"The quality indicators of the first grain deliveries are very different, but on the whole this year's grains will be small with low volumetric mass density. Only recently, a record harvest of winter wheat was projected in Zemgale, but because of the prolonged heatwave and drought, grain fields in many areas have been severely damaged and the harvest might be 30 to 50 percent smaller than expected," said Dobeles Dzirnavnieks board chairman Kristaps Amsils.
He said that the harvest of organic grain will also be smaller because of the adverse weather conditions, which included prolonged rain in the spring, which delayed sowing, high humidity and heat, which fostered pest infestation.
"Although the weather conditions have had a significant impact on the harvest, there will be enough grain for processing and we are ready for an intensive and busy grain season," said Amsils.
This year, Dobeles Dzirnavnieks plans to receive 350,000 tonnes of grain, of which roughly 15 percent will be organic grain.
Dobeles Dzirnavnieks had planned to receive 350,00 tonnes of grain last year but because of a record harvest the grain mill eventually received around 400,000 tonnes.
Dobeles Dzirnavnieks grain mill turned over EUR 129.638 million in 2019, which is an increase of 10.5 percent against a year before, while the company's profit rose 11.5 percent on year to EUR 4.199 million.
Dobeles Dzirnavnieks was registered in 1991 and its share capital is EUR 3.897 million. The company's largest shareholder with 93.99 percent of shares is the Estonian grain producer Tartu Mill.