Tough spring season hit potato farmers in Latvia
In the agricultural heart of Latvia, the Madona region, last year's heavy rains flooded the potato fields, causing significant disruption to the potato crop. This unfortunate event has led to a decrease in the total area of potatoes planted in the country, according to the Potato Growers and Processors Association.
The Association's head, Aiga Kraukle, reports that some farmers have chosen not to plant potatoes in certain regions, including Ozolnieki, Jaunpils, and Madona, due to the energy and resource-intensive nature of potato cultivation. This decision has resulted in a decrease in the area under seed and starch potatoes, with the total area planted last year standing at 5,353 hectares, a decrease of approximately 500 hectares from the year before.
One farmer who has been affected by the floods is Andis Arājs, owner of the Jaunstrīķeri farm in Iecava parish. Arājs expresses concern about the lack of insurance coverage for farming losses and shares that he received help from German seed companies to replant potatoes after last year's seeds were damaged by water.
Arājs is not alone in his struggles. Ilmārs Pētersons, who runs the Baltiņi farm in Skaistkalne parish, one of the largest potato growers in Latvia, is also experiencing delays in planting due to excessive moisture. Early potatoes were planted on time at Baltiņi, but a cold spell and rain followed, delaying the planting of late varieties. Pētersons predicts that this year's total potato yield could be lower.
Pētersons' concerns are reflected in the visible damage to the potatoes in Jaunstrīķeri, with low-lying areas requiring digging up. He estimates that the total area of potatoes planted at Baltiņi could be dozens less than the planned 120 hectares. Last year's heavy rains in August flooded almost everything that had been planted in Jaunstrīķeri, impacting cash flow.
Despite these challenges, the Potato Growers and Processors Association reports regional variations in the situation. No relevant information was found regarding cities in Latvia that suffered floods in recent years affecting potato cultivation. The impact of weather conditions on the acreage of potatoes is already being felt, but it is not yet time to sound the alarm about a potato shortage.
However, Pētersons expects the price of potatoes to be higher due to expected losses. European support is hoped for to cover damages from last year. As the potato fields continue to recover, farmers like Arājs and Pētersons remain hopeful for a bountiful harvest in the future. The potato fields in Jaunstrīķeri cover more than 100 hectares, a testament to the resilience of Latvia's agricultural industry.
