“The potential is even greater than other years. I don't want to promise anything, but it could be a very good year for winter cereal yields,” said Balodis.
As previously reported, provisional data released by the Central Statistical Bureau (CSB) show that Latvian farmers enjoyed one their most productive years ever, with records being broken for several crops.
2019 saw harvested production of grain at a record 3.2 million tonnes, which is 1.1 million t or 1.5 times more than the year before. The average grain yield per one hectare reached 42.6 ql., which is the second highest grain yield in the history of Latvia (44.9 ql. were harvested in 2015).
Balodis said this record was predictable due to the previous two hot, dry summers where the cultivated plants are relatively quickly cleared. This means farmers have plenty of time to prepare the land for winter cereals, just as in the previous winters, which were also conducive to winter cereals.
“And winter cereals – winter wheat, rye, triticale, winter rapeseed – yield more than cereals sowed in the summer,” said the crop expert.
According to Balodis, a lot of winter cereals were sown this season. Winter was warm, giving plants the opportunity to grow and develop. They also passed the winter very well, which means the yield should be very high.
