Farmers begin harvesting – predicting a yield reduction of up to 50%

Rapeseed and cereal threshing has begun in several regions of Latvia. Farmers indicate that due to the weather conditions, a significant decrease in harvest is observed - in some places the harvest is even half as small as last year. The Farmers' Council reminds that during the harvest period, the number of combines, tractors and trucks on the roads will significantly increase, therefore we call on drivers to be more tolerant and careful than usual.

Juris Lazdins, Chairman of the Association “Farmers' Council”: "The harvesters were supposed to be in the fields last week, but due to the rainy weather, all harvesting work was delayed. Most farmers only started threshing this weekend. Since rapeseed and grain are drying up in sandier fields, farmers are currently harvesting these fields first. We cannot hope for stable dry days in the near future, so the crops have to be harvested with increased humidity, but this means high costs for drying.

Overall, this will definitely not be a record harvest year – the harvest for barley, rapeseed and wheat is 30% lower. The purchase price of grain is also a concern, as it has also decreased by approximately 30% compared to last year. We predict significantly lower income compared to previous years.”

Deputy Chairwoman of the Association “Farmers' Council” Maira Dzelzkalēja-Burmistre: “Farmers in Kurzeme started threshing winter barley around July 12th, and in Latvia, most of it has already been threshed. The yield of winter barley varies considerably even within the same farm – from 1 t/ha to 7 t/ha. On sandy soils where there was no rain, farmers thresh only a little over 1 t/ha, but on clay soils where it rained in July, almost 7 t/ha grew. In Zemgale, winter rape is being threshed in full swing and in places winter wheat is also starting to be harvested. The first readings show that the rape yield is around 2.5 t/ha, depending on the soil. On Vidzeme and Augšdaugava, farmers report that they will not be able to go to the field until next week, as the crop still needs to ripen and dry. There, the winter rape is very patchy after the spring frosts – there are still a lot of green and immature pods. In Vidzeme, only winter barley and meadow fescue seeds have been threshed so far. fields, which also had a below-average harvest. In Kurzeme, winter rapeseed threshing has begun in some places. In Latgale, active threshing could begin only in the second half of next week. Where winter barley, wheat and rapeseed have been threshed, the soil is already being prepared for autumn sowing. If weather conditions allow, winter rapeseed sowing will begin next week.

"As farmers are currently seizing the sunny weather and rushing to the ready fields, we ask motorists to be careful and patient, as there will be both combines moving from field to field and trucks full of harvested crops being taken to dryers and warehouses on the roads."