Slovenian Agriculture Minister announces emergency drought relief

Slovenian agriculture is facing a severe crisis due to extreme heat and drought, prompting calls for urgent government intervention. Minister of Agriculture Janez Cigler Kralj has announced accelerated measures to assist farmers, including the expedited distribution of 8.5 million euros in compensation for last year’s drought and frost damage. To mitigate the impact of the current drought, the Ministry is considering providing advance payments to farmers, with final settlements to follow once official agricultural price assessments are published.

The Kmečka iniciativa (Farmers' Initiative) has issued an urgent plea for immediate action to protect livestock, production, and national food security. Boštjan Slemenšek, president of the initiative, warned that rising costs for hay—which has seen price increases of over 50 EUR—are placing immense pressure on livestock farmers. The group emphasized that if farmers lose breeding herds due to fodder shortages, the loss of production potential will be irreversible. In addition to financial aid, the Ministry is working with agricultural organizations to expand irrigation systems to improve long-term resilience.