Despite nature's vagaries, the year promises to be satisfactory for farmers

This year has brought new challenges for farmers, both with losses caused by frost in the winter, a pronounced dry period in the spring, and a rainy start to the summer. How farmers are faring now and what the new harvest is expected to be like, members of the "Farmers' Assembly" in the regions of Latvia answer.

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Mareks Bērziņš, owner of the farm "Lojas" from Mazsalaca region: In Northern Vidzeme, we mainly grow classic rye, which is hardy and practically did not need to be reseeded. Currently, winter and spring crops look good. Although there were minor problems with insects in the past, the problems have now been eliminated. Precipitation, compared to the rest of Latvia, is less, which is also noticeable at the level of water bodies - the water level in Salaca and Burtnieka Lakes is standing still.

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Gundars Stiebriņš, owner of the farm "Kaļķi" from Krustpils region: The winter crops overwintered very well and now it looks like it will be one of the best harvests in recent years. The spring oats have a good density, but they are not uniform. I also grow buckwheat, which loves heat, so I hope that the previously stopped growth will continue. This year, verbena is growing strongly in the cereal fields and it is better than in other years to see where the drainage ditches are in the field.. It is possible that this is because severe drought this spring. In early July, the farm was visited by the organic farming certification. The tests have been carried out, and we can continue farming!

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Ieva Alpa-Eizenberga, owner of the farm "Robežnieki" from Salacgrīva region: Dairy farms are currently harvesting their second crop of silage and we have finally had the right weather conditions for haymaking. Due to the late haymaking due to excessive humidity, hay has lost its value. However, we are happy to see that the corn is now in full bloom and is actively growing, as there is sufficient heat and humidity. We do not graze our cattle on our farm, but neighboring farmers who do graze admit that there is enough grass and everything is going well.

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Jānis Bērziņš, Chairman of the Board of the Association “Latvijas Dārznieks”: Vegetable growing is currently going well, as the regions have very different moisture regimes and sharp temperature changes, which will certainly be reflected in the new harvest. The issue of imported vegetable cargoes, which are being passed off as domestic products, is still a topical one. but we are pleased that two years of work has been crowned with success and now the penalties will be greater for violations in indicating the origin of vegetables.

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The owner of the farm "Ezergaļi" Dzintars Erdmanis from Kuldīga region: On my farm, we sowed winter crops from 70% to 80%. Other farmers in Kurzeme had to sow as much as 100%. For those farmers who sowed their fields later, the crops are quite poor due to the long-term drought. The moisture level is currently sufficient, in places maybe even too wet. This is an atypical year, because winter rape is still blooming. On the other hand, summer rape is favored by insects, which will have eaten the first layer, but I hope that the new rapes will grow back and will be fine. The rains in early July were unfavorable for livestock farms, because it was practically impossible to collect hay, but this week the weather is much more favorable.

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Arnis Burmistris, owner of the “Vilciņi – 1” farm, from Jelgava region: On the Jelgava side, winter crops from 70% to 100% had to be reseeded. I myself reseeded 70% on my farm. The winter rape fields that overwintered are sad and there, despite all the work done. The weeds have grown in. Winter and spring wheat look good, but it is difficult to predict the harvest, as the whole of July is still ahead. I have received questions from our members about the faster payment of area payments, due to the losses caused by frost, the shortage of labor on dairy farms and the ever-increasing real estate tax.