An interview with Jānis Grasbergs, Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture

Before the interview, colleagues mentioned a fact: Jānis (our Parliamentary Secretary) once took part in farmers' protests and travelled to Riga...

When I was studying, farmers' protests were being organised in the Valmiera area. The most well-known farmers realised that something in the state's system and operations had to change. I was active in the Young Farmers' Club at the time, and we—the younger generation—were organising from the Jelgava side. The machinery from my own farm, “Zilūži”, was also in Riga. That was a time when farmers had no say in the corridors of government; our protests were a significant turning point that changed this attitude. I think the forestry sector also benefited from the protests. The events showed that Latvians are capable of showing solidarity with others and other sectors. The biggest problems at that time were in the dairy industry, but grain growers and a few foresters also took part in the protest journey to Riga.

Our farm also owns forests, and when buying land, a plot of forest often “comes along with it”. However, a farmer primarily focuses their work and attention on agricultural areas.

What is happening in the “Zilūži” forests?

My father manages the forests. I have participated in those matters very little—mostly in planting spruce trees. We now have 30 hectares of forest. I would like to say that forestry for us is a matter of “coincidence”.

What path led a successful farmer to the Ministry of Agriculture?

It is a story about the desire to use my knowledge and vision for the future for the benefit of the state and society. For me, this is a new stage of development where I can put my accumulated experience to good use. I have effectively spent my whole life in the agricultural sector, going through various stages of work, refining my knowledge and gaining experience in the USA and Europe; I have learned from other farms and countries. Furthermore, during my student years, I was active in the Farmers’ Parliament, and later as a municipal councillor in Kocēni Municipality. Following that came the feeling of working on a national scale, where I could be more useful.

As a farmer with experience in the sector, how does the situation with dairy products in Latvia look now? Do we have too many foreign products, are the talks about it exaggerated, or...

The market is best defended by society—by us! We must promote national consciousness. You cannot fix the issue with laws or ministries so that “a person, upon entering a shop, picks up and buys specifically a Latvian item, a product made in Latvia.” Of course, we cannot buy Latvian olive soap, but there are many other things and products made in Latvia. For example, when serving coffee, there is often a little pot of coffee cream on the side. Unfortunately or fortunately, such dairy products that are pasteurised at high temperatures are no longer produced in Latvia (there used to be “Lāse”). One cannot blame people for having Estonian or Polish products on their tables. Products that we use every day and that are produced in Latvia... As European data shows, Latvia is one of those countries that has high imports in market segments that we produce ourselves!

It is a matter of national consciousness! I had experience in Scandinavia. Getting into their market is not easy—the Scandinavians look at the offer and say: “No! Thank you! We already have such a thing! If you can offer something new that we don't have...” Nowadays, basic market processes and trends are determined by the consumer! What they want, we, as producers, offer!

A good example would be the so-called immigrant group shops in various major cities around the world.

Yes! The consumer determines a lot. Often the government is blamed—why did you let this or that participant into the market. The government? Society (the people) itself has done that! Over time, small specialised shops are finding it increasingly difficult! Laziness often wins. The commitment: “I will go and shop at the small shop,” disappears in the second or third month because you can get everything faster at the supermarket, everything is almost in one place.

I will object! The Jaunpils dairy shop in Jelgava! Often there are long queues there, and it is difficult to get into the shop! Similar in the Straupe shops!

A good example! That is how it should be! With us, societal processes in this direction are not developing as they should. In Western Europe, the culture of local producers and small shops is ancient. On a Sunday morning, as people walk through the city, the local bakeries are bought empty, and there are queues in the small dairy shops. This is the situation I would like to see in Latvia! It is a feeling of national consciousness. There are periods when it “strays”, and there are periods when it works—like when talking about the “farmers' protests”: we can come together and solve common matters—dairy farmers, grain growers, foresters. That produces results, because one person cannot be a fighter alone!

One must know and be able to take from the land in a sensible, efficient and nature-friendly way...

