Farmers: nearly all rapeseed fields in Vidzeme and Latgale fail to make it through winter hibernation

Almost none of the rapeseed fields in Vidzeme and Latgale have made it through winter, as LETA was told by interviewed Latvian.
Grain-farming cooperative “VAKS” chairman Indulis Jansons notes that 80-90% of rapeseed planted in Vidzeme and Latgale died in winter. He explains that the situation on the fields is bad, and the rapeseed harvest will be very poor this season. He also says there are no plans to commence spring sowing work until Easter.
Latvian Rural Consulting and Education Centre (LLKC) crop production expert Andris Skudra explains that although last winter was warmer and richer with precipitation than other in years, the wet soil in the autumn, the strong frost in early January, which in places reached -25 C and -29.5 C in Daugavpils, followed by a thick snow cover in mid-January and a thaw at the end of January, as well as the flooding in the lower areas of the countryside, all had a significant impact on the hibernation of winter crops.
Skudra says that rapeseed fields in many parts of Vidzeme and Latgale have mostly died due to intense frost. The situation is better in Zemgale and Kuzeme, where the frost wasn’t as long and intense. Nevertheless, the frost did damage leaves and roots, which can affect growth and development. The rapid melting of snow at the end of January caused fields to flood, essentially drowning rapeseed.
Generally grain fields made it through winter well. Cereals in Vidzeme and Latgale, because they were overgrowth, made it through winter worse than the rest, LLKC expert explains.
Skudra also mentions that farmers in Kuzeme and Zemgale have already begun preparing the soil for spring crops. Work may begin in the last week of March or start of April. In Vidzeme and Latgale, on the other hand, work may begin in the first or second week of April.
Turnover-wise, VAKS is the second biggest grain farming cooperative in Latvia, which unites more than 600 farms across Vidzeme and Latgale.
Also read: Weeks starts off with colder weather in Latvia; snow expected
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