Ola Fiskvik, organizational deputy manager in Norwegian Farmers ‘and Smallholders’ Association, was surprised then The agricultural settlement on Monday was signed.
The board members of BOnde- og Småbrukarlaget had, according to Fiskvik, not approved the agreementwhich he believes is a violation of the articles of association.
– The chief negotiator has exceeded his powers, he says.
At 20:00 on Monday night, the county leaders met in the farmers’ organization. Among other things, they were to consider whether they would demand an extraordinary national meeting.
Two hours later, the meeting was over, and an extraordinary national meeting was not required. Nevertheless, the situation is still unclear.
– It is not the agricultural agreement we are now reacting to, even though it is too bad. These are internal matters that we are not happy with. It must be specified, says leader of the county team in Troms, Frank Valø, after the meeting is over.
Rejects that an error has been made
The chair of the negotiating committee, Kjersti Hoff, believes that she has not violated any articles of association and that she was authorized to sign the agreement. She is also the leader of the Farmers ‘and Smallholders’ Association.
– They approved the race we ran on the sprint, and then it is right of me as head of the negotiating committee to sign the agreement that we have made today, Hoff says.
She says that they had a board meeting on Saturday, where the majority of the board wanted to proceed with the framework set by the committee.
– Then we understood that we had a mandate to sign the agreement.
Hoff himself attended tonight’s board meeting to explain his case.
Critical of the agreement
Ola Fiskvik says that he is critical of the agreement.
– The overall framework was acceptable in this respect. But the structure of the entire agricultural policy and distribution do not seem to us to reflect the Farmers ‘and Smallholders’ Association’s policy, he says.
Ola Fiskvik, organizational deputy leader of the Norwegian Farmers ‘and Smallholders’ Association.
Photo: Norwegian Farmers ‘and Smallholders’ Association
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Fiskvik points out that NBS is, among other things, critical of subsidized concentrates. The agreement, which has now been signed, provides for the write-down of Norwegian grain and imported raw materials for concentrates, in order to avoid a potential increase in concentrates prices for livestock producers.
– We want to increase self-sufficiency in Norway. This is in line with the geopolitical situation we see when country after country also stops exporting. Imports of concentrates reduce self-sufficiency.
Can turn the thumb down
The final agreement will be approved at a board meeting on Thursday 19 May.
This means that the board in The Norwegian Farmers ‘and Smallholders’ Association can vote down the agreement. If the majority votes against the agreement, is not The Norwegian Farmers ‘and Smallholders’ Association joins the agreement.
– Is there a possibility that the agricultural agreement that was agreed today will not stand?
– It can happen, it’s probably quite hypothetical, but it can happen, Hoff says.
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