Interview with Jānis Knipšis, representative of the Association of Selected Willow Growers

Driving from Riga to Valmiera, on the left side of the road, you can see a view unusual for the landscape – willows growing neatly in rows.

Yes, that is one of the advantages of selected willows! Willow plantations make the Latvian countryside more scenic, if you could put it that way. Especially in places where there is both forest and farmland, willows complement the landscape with a kind of "intermediate stage"; the landscape becomes easier on the eye and more pleasing. Even in areas where fields with annual crops dominate, willow plantations add to the diversity of the landscape.

Willows grow in willow plantations – that much is clear.Who will produce the harvest when the time comes to gather or harvest it?

I like to talk about willows as a resource. Wood chips for energy are obtained from them. Just as we know about oil, from which many different products are made, starting with polymers, petrol, and diesel, it is the same with wood, which can be used to make many different things and products. By growing willows, we obtain wood biomass in a faster and cheaper way. As I mentioned, the most common way of using this resource is wood chips (fuel chips), which we use right here in Latvia in combined heat and power plants and boiler houses. In recent years, a quite dense network of boiler houses fueled by wood chips has developed in the country, in which large investments have been made. Depending on where the willow plantation is located, wood chips are also a good material for export.

Wood chips are not the only way to use willows. If you compare this process (usage) to a pyramid, willows can be useful in a wide variety of areas. Thanks to their chemical composition, an extract is obtained from willows, which in turn is used in the manufacture of various natural cosmetic and hygiene products. Willows have long been known as "natural aspirin," which finds application in pharmaceuticals. One of the latest patented "discoveries" in willow processing is a food additive. These areas are at the top of the pyramid, with the lowest volume of use but the highest added value.

The middle part of the pyramid is occupied by composting, the production of charcoal and pellets, as well as the use of certain willow varieties for attracting animals for hunting purposes. Hunters do not need to specially feed animals with apples or hay, but instead plant willows for animal feed, which grow back regularly.

Would it be purposeful to obtain a map or network of combined heat and power plants and boiler houses to see if and where a willow plantation could be established nearby?

Without a doubt, the closer the wood chip collection point is to the plantation, the better. At the same time, one should not exaggerate the importance of the willow plantation's location.

The network of boiler houses, as I already mentioned, is quite dense in Latvia, but wood chips are transported over quite long distances, often up to 100 km. It is much more important to choose a place for the plantation where there is the necessary road infrastructure and where heavy machinery can access it relatively freely.

How is wood chip production in Latvia – is there enough, is there a shortage, does it have to be imported?

Not so long ago, we read news in the press that wood chips were being imported from Belarus. The article, however, placed greater emphasis on the potential radioactivity of the wood chips. Over the years, local consumption has certainly grown. Not so long ago, we exported quite a lot; now, with domestic consumption rising, the situation has changed.

For fuel chips, as for any product, price dictates everything. If it is profitable to import wood chips, they will be imported; if it is profitable to produce them locally, it will be done locally and they will also be exported. Currently, wood chips in Latvia are mainly obtained from logging residues – tree tops and branches removed from felling sites, from surplus in the woodworking sector, or by clearing overgrowth on abandoned agricultural land. There is no reason to think that logging volumes could increase very significantly in the coming years; therefore, it is unlikely that more wood residues intended for chipping will be generated in wood processing, and, finally, the number (volume) of lands returning to agriculture is also not unlimited and will eventually run out. At the same time, the demand for fuel chips and energy biomass is increasing everywhere in the world, including Latvia, and will continue to grow, taking into account the impact of climate policy changes. In my opinion, establishing selected willow plantations, due to their properties, is the cheapest and most effective way to obtain wood chips.

Willows are in the willow family. For many, they are associated with small bushes, twigs, and pussy willows. Are there specific species or varieties suitable specifically for plantations?

In plantations, one does not grow ordinary willows that we find on ditches or overgrown agricultural areas. Varieties that have been bred for more than 20 years, specifically for this purpose, are suitable for plantations if we are talking about controlled growth. Plantation willows grow straight and do not clump (branch out) compared to ordinary willows. This is important when harvesting, as the entire cycle – from planting to harvesting – is mechanised. Another important nuance: the root system of a willow stabilises only in the first year. There is no reason to believe that willow roots stretch deep and damage drainage systems. That is not the case! Through selection, willow varieties have acquired the properties necessary for biomass production – resistance to frost, to high humidity, etc. Of course, the variety is chosen depending on the climate and soil conditions. There are varieties that can be grown, for example, in Greece, in drought and heat.

