The European Commission in March said it is considering letting farmers use fallow land to grow protein crops for livestock feed, temporarily suspending farming rules that aim to preserve soils and biodiversity.

The agriculture ministry on 20 May said it is supporting the proposal, which has already gained approval from members of the European Parliament. But minister Claude Haagen (LSAP) said in Luxembourg only 250 hectares of land are currently set aside.

The expected return of the measure in Luxembourg will be limited, a statement said.

The ministry said it is backing the EU proposal on fallow land as part of a package of six measures to support farmers through the war in Ukraine.

This also includes subsidies of up to €40,000 for pork farmers, who have been left struggling over high production costs but tumbling prices for their produce. Farmers are also eligible for energy subsidies and loan guarantees under the so-called “Solidaritéitspak”, a package of measures agreed between the government, employee and employer organisations during the tripartite talks.

Elsewhere, the government reduced the price of petrol products by 7.5cents/litre, which will also benefit agriculture businesses. An agriculture crisis fund will help provide another €1.3m to farmers, with around €440,000 provided by the EU.