Yes, it is important—what and how we grow. I have noticed and experienced that foreign lecturers who have arrived to share a thought or idea are often misunderstood in Latvia. It happens that what is said is meant in a completely different context, but the idea is “copied and implemented” without thinking about the content, history, and conditions. Just recently, on a field trip in the Renda forests, we saw an example—the growth and development of pine—how far this sun-loving species can grow under an existing canopy, and how it grows in a separate stand. And, seeing such an example, we start to think—what and how much have we lost? The same can be said about agriculture—someone can harvest four crops in a given area, we—three. This leaves an impression on the overall situation. It must be taken into account that forestry is not a business of one generation alone. Farmers say: “We have borrowed this land from future generations, it does not belong to us.” In forestry, it can be said that the land is borrowed from the generation after next. You have to look at what to grow, what the soil is like. It would be beautiful to say: “I like oaks, they sound mighty, let’s plant oaks in the heath...” That will not be good! We can apply this example to the once-popular “modern woe”—the giant hogweed. In our conditions, it is an invasive species that we must fight against now, not grow. But once upon a time, someone looked at it, came over, and came up with the idea... It might work elsewhere, but for us—certainly not!

If in every sector the decision-maker is a professional in the field, not someone who has heard something through the grapevine, hasn't delved into it and is trying to implement it, all will be well! I personally often urge members of the public to listen to the recommendations of professionals (whether from the ministry or science) rather than what some people say who have picked up loud phrases from anywhere... Scientists work in many fields and do their work with the idea that someone will eventually use the results. By not listening to scientifically verified and confirmed results, but trusting the “auntie said” principle, don't expect success... One should be just as critical of arrivals from highly developed countries who say: “Look, this is how you must act!” But—it happens—we don't look at the fact that we live in different latitudes and a well-intentioned recommendation will not work in our climate!

Not delving into issues is already a broader problem...

Working in dairy and grain cooperatives, I have observed that often people want to listen not to the locals, but to foreign specialists. Let's say: if a foreign specialist says something, it must be so!

Isn't that a legacy from the Awakening period, when exiles were authorities and held in high regard?

Possibly. Those who lived in the so-called Western world were considered more knowledgeable in the 90s. With time, it came to be understood that Latvians are Latvians, but the continent is different, the latitudes are different, the experience is different... Undeniably, experience and advice were needed during the creation of state administration, especially taking into account that information came from various countries and places in the world. Everyone possesses a certain professionalism in a certain field, if they have one. For example, I do not claim to be a professional in forestry, because I am a farmer, and I know agriculture best. Speaking of work at the ministry, that is why we have the Department of Forestry, where professionals work. I can ask for advice from anyone, including people in the sector outside the ministry. It would not be right if I—a farmer—from my point of view now “professionally” (but agriculturally) interfered in forestry. Of course, the Ministry of Agriculture is in charge of both forestry, agriculture, and fisheries—we have to cover everything.

How about fisheries in Latvia?

We have sea fishing, which is a little frayed—coastal fishing, and very, very frayed inland water fishing. There is potential for development, and I see it in inland water fishing and aquaculture. Our natural lakes are more meant for anglers; organising serious, industrial fishing there would not be proper. For a hobby, though—a person has worked for a week, earned money for themselves and the state, and goes to rest with a fishing rod on the weekend. In the fisheries sector, we import a lot of what we can get locally. There are enough good examples—fish are grown in former quarries that are now full of water; often a sluice system is already in place there. Fish farming inland is happening, but in my view, insufficiently. I think there is a lack of knowledge, and something is causing this sector not to develop as fast as one would like. Latvian fish can be bought; they exist, but only a little. There can be more!

We must also take into account our four seasons, which affect any type of management. If some see problems in climate change, others see new opportunities.

Isn't it difficult without the daily farming at “Zilūži”? As is understood, it is a family story.

My father started farming in the 90s—on 7 hectares of reclaimed land, including a couple of hectares of forest. We have always called ourselves a family farm. My father slowly built it all up, involved his sons. I ran the farm for 10 years (2009–2019); currently, the reins are in the hands of my middle brother. As the farm grew, we realised that we needed to create added value. We have a processing plant where we produce natural dairy products. My middle brother was previously responsible for milk processing and trade. After the Saeima elections and the approval of the government, I received an offer to be a Parliamentary Secretary. I thought about it, pondered, consulted! I realised that I “would not be as much” on the farm as before! A family meeting took place with parents, brothers, and sisters-in-law. The decision—I must try! Where else can I be more valuable and useful to Latvia, society, the people, and the state as a whole? Where is my understanding and experience useful and applicable? My middle brother now manages everything on the farm, the youngest is a vet who looks after the farm and works in a private practice. I must say, it is excellent that the government was approved in January, when it was easier to carry out restructuring on the farm. In the summer, it would have been much harder. There has been one call from my brother: “Come home, I've had enough!” The farm is being optimised because, as has happened in many places, land areas were added bit by bit, piece by piece.

