Author: Marek Ruiso
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Own combine harvester: how large an area justifies the investment?
A while back I recommended calculating costs upfront when choosing a harvesting method. I now do that with a combine harvester as the example — from both a crop manager’s and a financial manager’s perspective, using German KTBL methodology and Estonian price levels.
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PRIA subsidy applications 2026: what crop farmers need to know before June 15
The PRIA area-based subsidy application round is open and the clock is ticking. If you haven’t submitted your application in e-PRIA yet, you have exactly three weeks left – the round closes on June 15, 2026. Here’s what you need to know. What’s open right now? From May 15 to June 15, 2026, you can…
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Grass silage harvesting 2026: why the timing of the first cut determines dairy profitability
For dairy farmers, the spring of 2026 has been challenging. The raw milk purchase price dropped 13.9% in the first quarter, and the producer’s share of the retail milk price has fallen to just 20–39%, depending on the packaging. At the same time, the grass silage harvesting season has begun across Estonia. Right now, when…
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Crop farmer spring 2026: the cost-price scissors are opening
Grain prices have been falling for the second consecutive year, while fertilizer and fuel keep getting more expensive. If your gross margin calculation is from years ago, you might end up in the red in 2026 without even realizing it. Here are the specific numbers and solutions. Grain prices have dropped significantly over two years…
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A fertilization plan is not just an NPK calculation
Do you know how much money your farm leaves on the field every year by fertilizing ‘by eye’? Our experience shows that without a soil analysis-based fertilization plan, the average crop farm loses €30–60/ha per year — whether through over-fertilization, wrong timing, or missing nutrients. A professional fertilization plan is not just a document. It…