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LV Farmers demand support for Commissioner Phil Hogan
In early October, farmer organizations from Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Finland, Sweden, and Denmark jointly sent a letter to European Union Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development Phil Hogan calling for urgent support mechanisms for farmers in the regions affected by the floods.
Maira Dzelzkalēja-Burmistre, Deputy Chairwoman of the Association "Farmers' Council": "This year, the weather conditions have not been kind to our region's farmers. The situation is very difficult, as by the end of September, approximately 30-65% of cereals, protein crops, rapeseed and other field crops were harvested in the Baltic States and Finland. The quality of the harvested crop is poor, and large resources are consumed for drying the crop. Significantly less winter crops have been sown throughout the region than usual, so the potential harvest will also be smaller next year. The existing agricultural policy provides for support mechanisms for crisis situations. Unfortunately, so far they have not worked in practice. With this letter, we demand from the Commissioner that the support mechanisms be real, not theoretical on paper!"
Indulis Jansons, Chairman of the Board of the Association of Latvian Agricultural Cooperatives: "On many farms, the harvest will not be harvested, nor will winter crops be sown, so farmers in the Baltic States will feel the consequences of the heavy rains for the next few years. The current situation is extraordinary, affecting agriculture in the entire Baltic region and the Nordic countries, not only in grain production, but also in livestock and pig farming."
Edgars Treibergs, Chairman of the Board of the Cooperation Council of Farmers' Organizations: "The situation in some regions is truly unenviable, the weather conditions in some parts of the summer and autumn created an emergency situation, which led to the fact that many farmers' crops were destroyed and fodder could not be obtained. This not only causes financial losses to farms, but also concerns about the fulfillment of the assumed and established requirements and obligations with credit institutions and concluded contracts. Since natural conditions have affected not only the economies of Latvia, but also other countries, we are turning to the European Commission Commissioner for help and support.”
The letter from Latvia was signed by the deputy chairwoman of the association "Farmers' Parliament". Maira Dzelzkalēja-Burmistre, Chairwoman of the Board of the Latvian Farmers' Federation Agita Hauk, Chairman of the Board of the Latvian Agricultural Cooperatives Association Indulis Jansons and Chairman of the Board of the "Cooperation Council of Farmers' Organizations" Edgars Treibergs.