The significant increase in the amount of harvested grain was mainly affected by an increase in total cereal cropland area.
In 2014, the area of cereal cropland was 655,200 hectares, which is 71,300 hectares or 12.2% more than in 2013. Spring wheat yield also had a positive impact on the growth of harvested production of grain.
Due to unfavorable wintering conditions, the area of winter wheat decreased by 89,600 hectares or 35.3%.
The areas of frost-damaged winter cereals were re-sown with spring cereals, the share of which in the total sown area of cereals reached 67.9% (in 2013 - 48.6%). It should also be noted that the average yield of spring cereals was higher for all spring cereals, except buckwheat, as compared to 2013.
In 2014, the sown area of spring wheat was two times larger or by 12,300 hectares greater than in 2013. As spring wheat yield increased from 31.3 quintals per hectare in 2013 to 39.5 quintals in 2014, its share in the harvested production reached 42.3%.
The purchase of grain grown in Latvia reached its peak in the last four years - 1.947 million tons (412,000 tons or 26.8% more than a year before).
During the past year the average purchase prices for grains kept falling, and in 2014 stood at €148.06 per ton or 16.5% less than in 2013, which is the lowest price reached in the last four years.
Wheat accounted for 77.6% of the total amount of purchased grain. Its purchase grew by 250,900 tons or 19.9%, of which food wheat - by 31,200 tons or 3.3%. Also the volume of purchased rye increased - by 10,600 tons or 11.8%, of which food rye – by 6,000 tons or 7.8%.
