Lithuanian farmers report mounting storm damage and fear winter crops will go unsown

“The situation for farmers has not improved at all,” said Gedas Špakauskas, chairman of the Lithuanian Farmers’ Union. With the days growing shorter and the weather deteriorating, farmers are no longer concerned only about crops left in the fields. They are also asking whether areas that did manage to harvest will be dry enough to plant winter grain on time.

The fields remain soaked, and fresh damage continues to appear. Špakauskas pointed to the Skuodas district, where he said about 40 millimeters of additional rain fell this week, creating new waterlogged areas. Farmers who initially did not report losses have now begun seeking assistance after documenting damage that worsened over the past week.

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The situation for farmers has not improved at all, and such weather is expected to continue.

“It turns out that new damage is already being recorded, not only damage from the period for which the emergency situation was declared. And the damage reports keep growing,” Špakauskas said.

The Agriculture Ministry has asked municipalities to collect information on farm losses by September 11. It is also urging farmers to contact their municipalities and submit applications documenting the storm’s effects. Once preliminary data arrives, the ministry will decide whether to approach the European Commission about possible assistance.

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It turns out that new damage is already being recorded, not only damage from the period for which the emergency situation was declared. And the damage reports keep growing.

Špakauskas said farmers should record losses regardless of whether compensation is currently certain. The data could also guide future investment decisions on drainage, generators and other infrastructure.

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Unfortunately, when it comes to business relations and obligations to banks and similar institutions, we are absolutely of no interest to anyone. The farmer assumes all the risk himself.

The ministry says agricultural operators carrying out investment measures under Lithuania’s 2023-2027 agriculture and rural development plan will not face sanctions for commitments they failed to meet if the failures resulted from the extreme weather events of August 22 or related power disruptions. It is preparing an order that would remove the requirement to submit evidence concerning force majeure or exceptional circumstances to the National Paying Agency.

Those measures do not cover private obligations, Špakauskas said. Farmers are trying to negotiate payment delays with fertilizer sellers, grain buyers and other business partners, but such agreements remain voluntary. He warned that waterlogged fields could also make it difficult for some farmers to meet environmental and sowing requirements linked to support programmes.

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There is no such force majeure, unfortunately. It is only a completely voluntary agreement.