Baltic Compass visited 3 farms in Estonian to get a inside view of the challenges farmers are dealing with and what work they are doing to protect the environment and surrounding water sources. The farms were situated in central Estonia in the area of Pandivere and Adavere-Põltsamaa Nitrate Vulnerable Zone (NVZ).
Baltic Compass visited JK Otsa farm. The farm had built new barns and manure storage fasilities during the last years.
Mr Jaan Kiisk at JK Otsa farm
The first farm to visit was JK Otsa farm, a dairy farm consisting of 400 milking cows and as many young cows. The cows produce about 9000-10000 liters of milk per cow per year, which is a very good milking yield. 90% of Estonian cows are of the breed Holstein cows, as were these. The farm consisted of 2700 hectares of farming land and this was planted with about 50% winter crops and 50% summer crops. The farmer explained that the ground water level is very low, thus the fields draw very good.
When asked what water protecting measures are used at the farm. Mr Jaan Kiisk answered that they are keeping up with the regulations. 80-90% of the fertilizer spread is manure the rest is mineralized fertilizer. The farm has done big investments during the last years. New storage facilities for ensilage storage have been established. The discharged nutrient water from the storage area is pumped to the main manure storage. The farm has also built a 10000 m3 storage facility for liquid manure; unfortunately the storage is open aired. The rural development plan supports 50% of the agriculture investments made in Estonia.
Mr Jaan Kiisk showed baltic Compass the new ensilage storage fasilities and how they gather the nutrient rich discharged water that comes from the ensilage
Mr Mati Mere – Potato farmer
The second farmer visited was potato farmer. Mr Mati Mere grows potatoes on 35ha which is a minimum area to be sustainable and economic. The potatoes are sold to the regions large supermarkets. Many local farmers have given up with potato farming because often large investments are needed, and these are not supported by the agro-environmental support scheme. The farmers receive single area payments for potato crops but these are very small on an area of only 35 ha. The main problem for potato farming is the weather, marketing and the stony soils. The potato yield is about 35-45 tons per hectare. This year the price of potatoes went up but it is still the consumers who control the markets.
Vöhmuta PM farm manager Rein Lall and potato farmer Mati Mere
Mr Rein Lall – Võhmuta PM farm
The last farm to visit was a company owned dairy farm that had 300 cow and as many young cows. Võhmuta PM Farm is self sustained and produces only fodder for the cows on 900 ha. The farmer believed that they don’t have any environmental problems and reminded us that the Environmental inspector does an annual visit. The cows produce about 10000 liters per year per cow and were very happy cows because the barn had big windows to look out and brushes that scrub the backs of the cows. Mr Rein Lall explained that these small improvements in the barn make the cows produce even more milk.
Baltic Compass was very happy with the visit and it opened the eyes for many us city people. The countryside was beautiful and the farmers very friendly in Estonia. It was impressing to see the big investments in improving animal welfare, manure handling and storage facilities.