How does it feel as a local owner and farmer to see Danes, Swedes, etc., farming our countryside?

Everything depends on the person. There are those with whom we get along well, and there are those where it pains the heart, and the main thing is their farming methods. There are foreign farmers who have married into Latvia; it is “simpler” with them. We have an English-descended man living nearby, whose great-grandfather was Latvian. He farmed in Latvia until the 40s, then left. Now the great-grandson, whose name and surname sound like a pure Englishman, has returned and is working. Working with the thought of future generations. My heart aches for so-called “investor-type” farms, where, without mentioning the use of pesticides and mineral fertilisers, everything goes according to plan—whether needed or not! For example, if it is scheduled to spray the field against insects, they spray! ...even if there are no insects... Here you see that people have come only to earn, draining our resources. Any farming skill must be planned in the long term, sustainably; if a tree, when cut down, leaves leaves and branches behind, in agriculture, one must think—how to return the used calcium and phosphorus to the land, understand whether we will use green manure and fertiliser, or... It is very difficult to “get back” soil fertility if it has been “over-intensively” killed!

Land drainage systems must be cared for. One must reckon with the fact that their expected operational life is at an end (the systems are at least 30–40 years old). Of course, those that are well looked after and maintained can serve for another 30 years, but many are in poor condition. For example, ditches where a beaver often “works”. Ditches that go through many or several properties, where owners need to agree. Ditches that touch nature reserves, where you cannot maintain them... Ditches that force us to look for solutions.

Vidzeme with Valmiera, Smiltene, Ranka, and Kocēni is a relative centre of dairy farming.

In every region, much depends on the people! I see that, I know that! In Vidzeme, there were two people important for dairy farming—Egils Juhnovičs and Andris Zālīte, who created the Vidzeme Veterinary Service and showed other animal husbandry technologies that differed from what was taught in the Soviet years. An animal first needs air, then—water, and finally—feed! I assume that is why dairy farming is more developed in Vidzeme. Because they started there...
I must say, in Latvia we “over-produce” (produce too much) what we consume. Despite everything being produced in sufficient quantities, we additionally import a lot. I will return to the need to create awareness: use what is ours! That would be an excellent boost for small processors! Why is livestock and dairy farming not developing as well as one would like? We want to blame others... No! 15 years ago, grain growers organised the issue—by getting together and creating cooperatives, with the help of which they were able to sell grain for the price at which the French, Danes, and Germans sell it. Grain farming is now developing faster!

For the dairy industry, the “grain growers' story” is still ahead. There was an unsuccessful attempt (“Latvijas piens”), Jaunpils is working excellently. We must think and work for export! In the case of “Latvijas piens”, four cooperatives came together and “did not pass the school of cooperation”. While you don't work together, haven't gotten to know one another, it seems everything is fine! Everyone is such a nice person! You start working, horns appear... Difficulties in cooperation, the woes of the international milk market, the closure of the Russian market, and—the school is over... Currently, the milk market has stabilised and reoriented.

I see similar woes in the future of berry fields (berry growers). When the berry bushes start producing, and that is expected soon, there will be problems because—it has not been thought through—where to put what has grown. Is there a market “for” the harvest? How do I look at the process? From the other end! The product—where to put it, who will buy it... It does not work to say— “there is a product, I will sell it!” You have to think to the end! The same with a log—you cannot prepare it and put it by the roadside, surely someone will take it!

How does the Latvian agricultural sector look in the future, the situation in it, the opportunities?

First, one must realise the value—our land! Then realise one's potential and remember that many of today's big things and businesses started in “small and narrow garages or other rooms”. In the future, smart and efficient management will definitely be needed. We must think a lot about how to use and process our land in the current world economic market situation, so that our hectare of land has the highest possible utility coefficient, and we are a significant and useful ally to Europe and the world. We must learn from other side sectors, for example, forestry, which is independent and capable of existing on its own. We must learn a lot! Agriculture must also become self-sufficient, and additional funding must be an instrument for promoting development, not a means of survival. The market is constantly changing; we must follow it and change with it. For a small country, it is much easier to do than for the big giants. Here comes to mind the saying “Think globally, act locally!”