The European Commission gave on Thursday the go-ahead to Slovenia and four other EU countries to use animal feed growing on set-aside areas.
In light of the recent heatwave, the Commission thus gave Slovenia, Ireland, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and Denmark the green light to use up the animal feed growing in such areas, even though its use is normally allowed from 31 August onwards.
"Many of our farmers have been seriously affected by the dry weather across Europe and we need to find ways to help them," said EU Agriculture Commissioner Mariann Fischer Boel.
"This year has seen some of the hottest weather on record. It makes no sense to allow perfectly useable feed to go to waste. That is why we have agreed to be flexible to assist farmers in these difficult conditions," she added.
The five countries have joined nine EU members which were given the permission by the Commission to use animal feed growing in set-aside areas on 27 July.
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