Summer sowing areas in Latvia will be larger this year than last year

He explained that the frost has harmed winter crops and rape crops, including a particularly harsh situation in Vidzeme. These conditions will change the intensity of work in the field – much more work will have to be invested in spring sowing.

However, Lazdiņš also noted that, considering Latvia’s climatic conditions, it is still too early to assess the situation.

Lazdiņš explained that currently the spring sowing situation is significantly different in each region, for example in Zemgale about 90% of summer sowings have been sown, in Kurzeme about 70%,

while in Vidzeme and Latgale there are places where sowing has not yet started due to too much humidity.

At the same time, he admitted that this year’s crops are benefited by optimum rainfall as well as stability of temperature level compared to last year when there was a deficit of rainfall at this time.

On the other hand, Elīza Ilze Malceniece, the agronomist of the “Bračas” farm, said that the sowing of carrots, beans and peas has already started, including that they have already been completed in some places. On the other hand, cabbage, leeks and other crops are grown in greenhouses in seedling boxes.

It has already been announced that the area of ​​summer cereal crops in 2023, according to the data of the Central Statistical Office, increased by 20,200 hectares or 7.5%, reaching 288,500 hectares. In general, the area of ​​cereal crops in Latvia increased by 17,200 hectares or 2.2% last year and amounted to 797,400 hectares.

Association “Zemnieku saeima” is an organization of farmers in Latvia, founded in 1999. The main activity of the association is representing the interests of the members, creating a policy favorable to farmers, informing and educating the members. The members of the association are 800 small and large farms from all over Latvia. The members of the organization manage a total of more than 500,000 hectares of agricultural land, including 54% in crops and 38% in dairy farming.