Day No. 52 in the prime minister's chair – Zemgale farmers 🇱🇻. I couldn't post this video sooner because, unfortunately, someone stepped on the leg of our family's youngest member and broke it ☹️. This time the post will be longer because I saw and heard a LOT. Entrepreneurs, farmers, family farms, producers, municipalities, and people who create jobs and Latvia's economy every day. And again one conclusion repeated almost everywhere: Latvia does not lack enterprising people. Too often we are hindered by bureaucracy, labour shortages, and rules that force entrepreneurs to fight not for development but against the state. 🌱 ASNS pea protein factory in Staļģene. This is a very important project for Latvian agriculture. From one 🇱🇻-grown yellow pea, several high-value products can be created – protein isolate, other protein products, starch, and fibre. This is exactly what we need: not simply exporting peas, grains, or other raw materials, but processing them right here in Latvia and exporting a product with much greater added value. 💶 The project has invested 132 million euros: ➖️ €53.6 million – @AltumLV loan under the Large Investment Loan Programme; ➖️ €40 million financing from @RietumuDelfin bank. ♻️ Moreover, it is planned to use practically the entire pea. Even process water rich in organic substances will be used for biogas production, and the biogas for pea drying. 👷 Approximately 100 new jobs are planned. ASNS is an excellent example of how traditional agriculture combines with technology, science, and global food market trends. We need such factories all over Latvia! 🏭 Production is planned to start in the first quarter of 2027. But there is a fly in the ointment – ALTUM and ministry bureaucracy nearly killed the project and delayed its opening by at least 2–3 years. This is a serious public administration ailment – so that no one is responsible for decisions, such a mountain of papers, requirements, and approvals is generated that it is almost impossible to lift in normal business. This must be changed urgently. 🌾 LPKS LATRAPS – Eleja. @LATRAPS unites more than 1,220 members and is the largest Latvian farmers' cooperative and one of the most significant in the Baltics. 🇱🇻 It is a 100% Latvian farmer-owned company. The cooperative provides: ➖️ grain acceptance; ➖️ initial processing; ➖️ storage; ➖️ logistics; ➖️ sales to more than 30 countries worldwide. In my opinion, LATRAPS has all the potential to enter the 🇱🇹 Lithuanian and 🇪🇪 Estonian markets much more aggressively. Otherwise, Estonians and Lithuanians come to us, but we go to them too rarely. 🌾 Grain delivery point. The visit coincided with the peak of harvest. Weather has helped farmers this time – grain moisture in places is only around 14%, so it is possible to do without additional drying. 🚜 Farm “Paugurīši”. Again I saw a beautiful model of Latvian agriculture – a father and son running the farm together. Very similar to the Riekstiņi and Amatnieki farms met in Latgale: the father has enormous practical experience, the son has modern agronomist knowledge and a fresh perspective. I saw the harvest process and we talked about the real problems of farmers. ⚠️ One of them – the European Commission's emergency funding distribution to mitigate the consequences of the Middle East crisis. Latvia has been granted one of the lowest support levels in Europe. 🇱🇻 Latvian farmers are allocated only about €10/ha, while in the so-called “old” 🇪🇺 countries support reaches €15–30/ha. I need to see and hear this myself so that at the October and December European Council meetings I can speak not theoretically but with concrete examples from Latvian countryside. 🌾 Jura Lazdiņš's farm “Lazdiņi”. Juris Lazdiņš is the chairman of the board of the association “Zemnieku saeima”, and the conversation was very specific. 