Belgium: Buy-out scheme for pig farms approved

The European Commission gave its final approval for the second call for the voluntary closure of pig farms.

The Flemish government lowered the requirements to be eligible for the pig farm buy-out scheme.

Pig farmers will have until June 17 to sign up for the voluntary buy-out scheme.

This expansion of the regulations comes at the request of the industry, which is struggling with a lack of veterinarians.

The strongest drop in production occurred in the pig sector.

Higher grain prices prompted Belgian farmers to grow more spring grains and maize in 2022. The pig inventory declined.

The decrease was possible due to various sector initiatives to reduce the use of antibiotics in agricultural animals.

There were 9.1 million farms in the EU in 2020, down the equivalent of 37% from 2005.

The number of pigs slaughtered in Belgium fell by almost 10% in 2022, to a level not seen in 30 years.

In December there was a sharp decrease in the number of pigs slaughtered with pig inventory decreasing less rapidly.

The combined index should be a better representation of the market evolution and thus contribute to greater transparency in the sector.

Due to the war in Ukraine, organic pig and poultry farmers are allowed to mix 5% non-organic protein-rich feed crops in the diet.