Agricultural Minister and Farmers Disagree on Subsidy

Minister of Agriculture Sirkka-Liisa Anttila is at loggerheads with Finnish farmers over what kind of compromise to offer the EU over farming subsidies.

The EU wants Finland to reduce and eventually phase out the so-called 141-subsidy for farmers in southern Finland. Anttila told YLE's discussion programme A-Plus that Finland will propose keeping the subsidy at this year's level, 94 million euros.

The Central Union of Agricultural Producers and Forest Owners says it needs 129 million euros a year, which would include a separate environmental supplement. The organisation's chairperson Michael Hornborg says farmers will feel betrayed if Anttila does not push for the 35-million-euro supplement.