How long is the rotation cycle of plantation willows?

It has been calculated that the most profitable rotation cycle is harvesting willow crops every two years, with the first harvest obtained after the first three years. The two-year cycle is based on facts: firstly, the greatest biomass growth is observed precisely in the first years, and secondly, harvesting the plants is easier and cheaper when the willow diameter does not exceed 6 centimetres. On average, cash flow in a plantation is calculated for 10 cycles, then the plant yield decreases and one should look for new planting material. Calculating everything as a whole, the rotation can be estimated at 21 years! The first harvests and the last harvests are not as large, and by the 7th–8th harvest, one should think about and plan the establishment of a new plantation so as not to have a drop in yield.

In Latvia, of course, that much time (21 years) has not passed, and for now, we can only talk about the experience of other countries.

Do processes in willow plantations proceed like for farmers, who change fields, plough, harrow, plant?

Many have concerns about whether it is possible to "return" willow plantation areas to traditional agriculture and, in time, if willows do not seem profitable or "interesting," plant, say, grain instead of the former plantation. If plans change, the field can easily be turned back into "normal" traditional agricultural land.

It is important to understand: willows do not deplete the soil. On the contrary – willows are perennial, and when leaves fall in autumn and subsequently decompose, a nutrient-rich layer is formed, which only improves the soil.

Where in Latvia can willow plantations be seen?

For now, Latvia cannot boast of large areas. There are several willow stands in the Madona and Valmiera regions. Also in Tērvete and near Liepāja. There are more elsewhere. The problem: previously, no one offered a full service cycle that would start with soil preparation and planting and end with the mechanised harvesting of willows. Since specialised machinery intended for willow cultivation and management is quite expensive, for a long time there was no one brave enough to risk purchasing both a planting machine and a harvester. Now, for over a year, "Salixpro" has been offering a full service cycle. This makes one think and hope that willow cultivation will develop more rapidly in the future than before, and landowners will give preference precisely to willow cultivation. By the way, several farmers who are involved in the cultivation of traditional annual crops are increasingly interested in willows, because there are also land areas on their properties where, for example, growing grain is not profitable or possible for various reasons. Either the land is too wet, which makes harvesting difficult, or it is not fertile enough. In such cases, selected willows are a good alternative because they are harvested in winter when the ground is frozen. In this regard, it should be mentioned: willow cultivation can serve as a way for every farmer to diversify risks, or, in simple terms, "not to put all your eggs in one basket." The previous year, which brought losses to traditional farmers due to the great drought or excessive humidity, is a good example of this. Unlike traditional crop plantations, willow plantations can, in the worst case, not be harvested and left to grow for another year if, by chance, the price for wood chips has "dramatically" fallen or if it is not possible to harvest the crop due to weather conditions. Moreover, by letting the willow grow for another year, the yield will tend to increase.

On what areas are willows grown – are they felling sites, existing or former agricultural lands?

Only on agricultural land! It is not possible to work (operate) in felling sites with either a planting machine or a harvester. Besides, the soil composition must be suitable. Willow cultivation is non-traditional agriculture, where the harvested crop is, for the most part, used for energy production.

To use a willow planting machine, the soil must be prepared as it is before planting potatoes in the spring – ploughed, cultivated, sprayed. All operations that are familiar in "traditional" agriculture. The longer the land has stood unused, the greater the overgrowth, and the more work and financial investment required.

We do not want to compete with traditional agriculture: if the land is fertile enough and well-tended, a greater financial benefit for the farmer will "come" from grain farming. We have to "reconcile" ourselves to the fact that we – willow growers – have to make do with land that is "left over" and is not in the best condition. One of our most important work tools is a reclamation tiller, with which sooner or later any area can be put in order. It grinds up roots, stones, and everything else found in an "untended" field to a depth of up to 30 cm.

I think that over time, the emphasis will "shift" from fuel to other resources – wood chips will be used ever more widely in other industries as well. There are already several successful experiments where wood fibre, for example, is successfully used in clothing production.

Do forest animals like the taste of willows? We mentioned hunters.

