Farmers' association: a winter storm like this could turn tragic for farms
The Farmers' Saeima association says the recent storm acted as a real-world stress test for Latvian agriculture, which the sector largely passed but which exposed serious gaps in communications, fuel supply and power networks. It warns that a similar storm in winter could have far more severe, even tragic, consequences.
Juris Lazdiņš, chairman of the Farmers' Saeima association, says the weekend storm served as a practical test of how Latvia's agricultural sector copes with crisis conditions. While farms largely withstood the test, the storm revealed problems that need addressing not only by farmers but also by the state, municipalities and infrastructure providers.
Mobile network gaps in rural areas
Hundreds of mobile network base stations lost power during the storm, disrupting service for customers of all three operators. Although base stations are generally equipped with batteries and some with generators, these backup solutions proved insufficient for a prolonged crisis. The association is calling on operators and the state to review how long backup power can last and to introduce national roaming, allowing customers to use another operator's network when their own is down. Some farms are considering Starlink satellite internet, and the association suggests municipalities install at least one satellite internet access point in each rural municipality center.
Fuel stations dependent on electricity
The storm showed that fuel stations cannot function without power, since pumps and payment systems stop working. The association wants a strategically placed network of stations with clear requirements for how long they must be able to operate autonomously, including backup power and fuel reserves.
Power grids and generators on farms
The association is urging grid operator Sadales tīkls to gradually replace overhead power lines with underground cables, prioritizing critical rural sections most vulnerable to storms. Most livestock farms were prepared for power outages, but problems arose where generators had not been tested or were not ready for use.
Concerns over winter scenarios
Lazdiņš notes that the summer storm mainly caused short-term losses, but a similar event in winter, especially during severe frost, could threaten water supply, heating and animal welfare, with potentially far more serious and even tragic consequences for some farms. The association is calling on all involved parties to draw conclusions and improve crisis readiness.
