Agriculture allocates almost 1.2 million agricultural funds to Asturias as aid for fertilizers and animal health

The Sectoral Conference on Agriculture and Rural Development Today it has agreed on the distribution of agricultural funds between the autonomous communities in an amount of 69.2 million euros. Of these, 1,164,639 euros correspond to Asturias, 943,156 as aid for fertilizers and 221,483 for animal health.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has distributed to the autonomous communities the 50,174,300 euros of the agricultural reserve of the European Union allocated to Spain to support farmers and ranchers most affected by the increase in production costs as a result of the crisis in the Middle East. The Government of Spain has chosen to make these European funds available to the autonomous communities, instead of articulating new aid. The Sectoral Conference on Agriculture and Rural Development has today agreed on the distribution of agricultural funds between the autonomous communities in an amount of 69.2 million euros. The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has distributed to the autonomous communities the 50,174,300 euros of the agricultural reserve of the European Union allocated to Spain to support farmers and ranchers most affected by the increase in production costs as a result of the crisis in the Middle East.

The Government of Spain has chosen to make these European funds available of the autonomous communities, instead of articulating a new centralized aid, so that they can devote them to complement the measures already approved by the Executive with greater flexibility and meet other specific needs in the agricultural sector in their territories. European aid grants this emergency funding to farmers whose economic viability has been affected by the crisis. The resources should be earmarked for measures to compensate for increases in the costs of fertilisers, energy or both, taking into account the economic losses incurred. The reserve fund is in addition to the Comprehensive Plan of Response to the Crisis in the Middle East, launched by the Government with state funds through Royal Decree-Law 7/2026, of 20 March, and which contains specific measures for the agricultural and fisheries sectors that already add, with the two extensions approved, 1,174 million euros.

DIVERSE TERRITORIAL REALITIES

The regulation does not impose a single model of aid. Each autonomous community will be able to determine the sectors, areas and beneficiaries to which its allocation is directed. In this way, they will be able to strengthen support for farms already served by state aid or set up separate actions where they identify additional needs.

In addition, the autonomous communities may additionally contribute their own funds in the amount of up to 200% of their allocation from the agricultural reserve.

Aid from the agricultural reserve can cover up to 100% of the justified extra costs of fertilisers and energy. In any case, market distortions and situations of overcompensation must be avoided with other national or European aid received for the same costs.

The territorial distribution of these 50.1 million euros has been made taking as a reference the useful agricultural area corresponding to the year 2024 communicated to Eurostat, as it is an official, homogeneous and common statistical source for all the autonomous communities, which collects the entire agricultural area without excluding any productive orientation.

All the autonomous communities have expressed their interest in using the funds and their agreement with the allocations reported.

Spain communicated to the European Commission on September 30, 2026, within the Deadline foreseen, the conditions of the measures transferred by the Autonomous Communities.

Aid from the agricultural reserve must be paid no later than 28 From February 2027, while the complementary financing of the Autonomous Communities can be paid until May 31, 2027.

EUR 19.1 MILLION FOR ANIMAL HEALTH

The Sectoral Conference has also agreed on the distribution among the autonomous communities of 19.1 million euros to finance various actions in the field of animal health for the control and eradication of diseases. This distribution was authorized yesterday by the Council of Ministers.

The territorial distribution of these funds is as follows:

Among the measures financed is support for the national control programme and eradication of bovine tuberculosis to compensate for the lack of European cofinancing. As well as the compensation processed in 2026 in support of the management of foci of avian influenza and lumpy skin disease (DNC), which includes the sanitary emptying of farms and the application of vaccines against DNC, with a financial collaboration of 50%.

The acquisition of bluetongue vaccines is also supported in territories where the circulation of new serotypes has been detected during the year 2024 (Andalusia, Castilla-La Mancha, Castilla y León, Extremadura, Madrid and Murcia).

The government’s commitment to maintaining and improving animal health is strong.

Since 2018, the total amount distributed in support of the fight against animal diseases has reached 142 million euros.

ADVISORY COUNCIL ON AGRICULTURAL AND FISHERIES POLICY

The minister reported at the Consultative Council on Common Agricultural and Fisheries Policy, also held today, on the possibility that next week the Council of Ministers of Agriculture of the European Union will reach a political agreement on the future Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) 2028/2032.

The latest proposal by the Irish Presidency reflects Spain's aspiration to obtain funding equivalent to that of the current period through the application of two mechanisms that could supplement the initial allocation and whose application must be decided at European or national level.

SIMPLIFICATION OF FISHERIES POLICY

In terms of fisheries, next week’s Council of Ministers will analyse the report on simplification, implementation and enforcement submitted by the EC in which, according to the minister, there is not enough progress. The Commission must make progress, as soon as possible, on matters such as the adoption of Total Allowable Catches (TACs) and multiannual quotas and advance decisions on these so that the fleet does not have to wait until December to know the fishing possibilities and can have more predictability and stability. It must also address the modification of the multiannual plan for the Mediterranean.

Spain also reiterates its demand for the simplification of the control regulation and progress in the simplification of the Common Fisheries Policy in matters that have an impact on fleet renewal and generational relief or on the reduction of bureaucratic burdens to access the financing lines.

With regard to trade agreements with the countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations), among which is the Philippines, Spain maintains a defensive position with regard to canned and prepared tuna. These are particularly sensitive products for Spain. Any preferential access to the European market must be conditional on the fulfilment of equivalent requirements in essential areas such as environmental and fisheries sustainability or the fight against illegal fishing, for example.