Heavy spring rains and late planting have left Southern Estonian potato farmers facing harvests about half their usual size. Yields vary by grower but are lower than expected, according to Rasmus Kolberg, board member of the potato cooperative Eestimaa Kartul.
"Our people haven't really started harvesting yet," Kolberg said. "We don't have a clear picture yet, but the harvest is definitely half as big as planned."
Southern and Central Estonia saw prolonged rainfall this spring, which hindered germination and allowed late blight to spread in fields too wet to treat. Eestimaa Kartul, with eight members from Jõgeva Municipality to Veriora, is reporting moisture-related problems across the board. Kolberg added that some farmers are leaving potatoes after repeated poor years, compounded by market volatility and an aging grower base.
Estonia's potato supply, already around 50%, is expected to decline further. "Stores are replacing local potatoes with imports when producers start asking for more money," Kolberg noted. "Currently, things are tough: consumers' pockets are light, and stores are savvy at keeping products on the shelves while keeping prices from going up." He added that store prices have not risen despite higher production costs, and that "everything has just gotten harder for potato farmers over time."
In Võru County, organic grower Alo Abiline of Leese Mahe described a near-total crop failure. "There are several factors involved, but the main factor was a colder spring, which delayed planting — in my case, by two weeks," he said. Continued rains left fields too wet for tractor work, and late blight arrived before tubers could fully develop. "Right now, we have seed potatoes and small potatoes, but practically no marketable ones," Abiline stated. Despite the setback, he said he intends to continue: "Demand is very high. I've ended up short every year. In Southern Estonia, childcare institutions want local organic food. I'm not throwing in the towel."
Conditions in Central Estonia are somewhat better, though the harvest is delayed by wet soils. Farmer Kalle Hamburg of Kehtna Municipality said test digs show good yields, but rain and early frost are pressing concerns. "I haven't given up yet, but if frosts hit, there's no point in digging," he explained, noting forecasts of freezing temperatures in early October. He added that limited harvest windows leave little time to secure crops.
Hamburg also highlighted the ongoing financial challenges. "There was a year when the wholesale price in stores was seven cents per kilo and production costs were 15 cents," he recalled. "If potatoes are your only source of income, you can't hold out long."
Source: err news