Summer sowing areas in Latvia to be larger than last year’s, farmers say

In 2024 summer sowing areas in Latvia will be larger than last year, says chairman of Farmers’ Parliament (ZSA) Juris Lazdiņš.
He explained that frost has hurt winter crops and rapeseed crops. The situation is especially bad in Vidzeme. This means a lot more work will need to be put into planting crops in spring.
Nevertheless, Lazdiņš also mentioned that, considering the current weather conditions in Latvia, it is too soon to assess the situation.
Lazdiņš explained that the situation with spring crops differs significantly in each region. For example, in Zemgale about 90% of summer crops are planted, in Kurzeme about – 70%, while in Vidzeme and Latgale there are places where crop planting has not yet started due to excessive humidity.
At the same time, he admits that an optimal volume of precipitation will have a positive effect on this year’s crops. The same applies to temperature stability, especially when compared to the year prior, when there was a deficit of precipitation during this period.
Brača farmers association agronomist Elīza Ilze Malceniece said farmers in some areas of Latvia have begun sowing carrots, beans and peas. In some areas sowing is already completed.
Cabbage, leeks and other crops are grown in seedling boxes in greenhouses.
In 2023, according to the Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia, the area of summer cereal crops grew by 20 200 hectares or 7.5%, reaching 288 500 hectares. In total, the area of cereal sowing in Latvia increased by 17 200 hectares or 2.2% and amounted to 797 400 hectares last year.
The “Farmers’ Parliament” is a farmers’ organisation founded in Latvia in 1999. This organisation’s main objective is to represent the interests of its members, to formulate a policy favourable to farmers, and to inform and educate its members. 800 small and large farms from all over Latvia are members of this organisation. The members of the organization manage a total of more than 500,000 hectares of agricultural land, including 54% in crop production and 38% in dairy farming.
Also read: Scholz assures Chinese students: not everyone in Germany smokes weed
Follow us on Facebook and X!