Despite the official end to the agricultural state of emergency declared earlier this year,Latvian farmers continue to grapple with the fallout from unusually heavy rainfall that impacted this year’s harvest. Recent reports indicate total losses exceeding 110 million euros,prompting some to push harvest seasons well into the winter months. this story follows one farm, *Krastmaļi Sēklas*, in South kurzeme as it attempts a late corn harvest, highlighting the increasing challenges posed by climate change and unpredictable weather patterns in the Baltic region.
Lietavu dēļ kukurūzu ražas laikā nebija iespējams nokult, tomēr lauksaimniecības uzņēmums Krastmaļi Sēklas nepadodas — mēģina to izdarīt tagad, kad nokrišņi mitējušies. Foto no saimniecības arhīva
Novembrī noslēdzās šovasar izsludinātā ārkārtas situācija lauksaimniecībā. Apkopotie dati par zaudējumiem rāda, ka tie pārsniedz 110 miljonus eiro
A Latvian farm is continuing its corn harvest well into December, defying unusually wet weather that devastated crops across the country this year. The situation underscores the challenges facing farmers as climate change brings more extreme weather events.
Mārtiņš Flaksis, director of Krastmaļi Sēklas, a farm in the South Kurzeme region, said he decided to begin harvesting corn in late November when sunny days returned. The harvest is still ongoing, aided by the lack of snow and reduced rainfall near the coast.
Krastmaļi Sēklas manages 700 hectares, primarily focusing on seed production. While the farm diversifies with wheat and corn covering just under a third of its land, this year Flaksis experimented with a corn variety grown for grain – a venture that proved unsuccessful. Experienced farmers, he noted, are calling it the worst year for crops in the last 25 years.
“But risk is what I like about agriculture,” Flaksis said.
An emergency situation declared in agriculture earlier this year concluded in November. Data compiled on the damage shows losses exceeding 110 million euros.
