Drone incursions and related incidents pose a real threat to Latvian farmers, as agricultural facilities and infrastructure can often resemble strategic or critical infrastructure targets from the air. The farmers’ organization Zemnieku saeima stresses that farmers need a clear government position and guarantees regarding compensation for such losses, while also urging caution regarding newly emerging insurance products covering geopolitical and drone-related risks.
Grain silos, drying facilities, warehouses, fuel storage sites, and other farm structures can, from an aerial perspective, resemble oil depots, fuel storage infrastructure, or other strategically important facilities. This increases the risk that agricultural properties could be affected by direct strikes, drone interceptions, neutralization operations, or uncontrolled crashes.
Such incidents could damage residential buildings, farm structures, agricultural machinery, crops, livestock facilities, grain storage complexes, and other property. According to Mārtiņš Trons, the consequences would extend beyond individual farms and directly affect food production, regional security, and the national economy.
At the same time, Zemnieku saeima is urging farmers to carefully evaluate newly introduced insurance policies that claim to cover geopolitical risks, including losses caused by drones.
“Farmers should approach these insurance offers with caution and examine them very carefully,”
Trons said. “Before paying for a newly promoted policy, it is important to understand exactly what it covers and under what circumstances compensation would actually be paid. This is particularly important for policies linked to geopolitical risks, such as drone-related damage. If those risks are not clearly and practically covered, then such offers may be more of a marketing tool than a genuine security instrument.”
He added that in situations involving national security and external threats, responsibility should primarily lie with the state rather than with individual farmers, businesses, or residents attempting to insure themselves against risks whose compensation mechanisms remain unclear.
Farmers currently have no clear answers regarding how the state would respond if a drone crashes into private property, explodes, or causes damage during interception, neutralization, or shoot-down operations.
According to the organization,
this uncertainty creates additional anxiety in regions already facing heightened security concerns.
Zemnieku saeima has raised the issue with Latvia’s Ministry of Defence. The ministry reportedly responded that compensation for losses caused by drone incidents would not be automatic and would need to be assessed on a case-by-case basis, while acknowledging that legislative amendments establishing a state compensation mechanism would be worth considering.
“The situation in Latgale is particularly worrying,” Trons said. “Drones pose risks to local residents, entrepreneurs, and farmers. If a drone crashes into a grain complex, potential losses could range from around 500,000 euros to several million euros. These are not theoretical risks. Grain silos, drying facilities, warehouses, and other infrastructure contain harvests, technological equipment, buildings, and systems whose replacement requires significant financial resources and time.”
He stressed that farmers need clear state guarantees now, as such incidents could directly affect food production, rural stability, and Latvia’s broader economy.
The organization also warns that the risk may become especially acute during harvest season.
A drone crashing into a grain field could ignite dry crops, potentially leading to a large-scale fire and substantial losses.
“During the autumn harvest period, the consequences of such incidents become particularly serious,” Trons noted. “A drone falling into a grain field or grain complex could cause not only property damage but also fires that disrupt the operation of an entire farm. Therefore, this issue must be viewed not only through the lens of military security, but also civil protection and food security.”
Trons emphasized that agriculture forms part of Latvia’s critical infrastructure because it ensures food production, employment, and economic activity across rural regions.
“If farms suffer from such incidents, the consequences are felt by a much wider segment of society,” he said. “That is why the state must already now clarify what compensation mechanism will apply, who will assume responsibility for losses, and how rapid assistance will be provided to affected parties.”
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