The Government will invest five million euros in aid for th…

The order signed on November 3 by Amaya Barredo Martín, Minister of Food, Rural Development, Agriculture and Fisheries of the Basque Government, approves the bases for the 2026 special grants. The grants are aimed at alleviating the cost increases caused by the Near East crisis and the surcharges resulting from the drought, and were published in issue number 214 of the Boletín Oficial del País Vasco on November 9, 2026, under reference 2026/4727. The order will take effect on November 10, the day following its publication.

From the Strait of Hormuz to drought surcharges

The preamble of the order mentions the consequences of the conflict in the Near East, specifically the changes around the Strait of Hormuz, which created instability in the energy and raw materials markets. The increase in prices for diesel, energy, and fertilizers has had a direct impact on the cost structure of dairy cattle farms, and their activity cannot adapt to sudden price changes. On the other hand, the drought that persisted throughout 2026 has reduced the availability of pastures and forage, increasing the costs of supplementary livestock feed and water supply.

Regarding financing, the order cites Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1894 of July 27, 2026, concerning emergency assistance for farmers as a result of the crisis period in the Near East. The drought grants, however, are considered de minimis aid subject to Regulation (EU) No. 1408/2013. The budgetary basis is Law 7/2025 of December 23, which approves the General Budget of the Basque Country for 2026.

Two aid lines and 5,523,525 euros

The bases distinguish between two lines. The AEOR 2026 line compensates for the costs of the Near East crisis, and the AESE 2026 line covers drought surcharges. The bases set a limit of seven million euros, distributed as follows:

5,523,525 euros in total, between the two lines.
575,056 euros for the AEOR 2026 line: 394,615 euros from the EAGF fund and 180,441 euros from the General Budget of the Basque Country, as complementary state-level aid.
4,948,469 euros for the AESE 2026 line, entirely charged to the General Budget of the Basque Country.
These amounts may be increased by up to 40% if a budget amendment is approved, provided it is done before the resolution of the grants.

Premiums per animal and per hectare

The AEOR 2026 aid is calculated through a fixed premium per animal: 36 euros per dairy cow, provided it is over 24 months old and registered in the SITRAN system on June 21, 2026. This premium is derived from the calculation of the 2026 price increase for diesel and fertilizers, and any diesel aid already received must be deducted from it.

Regarding the AESE 2026 grants, there are nine types of premiums:

60 euros for each dairy cow (over 24 months).
6 euros for each goat or sheep (over 12 months).
30 euros for each horse (over 12 months).
100 euros per hectare of consumption potatoes; 150 euros per hectare of seed potatoes.
60 euros per hectare of oats for animal feed; 100 euros per hectare of maize.
40 euros per hectare of rye; 40 euros per hectare of cider apples.

All aids have clear limits: in the AESE 2026 line, a maximum of 15,000 euros per beneficiary, and the limit established by the de minimis regime also applies. If the ownership is female or shared, the aid increases by 5%; if the owner is a young person under 41 years of age, another 5%. Only aids exceeding 300 euros will be granted, and at least one hectare must be declared in crops.

Ex officio procedure and the December 31 deadline

Aids are calculated ex officio, based on data available in administrative registers, through a competitiveness procedure. The Directorate of Rural Development and European Policies and the Directorate of Agriculture and Livestock will manage the two lines, respectively. The deadlines are as follows:

15 business days: period to publish the provisional resolution proposal, from the date the order takes effect.
10 business days: period for beneficiaries to make allegations or accept the proposal.
One month: period to resolve allegations.
Three months: period to issue and notify the resolution; if not met, administrative silence will be considered a denial of the aid.
December 31, 2026: final date for payments to be made against the Basque Country budgets.

Relief measure for the agricultural sector

The aids respond to a specific cost increase for the 2026 campaign and do not have a sustainability objective: they are temporary and exceptional measures to protect the viability of farms and prevent the cessation of rural activity. The Basque Government considers agriculture a strategic sector due to its function in ensuring food supply and its role in stabilizing the rural population; therefore, this 5.5 million euro aid is a direct relief for dairy cow, beef cattle, horse, sheep, and goat holdings, as well as for potato, maize, rye, apple, and oat crops.

Fuente: Boletín Oficial del País Vasco, n.º 214, 9 de noviembre de 2026, Otras Disposiciones (official reference: 2026/4727).