💸 Mineral fertilizer prices have increased by 30–60% compared to last year. One of the significant reasons is the 🇪🇺 CBAM – the carbon border adjustment mechanism, which also affects imported mineral fertilizers. Additional costs already reach up to €157/t. At the same time: ➖️ grain prices on exchanges remain low; ➖️ fertilizers are becoming more expensive; ➖️ fuel is rising; ➖️ new levies are coming; ➖️ environmental requirements are growing; ➖️ fertilisation is being restricted. Meanwhile, farmers outside the 🇪🇺 use cheaper raw materials, fuel, and fertilisers. If we continue to unilaterally raise European farmers' production costs, we will squeeze our own agriculture out of the market. Under this scenario, several base crops in Latvia will simply no longer be profitable to grow. ❗Main farmer problems I take with me to work: ➖️ we must fight for fairer payments for Latvian farmers in the 🇪🇺; ➖️ CBAM's impact on mineral fertilisers must not make 🇪🇺 farmers uncompetitive; ➖️ part-time work regulations and minimum social contributions greatly hinder seasonal work; ➖️ the simplified tax regime for seasonal field workers must be expanded – legal work must be simpler, not more complicated. The Cabinet issue is stuck – it will have to be moved; ➖️ in public food procurement, we must not reach a situation where the only criterion is the lowest price and the local producer is squeezed out; ➖️ the planned increase in railway freight tariffs by about 25% threatens to shift even more grain transport to roads; ➖️ the requirement for diesel fuel to contain at least 6.5% biodiesel or advanced biofuel also in winter increases costs and raises concerns about agricultural machinery. Regional visits continue @Apvienotais_
Agriculture / Forests: Posts and News mentioning Apvienotais saraksts
Political posts and news in Agriculture / Forests that mention Apvienotais saraksts, from monitored Latvian public sources.
From@irLVKulbergs and wood industry. #ErnestsZīmē
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From@AndrisKulbergsYou apparently have not read your document? I have read it; it is an exact instruction on how banks are to assess farmers as bank clients and what information farmers are to be asked for, in order to decide whether they are 'sustainable' or not. If not, then the client is unfavourable and not good for the bank's 'green' portfolio. It literally says 'Unfavourable' and 'Favourable' client. The Bank of Latvia is not some news portal; the instructions published there are taken by the banking sector as a basis for assessing clients, because the Bank of Latvia will also assess the banks themselves that way. It directly affects clients. It is total nonsense; it is a harmful document that demands low productivity, pointless investments, and puts greenery above the interests of the state, people and farmers. https://t.co/zaKdf1QDpD
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@AndrisKulbergs Not quite as it has been stated. A more detailed comment on the developed guidelines: https://t.co/7GK0tu1mKj
From@LatvijasBanka1/3 Biodiversity, climate change and other risks affect the economy, so banks assess sustainability risks. But it is not as it has been said. The guidelines do not determine how farmers should work, what and to what extent banks should lend. Application of these guidelines to banks is not mandatory.
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1/3 Biodiversity, climate change and other risks affect the economy, so banks assess sustainability risks. But it is not as it has been said. The guidelines do not determine how farmers should work, what and to what extent banks should lend. Application of these guidelines to banks is not mandatory.
From@AndrisKulbergsDay No. 47 in the prime minister's chair – airBaltic strategic plan and the Bank of Latvia teaches farmers how to live ✈️ This was a day that almost entirely passed in the Cabinet of Ministers bunker – the secret meeting room. Nine hours of discussions, explanations, legal formulations and consultations. 🔹 airBaltic strategic plan At today's meeting we reviewed the strategic plan for airBaltic submitted by Transport Minister Rihards Kozlovskis, not the company's business plan. The business plan is a document for which the airBaltic board and council are responsible. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Transport as the shareholder and the government decide on the company's strategic direction – what we expect from airBaltic in the long term, what functions the company must perform, and what goals to achieve. At the meeting we also assessed airBaltic's financial situation and measures to improve it, so that the company can ensure stable service provision right now – during the hottest period of the aviation season. ✅We approved the representation of the State Treasury at the bond creditors' meeting. This mandate has not changed and corresponds to the mandate given by the Saeima. The business plan is reviewed by the airBaltic council and the Ministry of Transport. Currently the council has not yet approved it. The ministry only today submitted its comments so that the plan could be approved within the next week or two. Decisions of previous governments have led to a situation where complex negotiations with financiers and creditors now need to be conducted. The company's future will largely depend on the strategic plan promoted by Transport Minister Rihards Kozlovskis, as well as the ability to reach agreements with creditors and attract new capital. Capital attraction must be ensured. The current situation is largely a consequence of a decision made in 2024 – borrowing 380 million euros while not making fundamental changes in the company's operations. These changes should have been implemented two years ago, not continued to burn money in an inappropriately ambitious business expansion plan. The government decided to entrust Transport Minister Rihards Kozlovskis with starting implementation of the strategic plan he and Seabury had developed. 🔹 Baptism by fire for Kristaps Avots Due to the airBaltic meeting, I missed the NTSP – National Tripartite Cooperation Council – meeting with @darbadeveji and LBAS. Thanks to my parliamentary secretary Kristaps Avots, who saved me and conducted the meeting with honor. It was his true baptism by fire. 💪 Krists also conducted today: 🏅 Meeting of the National Sports Council; 🛡️ Cybersecurity action discussion. On cybersecurity matters, we continue to assess the security of the state's critical infrastructure and its compliance with requirements after the cyberattack on Latvian state forests. 🔹The Bank of Latvia starts teaching farmers how to keep livestock? 🐄 I met with the Agricultural Organizations Cooperation Council – LOSP. Frankly, I was speechless hearing the industry's account of the sustainability guidelines developed by @LatvijasBanka. Instead of the Bank of Latvia promoting processes that would allow new capital to enter the Latvian economy and help prevent the consequences of the so-called financial sector capital repair, it starts developing guidelines for farmers on how to properly keep livestock and organize economic activity. Seriously? The Bank of Latvia's council advisor and head of sustainability direction, Edvards Kušners, has apparently prepared an extensive study and report in which the banking sector is invited to take into account a number of conditions in financing decisions. The industry indicates that farmers whose farms do not meet these guidelines could face higher loan interest rates or even be denied financing. LOSP's examples: 🐄Keeping cattle in barns The bank must determine whether cattle are kept only in barns. If so, it could have negative consequences for obtaining financing. 💧Water consumption It is recommended to limit water withdrawal from water bodies above 10 m³ per day. What to do in hot summers? Leave cattle without water? 🦌Animal migration routes If construction or other economic activity interrupts animal migration routes and the entrepreneur has not created alternative solutions, the economic activity can be assessed as environmentally unfavorable – and this can affect credit availability. Two World Wildlife Fund experts have also been involved in preparing this work. But the agricultural industry claims that full consultations with its representatives have not been held. Seriously? Does the Bank of Latvia, which itself in its own research continuously points out that 🇱🇻 productivity must be raised, investment must be promoted, and economic growth strengthened, develop such guidelines? Has someone lost their way in the woods? 🌲🌲🌲 Mārtiņ @martinskazaks, how have such requirements ended up in the Bank of Latvia's guidelines for commercial banks? The industry has already received complaints that 🇱🇻 banks have started applying these criteria when assessing farmers' financing opportunities. This issue must be addressed immediately.
