Feb 18 • 22:48 UTC 🇪🇪 Estonia Postimees

"How do you live when you haven't been paid for three months?" A small producer waits to see if E-Piim will sink or rise again

A small dairy farm in Estonia is struggling to survive after not receiving payment for three months.

The article discusses the precarious situation of the Põllema-Saare farm in Järvamaa, Estonia, which has not received payment for milk for three consecutive months. This has led to a serious financial crisis, raising questions about the farm's ability to sustain operations and pay its employees. The owner is currently managing to keep the farm running by utilizing savings, but this is becoming increasingly difficult as time progresses.

The ongoing financial strain is emblematic of a broader issue in the dairy industry, where many small producers are facing similar challenges due to delayed payments from larger cooperatives like E-Piim. As cash flow issues mount, the farm's viability is brought into stark focus, and the owner’s daily struggle to meet obligations reflects the uncertainty that many in the agricultural sector are feeling. The story highlights the risks that small farms face as they rely on timely payments to sustain their operations.

In a larger context, this situation raises concerns about the stability of the dairy supply chain in Estonia, and whether practices within larger dairy cooperatives need to be reassessed to support the livelihoods of small producers. If the issue persists, it could lead to significant disruptions in local food production and negatively affect employment in rural regions.

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