Emergency Situation in Agriculture - What is the Balance of Losses? 0 13

General data showed that farmers' losses exceeded 110 million euros.

Extreme weather conditions require appropriate solutions, explained the director of "Krastmaļi Sēklas" Martiņš Flaksis from the South Kurzeme region, who took the combine out to the field almost in winter. When sunny days arrived at the end of November, he decided to start harvesting corn, continuing into December. This became possible because there was still no snow near the sea, and precipitation was much lower than in previous months.

The wheat harvest in Latvia this year was good in volume, even above average, but the grain is of low quality, says the chairman of the board of the agricultural enterprise "Linas Agro" Kārlis Zenfs. Due to all factors, the income per ton of wheat turned out to be several dozen euros lower than expected - only about 120 euros.

"This does not correspond to the costs that accumulate over the year to grow the harvest," notes Zenfs.

As a result, one in five farmers who signed a grain supply contract with "Linas Agro" with deferred payment faced serious difficulties with settlements, jeopardizing their further activities.

To assist agricultural producers facing difficulties, the Ministry of Agriculture has appealed to the European Commission for compensation payments. In total, as a result of adverse weather conditions last year, 95,000 hectares of grain, vegetable, and fruit crops were affected.