Romanian cattle farmers protest outside Agriculture Ministry to call for higher subsidies

BUCHAREST, Romania: Pouring milk on the ground and ringing bells that are sounded at funerals, about 150 Romanian cattle farmers demanded higher subsidies on Monday.

The country's agriculture minister, meanwhile, traveled to Brussels to try to persuade European Union officials that Romania would strengthen its oversight of EU payments to farmers.

Chairman of the Agrostar Federation trade union, Stefan Nicolae, who attended the Bucharest protest outside the Agriculture Ministry said Romanian cattle breeders were looking for an additional 300 lei (US$127, €89) per head of cattle for farmers who had up to three cows or bulls. He said that would apply to about 90 percent of farms in the country.

The government is offering 240 lei (US$102, €71.39).

Nicolae said that 600,000 cattle were not officially registered, which could lead to some breeders not receiving subsidies.