Early potato planting begins amid weather risks and oversupplied market

Lithuanian farmers have started planting early potatoes, navigating both unpredictable spring weather and an already saturated market, LRT reports.

Despite this winter’s severe cold, growers in the Kėdainiai district say heavy snow cover protected the soil from deep freezing, allowing planting to begin just three days later than usual. “The ground is warm. The frost didn’t penetrate deeply—only about three or four centimetres—because the thick snow layer insulated it,” said farmer Saulius Dambrauskas. Melting snow initially delayed fieldwork, but current conditions are now described as ideal.

To shield young shoots from late spring frosts—like those that damaged crops last year—farmers are testing new methods, including wind machines that circulate warmer air downward. “When frost hits, the machine draws warmer air from above and pushes it back down in a continuous loop,” explained Povilas Dambrauskas.

The bigger challenge, however, may be economics. Last season’s surplus of late potatoes left European markets still oversupplied, raising doubts about demand. “We’re hoping the market corrects itself,” Povilas Dambrauskas said. Rising fuel and fertiliser costs are further squeezing margins, though farmers insist retail prices for consumers are unlikely to rise. “Fuel affects our costs, but the overall market sets the price. If there’s a glut, you can’t just raise prices,” Saulius Dambrauskas noted.

Potatoes remain Lithuania’s dominant vegetable crop, with around 10,000 hectares planted annually—roughly equal to all other vegetables combined. The Kėdainiai and Šakiai districts lead in production. While input costs are climbing, Indrė Lukoševičienė of the Vegetable Growers’ Association said no major reductions in planted area are expected yet. The first fresh potatoes of the season are slated to reach buyers in early June.