Before the end of the state of emergency on November 4, farmers reported information about the areas affected by adverse weather conditions this year, totaling 95,295 hectares, with total preliminary losses amounting to 110.95 million euros, the Ministry of Agriculture (MA) informed the LETA agency.
Due to heavy rains, as of November 4, 92,975 hectares of agricultural crops have been affected — grains, oilseeds, legumes, perennial grasses, as well as fruits and vegetables. The most affected were the crops of winter wheat, perennial grasses, oats, peas, and spring wheat. Preliminary losses amount to 88.45 million euros.
Spring frosts affected 2,320 hectares of horticultural crops — particularly black currant, apple, blueberry, sea buckthorn, and pear plantations. Preliminary losses amounted to 22.5 million euros.
In addition, it is necessary to consider not only the damaged or unplanted areas due to adverse climatic conditions but also other important factors, such as crop quality, low purchase prices, and more, noted the Ministry of Agriculture (MA).
The ministry also emphasized that due to unfavorable agro-climatic conditions, most of the wheat harvest for 2025 has a reduced quality category and meets only the standards for feed grain. This lowers the market price and increases financial pressure on producers.
If in the previous four years, food quality grain accounted for an average of 77% of the total wheat harvest, in 2025 this figure has decreased to 40%, while the share of feed grain has increased to 60%.
Food quality rye grain this year accounts for 62% (in the previous four years — an average of 74%), barley — 1% (previously — 5%), oats — 19% (previously — 57%).
As previously reported, on August 5, the government declared a state of emergency in agriculture throughout Latvia until November 4, as prolonged rainfall that began in May 2025 flooded crops and plantations in many places, significantly reducing yield and quality, while part of the harvest was completely destroyed.
In this regard, the European Commission, based on information provided by the MA, decided at the end of September to allocate 4.2 million euros in EU emergency aid to Latvian farmers to address the consequences of the damage caused by this year's adverse weather conditions.
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