FAO/GIEWS - Foodcrops & Shortages 10/00 - LATVIA (14 September)
Hot and dry weather in May and June were followed by excessive rains in July/August. A poor start to the spring crop growing season, mixed growing conditions, and harvest losses as a result of water logging and delays, are likely to constrain the recovery from last year's grain harvest officially estimated at a poor 787 000 tonnes. However, the areas sown to winter crops increased and overwintering conditions were good. The 2000 cereal output is tentatively forecast at 0.8 million tonnes, somewhat below average. With livestock production remaining depressed, imports of cereals in recent years are limited to about 50 000-70 000 tonnes per annum, mainly of bread quality wheat.