Bulgarian stock breeders will receive government funding in support of 5-year voluntary commitments on humane treatment of poultry and animals. The subsidies will be disbursed annually and will cover additional expenses or missed income resulting from the commitments.

Poultry farmers will be subsidized for implementing one or more of the following three measures: using fodder with a Deoxynivalenol content of up to 2,5 mg/kg; ensuring optimum poultry feeding; using water for poultry farming that matches the qualities of potable water.

Pig breeders will be eligible for subsidies under three measures: providing free floor space of no less than 10% above the mandatory standard; securing artificial light for 11 hours and using fodder with a Deoxynivalenol content of up to 2,5 mg/kg.

Eligible for the aid are registered agricultural producers whose livestock meet the requirements under article 137 of the Veterinary Medical Activities Act. They will be also required to submit a checklist from the Bulgarian Food Safety Agency certifying they have met all mandatory standards on humane treatment of poultry and pigs.

The annual subsidy per head is capped at BGN 3.19 for laying hens (after week 16), BGN 8.04 for parent hens (after week 18), BGN 0.75 for broilers, BGN 0.54 for turkeys, BGN 0.43 for geese, BGN 2.28 for ducks, BGN 48.36 for pigs during the fattening period and BGN 60.80 for sows.

Applications under the two schemes can be filed from November 26 to December 7, 2012. Papers can be submitted at the regional directorates of State Fund Agriculture (SFA). The contracts will be signed and the payments made by December 14.

Meanwhile, between November 26 and December 12, the SFA regional directorates will be accepting applications for government aid to compensate farmers whose harvest was 100% destroyed by frost, flood o excessive humidity, storm and torrential rain, hailstorm and drought during the summer season.

Eligible for the subsidies will be physical and legal entities registered as agricultural producers. The aid will cover 60% of the actual costs for farming the specific crop during the respective business year. The subsidies will be only available for producers who have been issued protocols by the Agriculture and Forests district and municipal authorities certifying a 100% destroyed harvest. Farmers who have not insured their plots will be paid 50% of the aid. Damages caused by drought will be compensated with the full amount. Subsidies will be paid out to farmers’ bank accounts by December 20, 2012.