, but the finances make it difficult. Photo: Privat It has become far tougher to be a farmer over the years. – It is depressing. What we receive in milk settlement does not cover the running costs each month. Then we will get more grants from the state, but it is a very uncertain item, she says. – Do you fear that there may be even fewer farmers in Norway in the future? – As the profitability is now, I have no doubt about it. We are a large farm and produce 500,000 liters of milk, but still do not have good enough finances to manage it. Due to poor earnings, both she and her husband do other things in addition to the farm. He drives an excavator, she runs rentals through Airbnb. – I don’t think everyone will disappear, but there will be more centralisation. In Western Norway and in Northern Norway, there will be empty barns. Could you imagine being a dairy farmer? No Yes Yes, but then the economy would be more tempting Show result – If it’s so terribly difficult, why don’t you just do something else? – We have so much debt that we don’t have the money to stop. Then I have to sell the whole farm. It’s not certain I’ll get enough then either. We also have to buy another place to live, Skarstein replies and adds: – As it is now, we don’t have a choice. We must continue. But the state must soon make a choice whether they want Norwegian farmers or not, because this is not going to last. – Forecasted disaster Despite the fact that it is challenging financially, Skarstein says that she likes the very existence life as a farmer offers. – It’s not like we walk around suffering in the barn. We love being farmers. That is the big advantage. – What will it take for us not to go even deeper into the crisis, do you think? – If we could get an extra three kroner per liter of milk, then we would be able to manage for a while longer. Tor Jacob Solberg, leader of the Norwegian Farmers’ and Small Farmers’ Association, gives Skarstein support in that this is a forewarned crisis. Photo: Norwegian Farmers’ and Small Farmers Association Tor Jacob Solberg is leader of the Norwegian Farmers’ and Small Farmers’ Association. He understands well the frustration of the dairy farmers in Norway. He explains, like Skarstein, that the background to the milk shortage lies in the fact that it is far too uneconomical to produce milk. – Something the farmers have said about over several years. We have not been listened to and then you get the consequence that farmers stop producing. Silje Skarstein and her husband get just over six kroner per liter of milk. Both she and the head of the Norwegian Farmers’ and Smallholders’ Association say there is about three kroner per liter missing for it to be profitable. He points out that the milk quota has been increased, but that the farmers are not responding because it is not economical to produce more. According to Solberg, there is a shortfall of approximately NOK 3 per liter of milk, and that a new numerical basis must be put in place so that the politicians are aware of the “crisis”. – This outcome is not surprising at all. A predicted disaster, where no one has listened. – We only ask to be treated in a proper way Tor Jacob Solberg says several important things must be in place for it to be more tempting to engage in milk production: Farmers must have: Equal social and economic opportunities as others in society Equal opportunity for pension Equal opportunities when you get sick Tools to produce the right amount Tools to change Norwegian food production to more climate-friendly production Tools for better animal welfare Protection so that we are not run down by imports that are produced in countries with completely different and lower requirements for medicine use and animal welfare – We only ask that we be treated in a proper way, emphasizes Solberg. Tine: – Needs a powerful political package The chairman of Tine, Marit Haugen, says that it is the Storting that ultimately decides the target price for milk, after negotiations with the farmers’ association and the small farmers’ association. Tine’s role is to advise on the price. The shops decide the price of the milk in the shop, after a tax has been added to the drinking milk. The fee goes to cheese production, to cover the transport of milk and subsidies to competitors. Photo: Stian Sørum Røkenes / news Haugen nevertheless says that the milk price for the farmer also increased in January and February. Precisely because there should be better profitability in producing milk in the situation we are now in. – We increased by 20 øre. – That’s a lot less than three kroner then? – Improvement in the dairy farmer’s profitability must be covered through increased prices, while it is crucial that we succeed in the market. But there are also political measures that can be taken, which do not contribute to increased prices for consumers. Chairman of the board in Tine, Marit Haugen in Tine, says many dairy farmers are experiencing financial pressure, even though the current government has given more subsidies than the previous governments. Photo: TINE – Norwegian farmers are proud of Norwegian milk and Norwegian milk products. Consumers are also concerned that the products they get in the shop are Norwegian, says Haugen. Nevertheless, Tine recently applied for dispensations for the NYT Norge brand on some products. Among other things, yoghurt must be labeled as Norwegian, even if the milk is imported. – We will mark it clearly in the store. Open and honest and don’t fool anyone, says the chairman. She also promises that this will be a short-term situation. – I believe in the importance of Norwegian food production. Both in the context of preparedness, and that the consumer will ring Norwegian production. It gives me faith in the future, says Marit Haugan in Tine. Photo: Ruth Barsten / news – What do you think that there may be far fewer dairy farmers in the future? – We hear and read in all the political parties’ party programs that they want Norwegian food production. We need a powerful political package to strengthen milk production, says the chairman. – In a geopolitically uncertain world, the focus on having one’s own food production is stronger than ever, believes the chairman of Tine, Marit Haugen. Photo: Geir Olav Slåen / news – Like peeing in your pants Dairy farmer Silje Skarstein doesn’t think Tine’s answer is good enough. – Tine will have to withdraw that increase for us later. What we get extra now will be deducted for later. It is the movement of money. We usually pay more in the summer, she says. – It’s like peeing in your pants to keep warm. Skarstein still believes that the only thing that can prevent a dropout is three kroner extra.
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TINE has too little milk – farmers take on extra work – news Nordland
