At the MADR headquarters, representative farmers from the zootechnical sector—both dairy and meat cattle breeders, as well as representatives of beekeepers—held a working meeting with the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Florin-Ionuț BARBU, to discuss the challenges they face in their activities.

Minister BARBU briefly presented, in the introduction, the forms of support prepared by MADR for the year 2024, as well as the legislative changes within the Strategic Plan.

The minister detailed the form of coupled support for the corn silage sector, through which a subsidy of approximately €300 per hectare will be granted for the cattle sector (meat and milk) for a load of 3 animals per hectare, ensuring the maintenance of this important crop for animal feed.

The MADR official also presented the participants with the new welfare scheme, specifically an agri-environmental scheme for the amount of straw necessary for animal welfare.

Furthermore, the minister explained that, starting this year, to qualify for the National Transitory Aid (ANT), a condition to be met is to have at least 3 adult animals of minimum 16 months on the farm. As for cows older than 10 years, they will no longer be eligible for subsidies.

Minister Florin Barbu informed those present that the associative environment will be consulted and actively involved in all decisions made at the MADR level. Projects and legislative changes affecting the sector will be made in agreement with the farmers' requirements.

To optimize the working process and maintain constant dialogue with livestock farmers, the minister announced that working groups will be established within the Ministry of Agriculture. These groups will have regular meetings (every two weeks) to work on support forms for each sector.

"I need specialists from each species within the associative forms, who, together with experts from MADR and APIA, will create these working groups and periodically have meetings so that our policies genuinely support dairy or meat cattle breeders," Minister Florin Barbu affirmed. Additionally, the minister mentioned considering providing an office within the Ministry for associations to use for their meetings.

The minister explained that the MADR budget has substantial funds, with 2% of Romania's GDP allocated to agriculture in 2024, encouraging farmers to access funds for energy independence and interventions in the Strategic Plan for livestock breeders' benefit, ensuring the development of the zootechnical sector.

"I hope that the subsidy for dairy and meat cattle breeders will contribute to increasing the number of animals in Romania and protect domestic production," stated the MADR official.

Regarding support for livestock breeders in disadvantaged areas, the Minister of Agriculture specified that, starting in 2025, there is a plan to grant a direct payment of €600 per pasture of reed for beef cattle in the Danube Delta, through the Strategic Plan.