– We expect the farmers to get everything, says the Center Party’s mayor in Nord-Odal, Ragnhild Haagenrud Moen.
Thursday will be a fateful day in Norwegian agriculture. The Center Party will respond to its own, those who voted them into government, to a historically high monetary demand.
The demand the farmers have made in the annual agricultural settlement is the highest ever: 11.5 billion. Last year, it ended in rupture. Tomorrow, Minister of Agriculture Sandra Borch (Sp) will respond.
Clear warnings are now coming from the grassroots of the party. In Nord-Odal in the Inland, all nine SP politicians in the municipal council will resign from the party if they are not satisfied.
This is stated by Nord-Odal’s mayor.
– Very many of the core voters of the Center Party are involved in agriculture. To not deliver on this is to uproot the party, says Moen to Dagbladet.
Giant requirements
The Storting enters the carpet
The prices of fertilizers, diesel and concentrates have risen in step and triggered a crisis for many in agriculture. Farmers Dagbladet has spoken toclaims that the economic situation has never been worse.
2.4 of the 11.5 billion required is related to extra costs in 2022. But the Norwegian Farmers’ Association and the Norwegian Farmers’ and Smallholders’ Association are not satisfied with just being reimbursed for the increased costs. They demand that the farmer’s income increase significantly.
Nord-Odal’s municipal council politicians had a meeting with parliamentary representatives from the Center Party about this yesterday. The local SPs have not landed exactly on what will happen if the negotiations go ahead. But the signals from the government will be decisive for whether they opt out.
– We must cover the price increase that the farmers have not been able to predict, says Moen.
Can be embarrassing for Vedum
Near crisis
Clear requirements also come from the grassroots in Indre Fosen in Trøndelag.
– The government, and especially the Center Party, must deliver, demands Bjørnar Buhaug, Center Party mayor in Indre Fosen.
He believes the government must deliver over 5 billion, preferably up to 10 billion, for there to be a real settlement. If not, it will create problems in the party.
– Crisis is a strong word, but I think it will be something very close to a crisis. It will give great dissatisfaction among the core voters and great distrust among shop stewards, says Buhaug.
He believes it is unsympathetic if Norway does not manage to maintain strong food production.
– People bring this up with me when I meet them at the store. Even people who do not really belong to agriculture see that it is starting to become a being or not being, says Buhaug.
sea view
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Have confidence
The Center Party’s mayor of Skiptvet in Viken also reminds of the seriousness of the situation.
– We are dependent on having farmers who produce food. I have confidence that the Minister of Agriculture both sees and feels the seriousness of the body. But I am excited, says mayor of Skiptvet Anne-Grethe Larsen.
The Center Party’s county leader in Rogaland, Vidar Nedrebø, reminds for his part that the government is in the worst crisis internationally since World War II.
– Things have changed in the last year. People need to keep this in mind when the offer comes. Agriculture has never been in better hands with the government, even though it has never been worse off, says Nedrebø.
– I think the government will see that it is a good proposal from the farmers, says Nedrebø.
Facts tough match: – Very dramatic
Lost every fourth member
How the crisis in agriculture affects support for the Center Party so far is uncertain. The Center Party has not wanted to give its latest membership figures.
The SP politicians in Nord-Odal, who are ready to opt out, estimate that the local team has lost 25 percent of its members in the past year.
It is also due to some local issues.
– This will go beyond the Center Party, even though the Labor Party may have more to say in government. If you go out loud and dark, you must be able to answer, says Mayor Moen.
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:quality(85)//cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/infobae/3CN3IBEXSBFAPOVDXMM3JSLZII.jpg "League Cup: this is how the crosses are, those who fight for a place and all the goals of date 13")