Producer prices continue to rise
2022. March 2.Agricultural producer prices have increased by 31% in 1 year.
According to the latest figures from the Central Statistical Office (KSH), the price of pigs for slaughter rose 15% month-on-month.
While prices were 19.3% higher on average last year, by December the gap had widened to 31%, with prices up 2.8 percentage points on November.
Live animals were 17.5% more expensive, while slaughter pigs were only 7.3% more expensive in December, despite a 7.4% fall in November last year.
Meanwhile, slaughter cattle prices rose by 33.8% and poultry by 23.4%, closely followed by milk and eggs, which rose by 10% on average.
We also have to pay more for most cereals, up by almost 38.6%.
The price of wheat is up 54.6% (a difference of 10.3 percentage points) or that of maize by 57%.
Vegetables cost on average 18.4% more than at the end of last year, including potatoes up 55.7%, cauliflower up 52.3% and tomatoes with a more reasonable price increase of 6.2%.
Lettuce, on the other hand, cost 19.4% less and carrots were only a negligible 0.1% more expensive.
Fruit is also cheaper, but only by 0.3%.
Oilseeds have risen by 55.4%, with a 33.9% increase in sunflower seeds, which has also had a major impact on the price of edible oil on the shelves.
Wolves appeared in the forests near the Mátra
The hunting newspaper NIMRÓD reported that a male bull was preyed upon by wolves near the forests of Matranova-Mátracserpuszta at dawn on 14 February.
The animal had originally got stuck in the ropes of a swing in the yard of a house in Matranovak 11 days earlier.
It was put down to free it, but after its release on 14 February it was seen again injured in the yard of a house.
While the owner called in members of the local hunting party to help, the bull was attacked by wolves and eventually killed by a mercy killing by hunters.
This case is further proof of the recent increase in wolf attacks in the Matra and the Bears’ Plain.
Call for applications for grants for beekeeping vehicles
A publication summarising the efforts and achievements of the beekeeping sector and its vehicles has just been published.
This press product is extremely important, as bees have a positive impact on all production sectors.
In recognition of the sector, the European Parliament has adopted the “Honey Report”, which gives priority to the protection of bee colonies and the clarification of honey labelling at national and European level.
The publication also reports on the increase in subsidies under the Hungarian Beekeeping Programme, the increased number of collection sites and information on how beekeepers can benefit from personal income tax relief. 
This year, the call for proposals to help farmers with a grant for beekeeping vehicles will be launched again.
The aid application deadline is 15 February.
and 15 April.
in the format published by the Treasury.
A total of HUF 100 million can be used this year, but gross aid to businesses cannot exceed €25,000.
Rare fish species found in the Danube
The Hungarian branch of WWF has successfully completed the rehabilitation “LIFE” project on Szabadság Island on the left bank of the Danube.
The project included the continuous flow of water in the tributaries, the removal of accumulated waste and the provision of ecosystem services.
In addition, baseline surveys were carried out at the beginning and end of the project, which WWF Hungary decided to follow up for another 3 years, including fish monitoring 2 times a year.
With the opening of the tributary, species that were not present before have appeared within a short time.
Between August 2018 and November 2020, the main species monitored were protected species and species of community importance.
A battery powered and pulsating DC generator was used to collect data, which posed no threat to the fish during data collection.
During 12 days of monitoring, approximately 35 fish species were monitored, 8 of which are protected in our country.
Among the protected species are the Danube pendola, the broad durbin or the German pike, while 10 other species are also protected in Europe.
The occurrence of the Danube penduline and the Bulgarian stripe is outstanding in the survey, as these species are very rare in this area.
The opening of the tributary also revealed that the area is suitable for the permanent residence, breeding and feeding of these rare species.
The success of the project proves that the opening of the Danube tributaries is important for the conservation of the fish population.