Rain washes away Norway’s grain

Norwegian grain growers are in despair after months of relentless rain have drowned their crops and washed away their profits. Weather forecasters predict at least a week of so-called “Indian Summer” is on the way, but it’s coming much too late to stem the farmers’ losses. Reports have been popping up for several weeks in [...]

‘Most expensive’ yet again

NEWS ANALYSIS: Another ranking of the world’s major cities places the Norwegian capital in the top spot as most expensive, way ahead of cities known for high prices like Tokyo, Paris and New York. What may be most worrisome for Oslo residents, though, is how low they rank in actual purchasing power. Norwegian politicians often [...]

Calls to regulate fertilizer after bomb

Calls for stronger regulation of the sale of ammonium nitrate fertilizers have been made following the suspected use of the materials in the bombing of Oslo on Friday July 22  - with experts suggesting that new EU regulations set to be introduced in Norway are not enough. The alleged perpetrator of the bombings and the [...]

Compromise triggers new hunts

All of Norway’s political parties have finally struck a new agreement to govern predator management policies, under which as many as 30 male bears could be culled. The compromise has already been greeted with criticism by leading environmental campaign groups. The predator policy area is incredibly contentious, with many rural communities and farmers advocating harsher measures [...]

Local farmers tap vineyard potential

Norwegian farmers are branching out and dabbling in the production of wine grapes. According to newspaper Dagens Næringsliv (DN), some 10 farmers are now planting vines on plots along the coast of Norway, seeking out varieties that can withstand the long, cold winters and shorter growing seasons than those found in wine-producing nations farther south. [...]

Hospitals also put on E.coli alert

Norwegian hospitals were asked by state authorities on Tuesday to immediately report any suspicions of E.coli infections, after a man in Kristiansand was admitted to the southern coastal area’s main hospital and tested positive to the dangerous bacteria. Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK) also reported that a small amount of cucumbers imported from Spain were found in [...]

Fiesty farmers protest subsidy deal

One Norwegian farmer set fire to his tractor this week. Others drove their tractors and livestock trucks slowly on major highways to create traffic congestion, while traffic was all but halted on the highway running through the heart of the valley known as Gudbrandsdalen. They’re all protesting the state’s subsidy offer that was reluctantly accepted [...]

Farmers furious over subsidy offer

Norway’s farmers are the most heavily subsidized in Europe if not the world, but they’re still not satisfied. Now their demands for hefty increases in pay and protective tariffs, to keep out imports, have been cut by two-thirds in what they call a clear provocation from the government. The farmers wanted another NOK 2.6 billion [...]

Farmers want 18 percent subsidy rise

Norwegian farmers’ organizations are demanding a NOK 45,000 (over USD 8,500) increase in income for the average farmer from the state next year, an 18 percent rise, as part of annual income negotiations with the government. The total cost to the government to meet the farmers’ demands would be NOK 2.6 billion (nearly USD 500 [...]

Grocery store owners fight back

Norway’s grocery store owners are refusing to take the blame for the country’s high food prices and relatively poor selection of goods. A state commission delivered its long-awaited report on the highly debated issue Wednesday and, as expected, held the retailers largely responsible, but they’re fighting back. The commission, headed by a former cabinet minister [...]

Grocery business dodges bullets

NEWS ANALYSIS: Norwegian grocery stores have the highest prices in Europe and the worst selection of goods, according to consumer advocates, and, reportedly, a government commission charged with finding out why. Food producers, retailers and wholesalers all blame each other, while Norwegian consumers appear surprisingly passive themselves. It’s time for them to wake up, claims the [...]

Food gulps up more funding

The Norwegian government, which already grants huge subsidies to local agriculture, has also been spending millions to promote home-grown food. Now it plans to fund a competition and award prizes to boost its quality. Given the level of taxpayers’ money earmarked for the program, some may argue the food producers have won already. Agriculture Minister [...]

New drinks debate bubbles up

Farmers’ attempts to sell their locally produced alcoholic beverages on site have set off another drinks debate in Norway, and threaten to divide one of the goverment’s coalition parties. Agriculture Minister Lars Peder Brekk of the small, farmer-friendly Center Party has spent time this summer visiting several farms that want to generate new sources of [...]

‘Winemakers should be able to sell’

Sale of alcoholic beverages is strictly controlled in Norway, but now some politicians are suggesting that local producers in rural districts should be able to sell their cider, wine and beer on site. Several farmers have tried their hand at making such products as fermented cider from their apples in Hardanger, or even wine from [...]

Farmers try again, with niche food

Local farmers are once again setting their sights on niche products, hoping they can attract new revenues by producing and packaging specialty items that offer a “taste of Norway” to consumers willing to pay premium prices. State officials have been pushing niche products for years, and now they’re setting aside NOK 62 million to help [...]

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