The aids approved by the Junta de Extremadura to compensate for the losses suffered by farmers and ranchers due to the fires of last summer will be managed automatically, so that the affected will not have to submit any application, unless they wish to make allegations, and it is expected that they will be paid before the end of 2026.
The Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, and Natural Environment, Juan José García, detailed this Thursday in a press conference the actions of his department included in the decree of extraordinary aids to mitigate the damages caused to the primary sector of Extremadura by the forest fires of this summer. This decree was approved by the Junta in the Government Council held last Tuesday in Vegas de Coria and includes a total budget of 5 million euros.
Those who can benefit from these compensations are the holders of farms affected by fires of more than 500 hectares, which this summer have been those of Pinofranqueado and Nuñomoral, Casas de Millán and Grimaldo, as well as Jerez de los Caballeros and Montemolín.
Among the measures planned, García explained, accompanied by the Secretary General of Agriculture, José María Guerrero, are direct aids for farmers, ranchers, and beekeepers, tax advantages to alleviate the pressure on the damaged farms, restoration actions in the Urgent Action Zones, a new line of preventive grazing, and improvements in the agricultural insurance of the beekeeping sector.
In the case of direct aids to farmers, a subsidy of 3,000 euros is set for each hectare of affected permanent crop, with special emphasis on olive, cherry, and chestnut trees. For livestock, the compensation will be 700 euros per dead animal, including bovine, ovine, caprine, equine, and porcine. In the beekeeping sector, an aid of 100 euros is established for each damaged hive, both due to direct destruction and due to the effects of heat, smoke, or loss of honey resources.
The decree also incorporates tax measures aimed at livestock and hunting grounds, with a 100% discount on various fees linked to livestock activity, such as veterinary services and animal health controls, until December 2027.
In the hunting field, the estates that have been affected by the fires and have not been able to carry out their activity during the 2026/2027 season will enjoy a 100% deduction of the Tax on Hunting Exploits and certain hunting fees during the 2027/2028 season, applied to the burned areas.
As the counselor emphasized, all these aids will be processed "automatically, simplifying the procedures as much as possible." That is to say, those affected, regarding these aids, "will not have to do anything."
For his part, the Secretary General of Agriculture, José María Guerrero, specified that the aids will come into effect at the moment the decree law is published in the Official Gazette of Extremadura. From that date, within a period of 10 business days, a provisional list of farmers, ranchers, and beekeepers beneficiaries will be disseminated.
Those who agree with the assigned amount "will not have to do absolutely anything, no procedure," simply "wait for the aid to be received before the end of the year." Those who do not agree, have any problem with the bank account, or wish to submit claims, will be able to do so during that period.
"Those who agree do not have to carry out any procedure at all. And these will be aids that will be paid before the end of this year," Guerrero emphasized.
Repair of lands and preventive grazing
In addition, the Ministry proposes to incorporate into the Urgent Action Zones (ZAU) a package of interventions aimed at recovering the damaged lands. Among them are the repair of rural roads and livestock paths, the replacement of irrigation infrastructures and the equipment of public estates, as well as the maintenance of grazing in those areas where it is compatible with the regeneration of vegetation.
In this line, a new modality of preventive grazing and municipal herds is created. The aid will be granted based on the hectares effectively grazed, with an amount of 150 euros per hectare per year, expandable to 200 euros in areas of special difficulty. It will be possible to choose to establish or maintain municipal herds or to collaborate with local ranchers, financially compensating the service of preventive grazing.
The counselor also highlighted that his department will promote the establishment of a working group with the beekeeping sector to review and improve the current agricultural insurance. The objective is to add new coverages that protect against production losses resulting from fires in grazing areas, when the worker bees leave the hive to collect nectar or pollen, as well as a specific guarantee against damages caused by invasive species of the genus Vespa spp., which increasingly affect the hives.
These actions, emphasized Juan José García, represent a clear commitment to those who have suffered the consequences of the summer fires "and are designed to respond quickly to the damages, support our primary sector, and move towards a more effective prevention model that protects the natural environment and guarantees the future of the farms."