A state of emergency has been declared in agriculture until November, because there are serious concerns about farmers' ability to meet the obligations they have taken on, particularly contractual obligations, where failure to perform can create legal and financial risks. That is a solution for this season, but the sector will feel the negative consequences next year as well. A delayed harvest forces farmers to replan the structure of next year's sowing and to change their intended choice of crops, and it is already clear that plants will have less time to develop before winter, which reduces the chances of overwintering and creates the risk of financial losses. To preserve the quality and volume of next year's harvest, attention must now turn to seed material that promotes germination, winter hardiness and resistance to lodging.

Although the harvest in Kurzeme and Zemgale has endured both strong winds and rainfall, harvesting work has already begun there, while in other regions the fields are still waiting. Across most of Latgale, prolonged rains have caused excessive moisture and even flooded fields, making it almost impossible to get machinery onto the land. In places the crop has lodged, which makes the situation worse. In Vidzeme, meanwhile, the overall picture is not so bleak, but in certain places it is decidedly difficult – with doubts about both the volume and the quality of the harvest.

While the harvest waits, quality is lost

A drawn-out harvesting period in these wet conditions continues to reduce the quality of the crop. The longer grain stays in the field, the more effects set in – it loses its colour and begins to sprout in the ear, which makes it unfit for seed and for food. In Vidzeme, for example, the winter crops still have yield potential at present, but quality is also under threat from lodging.

A late harvest – a difficult autumn

For a large proportion of farmers in Vidzeme and Latgale the harvest has been delayed, which in turn affects autumn fieldwork. Given that sowing dates are expected to be late, some farmers will have to replan next year's sowing structure and change their choice of crops. Autumn sowing work – for oilseed rape, for instance – should already be under way by now, but flooded and unharvested fields physically make that impossible. Sowing is being delayed, and plants will accordingly have less time to develop before winter, reducing the chances of overwintering and the yield potential. Farmers are trying to adapt to the situation, and it is possible that the share of spring crops in the sowing structure will increase.

What you sow matters

At present farmers cannot rely on the weather being typical for the season, which makes the careful choice of seed material all the more important. A large share of Latvian farmers still prefer uncertified seed "from a neighbour", cutting costs but taking a risk on germination and on the evenness of the crop. Such seed material also increases the risk of contaminating fields with other crops or with weeds, monocotyledons for example, and controlling those will take both time and money. Weeds use up nutrients and compete with the crop, which means yield potential is reduced as early as the sowing stage. An initial wish to save money by choosing uncertified seed ends up producing not only higher costs, but also an uneven crop and a smaller yield. Looking ahead to the next sowing season, it is advisable to choose a variety suited to each farm's needs together with certified, tested seed material, in order to achieve the best possible result. For this reason farmers should pay attention to variety descriptions, so as to choose a variety suited to their own needs and to the conditions in their region, weighing up overwintering ability, resistance to lodging, disease resistance and so on. It is likewise necessary to note which growing methods a variety is intended for – intensive or extensive farming. Understanding of the importance of certified seed material, which matters especially in an age of climate change, is growing relatively slowly, but the trends are positive.

Extreme weather – prolonged rains and strong winds – has had a negative effect not only on the ability to harvest on time, but also on grain quality and on the volumes planned. The late harvest also has a direct effect on the coming season, and there is a risk that a large proportion of farmers will have to change their choice of crops and replan their sowing structure. To reduce the risks, particular attention should be paid to the choice of variety and of certified seed material, which offers greater assurance of a resilient, good-quality harvest.