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@AndrisKulbergs About LB, just space... 😳😱
From@AndrisKulbergsDay No. 47 in the prime minister's chair – airBaltic strategic plan and the Latvian Bank teaching farmers how to live✈️. This was a day that almost entirely passed in the Cabinet of Ministers' bunker – the secret meeting hall. Nine hours of discussions, explanations, legal formulations, and consultations. 🔹 airBaltic strategic plan. Today's meeting examined the airBaltic strategic plan submitted by Transport Minister Rihards Kozlovskis, not the company's business plan. The business plan is a document for whose development and implementation the airBaltic board and council are responsible. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Transport as the shareholder and the government decide on the company's strategic direction – what we expect from airBaltic in the long term, what functions the company must perform, and what goals must be achieved. The meeting also assessed airBaltic's financial situation and measures to improve it so that the company can ensure stable service provision right now – during the hottest time of the aviation season. ✅ We confirmed the Treasury's representation at the bond creditors' meeting. This mandate has not changed and corresponds to the authorization given by the Saeima. The business plan is reviewed by the airBaltic board and the Ministry of Transport. Currently, the board has not yet approved it. The ministry only submitted its comments today so that the plan could be approved within the next week or two. Previous governments' decisions have led to a situation where complex negotiations with financiers and creditors must now be conducted. The company's future will largely depend on the strategic plan advanced by Transport Minister Rihards Kozlovskis, as well as on the ability to reach an agreement with creditors and attract new capital. Capital attraction must be ensured. The current situation is largely a consequence of the decision made in 2024 – borrowing 380 million euros while not making fundamental changes in the company's operations. These changes should have been implemented two years ago, not continue burning money in an inappropriately ambitious business expansion plan. The government decided to entrust Transport Minister Rihards Kozlovskis with beginning implementation of the strategic plan he and Seabury developed. 🔹 Christ Avots' baptism by fire. Because of the airBaltic meeting, I missed the NTSP – National Tripartite Cooperation Council – meeting with @darbadeveji and LBAS. Thanks to my parliamentary secretary Christ Avots, who saved me and conducted the meeting honorably. It was his real baptism by fire. 💪 Christ also conducted today: 🏅 National Sports Council meeting; 🛡️ Cybersecurity action discussion. On cybersecurity issues, we continue to assess the security of the state's critical infrastructure and its compliance with requirements after the cyberattack on Latvia's state forests. 🔹 Is the Latvian Bank starting to teach farmers how to keep livestock? 🐄 I met with the Agricultural Organizations Cooperation Council – LOSP. Frankly, I was speechless hearing what the sector said about the sustainability guidelines developed by @LatvijasBanka. Instead of the Latvian Bank promoting processes that would allow new capital to enter the Latvian economy and help mitigate the consequences of the so-called financial sector's capital repair, it starts developing guidelines for farmers on how to properly keep livestock and organize economic activities. Seriously? The Latvian Bank council advisor and sustainability director Edvards Kušners reportedly prepared a substantial study and report in which the banking sector is called to consider a range of conditions in financing decisions. The sector indicates that farmers whose farms do not meet these guidelines could face higher loan interest rates or even be denied financing. Examples cited by LOSP: 🐄 Keeping cattle in barns. The bank must find out whether livestock are kept only in barns. If so, it could have negative consequences for obtaining financing. 💧 Water consumption. It is recommended to limit water intake from water bodies above 10 m³ per day. What to do in hot summers? Leave livestock without water? 🦌 Animal migration routes. If construction or other economic activity disrupts animal migration routes and the entrepreneur has not created alternative solutions, the economic activity can be assessed as unfavorable to the environment – and this can affect credit availability. Two World Wildlife Fund experts have reportedly been involved in preparing this work. However, the agricultural sector claims that full consultations with its representatives have not taken place. Seriously? Does the Latvian Bank, which in its own studies continuously points out that Latvia must raise productivity, promote investments, and strengthen economic growth, develop such guidelines? Is someone lost in the woods? 🌲🌲🌲 Mārtiņ @martinskazaks, how have such requirements ended up in the Latvian Bank's guidelines for commercial banks? The sector has already received complaints that Latvian banks have started applying these criteria when assessing farmers' financing opportunities. This issue must be resolved immediately.
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In connection with the prosecutor's protest submitted on June 16 of this year, the government led by A. Kulbergs must return to the consideration of the prosecutor's protest and annul the previously adopted decision insofar as it contradicts the law.
From@AndrisKulbergsAnother dirty inheritance we have received from the coalition led by New Unity. The prosecutor's office is investigating this case and I fully support it. We need to get clarity on possible culprits, and I hope that will happen soon. One can understand the desire to cover up one's erroneous, questionable and careless decisions with political noise, but that is the worst thing one can do to the rule of law and the search for truth. At least do not be hypocrites, PRO and JV, and admit that you yourselves already in April considered the possibility of revoking this very decision and gave it up for exactly the same reasons that are heard today. Namely, it cannot be done legally. The government is not a court, it is that simple. We @Apvienotais_ want to establish the truth, so we are acting. We will turn to the Constitutional Court asking it to assess the possible violation of powers by the Siliņa government in the wood industry case. We ask PRO, JV and other deputies to join in signing the application.
