Farmers in Latvia are worried about the impact the intense frost will have on winter crops, as LETA was told by interviewed agricultural experts.
Cereal Cooperative VAKS board chairman Indulis Jansons said the situation on the fields is unpleasant. Fields are not snowed over, but air temperatures are in the negative. There is also the wind to worry about.
He said damage to the future harvest is very possible under these conditions. “There is no panic yet, but we do have concerns,” admits Indulis.
Cereal Cooperative Latraps board member and Agriculture Office’s manager Ģirts Ozols said that the situation on the fields is further exacerbated by the fact that the snow in most of Latvia melted around Christmas. The warm weather affected winter crops, making them more sensitive to the current weather conditions. On top of that, humidity was high on those fields, and even now it’s clear that where there are puddles there won’t be any crops next spring.
As for specific cereals, Ozols mentioned the situation is the worst for winter colza. Their growth centre is above ground. Rye is more resilient, however. The situation with winter barley and wheat will depend on each specific field’s situation.
“We need snow, then things will be better,” said Ozols, stressing that each centimetre of snow would improve the situation.
At the same time, in regards to the expected contracts of air temperature, he said the situation will get even worse with crops. Sharp air temperature change causes the soil to move around and rip the roots of plants.
He also added that the frost does bring some good news and hope that pests will freeze and there will be less of them in spring. It will be possible to assess the state of fields more accurately in March.
Also read: Meteorologists promise more snow and blizzards in Latvia
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