If we compare it with forestry, there is effectively no risk. Comparatively – if young trees are planted at about 2,000 per hectare in the forest, willow cuttings per hectare are about 12-15 thousand. Within three years, they grow up to 6 m in height. The biomass increase is so large that if an animal comes to taste some, we are only happy about it. A lot depends on the variety here, because there are also willow varieties that forest animals do not like!

By the way – we sell varieties that they really like to hunting collectives. As I mentioned, willow plantations replace the need to transport feed to feeding areas where hunters plant "tasty" willows, and animals come and eat them greedily. There are willow varieties intended specifically for hunting estates.

Are the varieties local?

The varieties that are economically profitable to use were created outside of Latvia. The most popular varieties were created in Sweden and the USA. More than 20 years of work have been invested in the selection of these varieties so that they yield the maximum amount of biomass, grow in a controlled manner, and are resistant to various risks, so they are not cheap. One cutting costs about EUR 0.06. If one hectare requires 12,000 – 15,000 cuttings, the average costs for planting material alone amount to EUR 700 (per hectare). The quality of the planting material is of huge importance if you calculate that the plantations will serve for more than 20 years.

I know that scientists at "Silava," led by Dagnija Lagzdiņa, have created local varieties. Here, however, the plans were not to obtain commercial varieties with high biomass growth.

Willows flower, bees are "interested" in them. Is there cooperation with beekeepers?

That depends on the variety! There are some that bees really like. In Latvia, as I said, we have not "gotten up to speed" enough yet, but beekeeping is an industry where we can and hope to cooperate!

Is there caution observed towards willow plantations in Latvia? It's something new, willows are associated with overgrown fields or ditches…

Many legendary and untrue stories are heard about willows and their cultivation in Latvia. For example, about economic unprofitability. Many have heard something, but are not competent. Up until now, as I mentioned, there has been no full-cycle offer in plantation management, which is why drawing conclusions now would not be correct. The arguments "against" are irrelevant and do not reflect the true concerns, about which we can only guess. For example, "willows degrade drainage systems." This has not been proven, and currently, it is a time of minor struggles in this regard, as the Association of Selected Willow Growers is actively advocating for a change in Cabinet Regulation No. 126, which relates to the granting of direct payments to farmers. Up until now, a rule has been in force that prevents willow growers from receiving area payments on reclaimed areas. In registers, most agricultural land is considered reclaimed, but in reality, in a large part, the drainage systems have long since degraded and do not function. The regulation included a date (in 2011) by which reclaimed areas had to be written off to later be able to receive support payments. If the areas are written off, for example, this year (2019) and willow cultivation begins, European direct payments are not due. That, in our opinion, is an absurd situation, and it has no logical justification.

We are still actively discussing the willow root system – whether it degrades drainage systems or not… One thing is clear: in studies and analysis, one must separate tile drainage systems from ditches – closed systems from open ones. If the developed technical requirements are precisely followed regarding ditches, problems can be avoided. Moreover, fruit trees and bushes are grown without limitation, but they also have a root system. What about that?

One of the arguments "in favour of willows" would be energy independence, because it is profitable for the country to grow (create, generate) resources itself. It has been proven that willow cultivation, unlike the cultivation of other agricultural crops, is CO2 neutral. As much carbon dioxide as is consumed in their harvesting and burning, the plantation absorbs during its lifetime. The EU has clearly and plainly defined the fight against climate change and sustainable balanced development as one of its biggest goals. This is, without a doubt, debatable, but taking into account the compliance of willow cultivation with the EU's common goals and its positive impact on society as a whole, selected willow cultivation would deserve even more support than other crops. Elsewhere in Europe, willow growers are not only granted direct payments but are also provided with other significant support mechanisms. For example, in Lithuania, there was an opportunity to apply for grants that partially financed the establishment of willow plantations.

We are talking about unnecessarily created restrictions, due to which willow growers have limited opportunities to receive direct payments. It is strange – the most important documents, including Latvia's Sustainable Development Strategy until 2030, mention the preservation of biodiversity, the use of innovative eco-services, the use of renewable energy resources, the "green economy," and energy independence, which the cultivation of selected willows provides one hundred percent. However, it is enough for the Farmers' Parliament, which does not like anything that does not go hand in hand with the interests of large farmers, to object, and none of these arguments seem relevant to the Ministry of Agriculture anymore.