Due to rising prices for fuel and mineral fertilizers, some farmers are considering reducing their cultivated areas or even temporarily ceasing operations, public media report.
Farmers are already acknowledging that they will likely not be able to fully cover the additional expenses from their crop revenues.
Spring fieldwork in Vidzeme will begin in the coming weeks. The "Robežnieki" farm can only store a small portion of the necessary fuel on its own, so most of it will have to be purchased at the current market price.
"We have about 800 hectares on our farm, and fuel costs about 100 liters per hectare. Now calculate for yourself - if the price increases by 40 cents, what will the additional expenses be," said farm owner Ieva Alpa-Eizenberga.
According to the farm's estimates, the additional price increase this season will amount to about 35,000 euros.
"If everything has survived the winter well, we will proceed according to plan. We will have to purchase about five tons at a higher price, but we will do everything possible to harvest. If we have to reseed the winter crops, and it seems that we will have to, we will seriously consider whether to reseed the field or just leave it fallow," said the owner.
The "VAKS" cooperative also stated that farmers are currently heavily dependent on the market price of fuel. If prices rise, some farms may decide to go out of business.
Another serious blow to farmers this year has been the prices of mineral fertilizers. Some purchased them in time, while others are only provided with a small amount. If last autumn fertilizers could be bought for about 250 euros per ton, now the price is already around 450 euros.
