Ministry asks Latvian farmers to report crop losses by 15 November

Latvia's Ministry of Agriculture (ZM) is calling on farmers to provide information on the effects of adverse weather during the 2026 season: unharvested crops, significant yield losses and areas where winter crops, which are sown in autumn, could not be planted because of the weather. Reports must be submitted by 15 November.

The collected data will let the ministry assess the scale of losses suffered by farmers. If significant losses are found nationwide, the ministry will ask the European Commission for emergency aid from the European Union's crisis reserve.

How to report crop losses

Information on affected fields must be submitted in the authorised "Postījumi" (Damage) section of the mobile app of the Rural Support Service (LAD). For each field, farmers must state:

• the field number;
• the total area of the field;
• the affected share of the field as a percentage.

For example, if a field covers 4 hectares but the crop was harvested from only 2 hectares, the affected share is 50%. Photographs are not required. If data on a given field has already been submitted to LAD this year, it does not need to be sent again.

How to report unsown winter crops

Information on areas where winter crops were not sown must be provided in LAD's Electronic Application System (EPS) by completing the preliminary 2027 area payment application. It must indicate which fields have winter crops sown and how the rest of the farm's land is to be used.

To make this easier, the EPS can copy the previous year's application data so it can be adjusted. If needed, farmers can add fields not listed in last year's application and note the crops planned there for spring.

The preliminary application is intended only for data collection. It has no "Submit to LAD" function, because it is not a request for area payments.