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Whereas Portugal suffered a severe drought between autumn 1991 and spring 1992 resulting, on the one hand, in cereals harvest losses which may be almost total in certain regions, and, on the other, in particularly high additional costs for the feeding of cattle, sheep, goats and horses in certain regions; whereas, in order to mitigate the resulting loss of income to the producers concerned, special aid schemes should be provided for; whereas detailed rules for such schemes should be laid down; Whereas the spring drought has a smaller effect on late-harvest cereals, such as maize and sorghum; whereas the aid should accordingly be restricted to winter cereals; whereas durum wheat already benefits from large amounts of aid per hectare independent of output; whereas the aid should therefore be restricted to common wheat, barley, rye and triticale; Whereas, in the case of cereals, the aid should be restricted to producers with low productivity; whereas aid payable to such producers should be determined on the basis of their production losses and the production costs for the various cereals;

Whereas, in the case of stockfarmers, provision should be made for special aid for producers holding suckler cows, ewes and she-goats, and for small milk producers in the regions affected; whereas the aid should be limited to an amount sufficient to compensate expenditure on the purchase of fodder supplements during the period when, in normal years, there is sufficient grass growth to supply the basic feed needs of the animals concerned; Whereas, as regards compensation to stockfarmers for additional costs, a list of regions should be drawn up according to the severity of the drought therein, on the basis of the shortage of rainfall compared with normal levels and the effects of exceptionally high temperatures; whereas the maximum aid authorized should be limited in accordance with the severity of the drought and on the basis of the animal species concerned; Whereas, in order to allow rapid payment of the aid, the Community suckler cow, ewe and she-goat premiums granted for the 1991 marketing year should be taken as the individual reference figure; whereas, however, provision should be made for new producers who did not submit an application for the 1991 marketing year;

Whereas the economic consequences of the drought could slow down the integration of Portuguese agriculture into the common organization of the markets; whereas, in order to support Portuguese efforts to overcome the difficulties, the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF), guarantee section, should make a financial contribution to the aid in question not exceeding the appropriations entered for the purpose in the general budget of the European Communities; Whereas the Portuguese Republic should be authorized to grant aid from the national budget for producers holding horses in the regions most severely affected by the drought, HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: TITLE I Measures to assist cereals producers