Located in Piltene Parish, Ventspils Municipality, "Ābolkalni" Farm began operations in 1994 with less than 100 cows and a single tractor. Over the course of thirty years, the farm has evolved into a modern family business, now managed by Artis Fetlers and his son Emīls.
The farm's foundation is its high-quality herd of 300 dairy cows, which produce an average of over 10 tons of milk per year. In 2019, ZS 'Ābolkalni' introduced innovations to the farm by installing a state-of-the-art DeLaval milking robot. In 2020, with the support of the EAFRD, an ambitious project was implemented involving the construction of a modern three-barn complex and a slurry storage facility to ensure the highest level of animal welfare and efficiency. The barns are equipped with age-appropriate facilities and the latest technologies.
The 700 hectares of land under management enable the farm to provide the herd with home-grown feed (pastures and corn) and develop grain production for sale. The farm is equipped with modern precision agricultural machinery, including seeders and automatic feed dispensers. As well as producing raw materials, the farm now processes milk, providing residents of Ventspils and Piltene with fresh products such as milk, cream, cottage cheese and cheeses.
ZS "Ābolkalni" plans to build a biogas plant in the future to generate energy from manure for its own use and to heat greenhouses. The farm continues to develop as a competitive and innovative rural enterprise in Latvia thanks to the focused implementation of projects and the family’s joint efforts.
