Farmer Tõnis

02/09/2025

EURORISK kindlustusmaakler
🌦️ Last year, drought caused me trouble, and drought insurance came to my aid. This year, however, it turned out that I needed hail insurance instead. 🌾

In May, I decided to insure my spring crops against extreme weather events. Thanks to PRIA's support, the cost of insurance came to about €5/ha. Compared to all the other work and expenses in the field, this cost is actually quite small. 💶

Of course, I hoped I wouldn't need to use the insurance and wouldn't have to call Eurorisk. But unfortunately, one of my fields was hit by a heavy hailstorm that flattened the oats. An expert came to the field, assessed the damage, and confirmed that it met the insurance case criteria - more than 20% of the crop had been damaged. 🌩️

The result: I received compensation of €42/ha. It doesn't fully cover the lost yield, but it's still valuable support that helps soften the blow. 🙌

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🌦️ Eelmisel aastal kimbutas mind põud ja siis tuli appi põuakindlustus. Sel aastal osutus aga vajalikuks hoopis rahekindlustus. 🌾

Maikuus tegin otsuse kindlustada oma suviviljad ekstreemsete ilmastikunähtuste vastu. Tänu PRIA toetusele kujunes minu kindlustusmaksumuseks ligikaudu 5 €/ha. Kui seda võrrelda teiste põllul tehtavate tööde ja kuludega, siis on see summa tegelikult üsna marginaalne. 💶

Muidugi lootsin, et mul ei lähe kindlustust üldse tarvis ja Euroriskile helistama ei pea. Paraku tabas aga ühte minu põldu tugev rahehoog, mis lõi kaera pikali. Kohapeal käis ekspert, hindas kahjusid ning kinnitas, et põld täidab kindlustusjuhtumi tingimused - kahjustusi oli üle 20%. 🌩️

Lõpptulemusena maksti mulle kindlustushüvitis 42 €/ha. See ei kata küll kaotatud saaki täielikult, aga on siiski oluline toetus ja aitab lööki pehmendada. 🙌

30/08/2025

My year-long journey with the Estonian winter wheat variety “Perenaise” is reaching its climax.

This has been Estonia’s first fully documented grain story – from sowing all the way to harvest. Now, as the field is being harvested, the real question finally arises:

👉 Will the fruit of my work become flour that makes its way onto our tables? 🥖

Reine Koppel
Maaelu Teadmuskeskus

Watch it yourself
🇪🇪 https://youtu.be/Vd0Jo7kTnE8
🇬🇧 https://youtu.be/EYLo_Argz_U

Minu terve aasta kestnud teekond Eesti talinisu sordiga “Perenaise” on jõudmas oma kulminatsioonini. See on olnud Eesti esimene algusest lõpuni dokumenteerit...

30/08/2025

I am pleased to be one of the nominees for the title "Farmer of the Year" and to be featured in Maaleht!
I spoke about my farm and social media work.

I am working every day to bring people closer to farming and show how food is grown.

Yes, the whole agricultural sector is going through difficult times, but I believe that through communication between farmers and by making more informed decisions, we can leave those difficulties behind.

Jõgevamaal Vaimastveres tegutseva Kaarli talu noorperemehe Tõnis Soopalu igapäevatoimetusi jälgib Instagramis üle kaheteist tuhande huvilise USAst Jaapanini.

18/08/2025

🌾 2025 Harvest Season – One of the Toughest Yet

I’ve been in farming for 14 years, and this harvest season is easily one of the hardest I’ve ever faced – and we’re only halfway through.

I’ve spoken about it with friends, followers, and fellow farmers, and one thing is clear:
our collective mental health is taking a serious hit.

Why? Because after two brutal years (2023 & 2024), the entire grain sector desperately needed a solid comeback year.
2025 was supposed to be that year.

And at first, all signs pointed in the right direction - mild winter, good spring moisture, promising growth.
But reality?
Disappointing yields.
Low grain quality.
Historically low prices.
High moisture, high costs, and non-stop rain disrupting harvest.
Every day we’re bleeding money, and stress levels are sky-high.

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So what do we do?
👉 Take it one day at a time.
We can’t change what’s already in the field.
Don’t drown in worries about tomorrow.

Stress piles up like a snowball - and eventually, even the toughest farmer can’t carry it anymore.

If it gets too much, take a step back.
Breathe.
Take the day off.
Spend time on your hobbies, with your family, or just doing something to reset your mind.

---

And most importantly: talk to someone.
Don’t go through this alone.
We need mentally strong farmers for the next 30 harvests too - not just this one.

🌾💚

17/08/2025

Good news everyone!
People have asked and I will deliver, my experience, quality and yield of hybrid winter wheat trial post is live!
Available in 🇪🇪 and 🇬🇧

🇪🇪 https://farmertonis.ee/parem-hubriidne-tulevik-kui-tavaline-minevik/
🇬🇧 https://farmertonis.ee/en/better-have-a-hybrid-future-than-the-same-old-past/

Saaten Union offered me the chance to test some completely new and some slightly more familiar early hybrid winter wheat […]

04/08/2025

My review of "Perenaise" before harvest is now live. Unfortunately, we got a lot of rain today, but hopefully the wheat wasn’t quite ready yet, and we can still get some quality out of it 🤞
As always, YouTube is nice and translates my Estonian into any language you want :)

https://youtu.be/KLnJg9dK5Kw
Reine Koppel

Kätte on jõudmas minu peaaegu 330 päeva kestnud kasvatuse lõppakord. "Perenaise" hakkab saama koristusküpseks ja viimased mõtted/jamad enne kulminatsiooni.

02/08/2025

This is an overview from my good partner, EURORISK kindlustusmaakler, in 🇪🇪 about the weather challenges in our region and beyond, and how they affect yields.
I, myself have some risks like lodging (could happen) or drought (it won't happen this year 😅) covered with them and with 70% subsidy it is a smart move!

Põllumajanduskindlustus

01/08/2025

Harvest update from Estonia 🇪🇪

South & West Estonia: Rain almost every day 🌧️ A few hours of harvest here and there, but then the rain returns. Fields are full of water, and tracked combines are earning their keep — though there’s not much crop to pay for them. Spring crops are either gone or badly damaged from all the moisture.

North & East (where I’m located): We've had two weeks of hot weather 🌞 Earlier wheat varieties are nearly ready. But last night brought 50mm of rain, and more is coming. Luckily our soils drain better, so winter crops look okay and spring crops haven’t suffered as badly. But heavy rain has started flattening the crops.

Winter barley (not growing it myself) is being harvested — and many are disappointed. Yields between 4–8 t/ha, but specific weights mostly under 600 g/L, even 520 g/L. Disease pressure + constant wetness really took a toll 😕

Some early winter wheats are coming in too, but same story: specific weight around 620 g/L — way below milling quality. Let's hope later varieties do better 🤞

📸2 from

31/07/2025

I am super-grateful that my work is recognised and I am in the list of 25 most influential South-Estonians!
To be fair, I think my biggest contribution to tourism is still ahead, but for now, the best I can do now - is to invite everybody to come and discover South-Estonia! 💚

Kes on need inimesed, kelle töö, visioon ja isiklik kohalolu on kujundanud Lõuna-Eestist midagi palju enamat kui sihtkoha?