Trends in development of grain combine harvester fleet in Latvia

The article presents an analysis of the research results of the development of the cereal harvester fleet in Latvia in 2014–2023. The purpose of the article is to find out changes in the performance of combine harvesters, characterized by total capacity and specific capacity, over a period of ten years, and to compare them with the changes in the area of cereals and rapeseed, and the total harvest. Such a comparison makes it possible to assess compliance of the dynamics of the development of the combine harvester fleet with the possibilities of timely harvesting of the existing volume of cereals. In order to calculate the total capacity of the harvester fleet, several indicators were clarified — the age structure of the harvester fleet, the number of harvesters in technical condition, and a methodology was developed for determining the working capacity of harvesters of different brands and age groups. Calculations were made, using data about these harvesters and taking into account that the depreciation period is mostly 15 years. It was assumed that all harvesters of this age are functioning. Data were collected about the combine brand, model, year of first registration and power. Calculations were made, which included the average power of one harvester of the relevant brand and the number of harvesters, resulting in the total capacity of the harvester fleet of the respective year. The results of the calculations have been compared with the area, sown by cereals and rapeseed, and the total harvest by years. An analysis of the changes in the total power and specific power in kW·haE−1 during this period has been made, which characterizes the performance of the combine harvester fleet and, in comparison with the area to be harvested, shows the possibilities of timely harvesting of cereals. It has been established that with the increase of the area to be harvested by 1.35 times, the total capacity of the combine harvester fleet has increased by 1.63 times; therefore the increase in the performance exceeds the increase in the area, also considering the increase in the harvest, and allows shortening the duration of harvesting. Since the intensity of growth of the harvested areas will decrease, there is no reason to maintain a high pace of purchase of combines.