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From@AndrisKulbergsAnother dirty legacy we received from the coalition led by the New Unity. The prosecutor's office is investigating this case and I fully support it. The possible culprits must be identified, and I hope that will happen soon. One can understand the desire to cover up one's erroneous, questionable, and careless decisions with political noise, but that is the worst thing one can do to the rule of law and the search for truth. At least do not be hypocrites, PRO and JV, and admit that you yourselves already in April considered the possibility of revoking this very decision and abandoned it for exactly the same reasons that are being voiced today. Namely, it cannot be done legally. The government is not a court, it's that simple. We @Apvienotais_ want to establish the truth, so we are acting. We will turn to the Constitutional Court asking it to assess the possible violation of powers by the Siliņa government in the wood industry case. We ask both PRO, JV, and other deputies to join in signing the application.
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From@suvajevsNo surprises - since the moment Kulbergs entrusted ZZS to lead the Ministry of Agriculture, it was clear that the cover-up of the scandal would continue. As recently as February, the Prime Minister clearly called this scandal corruption. https://t.co/XMEWwNSh6U
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No surprises - since the moment Kulbergs entrusted ZZS to lead the Ministry of Agriculture, it was clear that the cover-up of the scandal would continue. As recently as February, the Prime Minister clearly called this scandal corruption. https://t.co/XMEWwNSh6U
From@suvajevsAn extremely important request from the Prosecutor General's Office to the government - to revoke decisions on support for wood processing companies. That is about 50 million that must be returned to LVM. How will Kulbergs' government act? In the interest of the public or narrow interests? https://t.co/74dTN7beDj
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An extremely important request from the Prosecutor General's Office to the government - to revoke decisions on support for wood processing companies. That is about 50 million that must be returned to LVM. How will Kulbergs' government act? In the interest of the public or narrow interests? https://t.co/74dTN7beDj
@TasPatsAtis @GirtsRungainis In that discussion there was also @UldisBikis, whose company Latvijas Finieris is an excellent example that Latvian wood receives high added value when exported. Happy about their work!
From@TasPatsAtis@CerinsAivis @GirtsRungainis An agronomist declares himself an expert in gynecology, an investment consultant - an expert in nature protection. Cutting down and selling cheap is not art. Dadz, it would be more valuable to export products instead of raw materials.
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@AndrisKulbergs Can you clarify what you will do?
From@AndrisKulbergs@atis_svinka I will not leave the wood matter = the system needs to be arranged so that everyone has access to the raw material.
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Upon taking office as Prime Minister, much has been promised. I will mention two things that @AndrisKulbergs said: 1) The warm-up period will be one day; 2) The fight against corruption. Andris's ability to act immediately in the case of the Ministry of Agriculture and LVM will show Kulberg's true desire to fight corruption (and the huge risks of being drawn into its grasp). You will ask - can the Prime Minister do anything? Yes, even immediately issue a prime ministerial resolution to the Minister of Agriculture to publish LVM financial documents and cash flows that would show the ways and extent of the Ministry of Agriculture's 'own pocket' management. Name all organizations and subordinate institutions that have fed from LVM's undisclosed and accumulated money. The task must be sufficiently broad and specific to expose the schemes practiced by ZZS to the public. Leaving everything as is, ZZS under the leadership of @uldisaugulis will continue to squander LVM and MoA finances.
From@suvajevsWhat is @edgarsrinkevics’s assessment of A. Kulbergs’s decision to invite a ZZS representative to continue leading the Ministry of Agriculture? Coalition compromises are understandable, but this is about a ministry with a fresh audit of poor governance, manipulation of profits, and potential corruption. https://t.co/9YczSeP0vd
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From@suvajevsKey findings from the State Audit audit of the timber industry affair: - Krauze did not provide full information to the government; - The government and the Ministry of Agriculture were not entitled to decide on such a matter at all. The first test for A. Kulbergs: whether he will yield to ZZS's wish to continue 'managing' the Ministry of Agriculture. https://t.co/mYZm1N826f
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