Erfurt (dpa/th) - Farms with certain ecologically valuable areas in Thuringia are to receive a total of around 214 million euros by the end of the current year. According to the Thuringian Ministry of Agriculture, the money comes from the EU agricultural fund. "By cultivating disadvantaged areas, agricultural businesses preserve our cultural landscapes, support environmentally friendly management and contribute to species protection," said Thuringia's Agriculture Minister Susanna Karawanskij (left) on Thursday. Around 21 million euros in compensation payments have already gone to almost 2,200 farms.
Another 193.3 million euros are to be paid directly to 4,015 companies that cultivate disadvantaged areas and meet certain requirements, such as environmental, nature and animal protection. The money should be transferred next Thursday.
According to the ministry, farms benefit "that cultivate fields or grassland in naturally unfavorable locations and can therefore only achieve lower yields". According to this, permanent grassland is considered to be one of the most species-rich biotopes. "Without the compensatory allowance, there would be an increased risk that the affected areas would fall fallow, become overgrown and become overgrown."
