The declaration of agricultural land has concluded: initial results

Following the conclusion of the annual declaration of agricultural land and other areas, which this year ran from 13 April to 22 June, the Ministry of Agriculture has summarised the initial results.

This year, 107.2 thousand applications were approved (last year – 110.1 thousand), declaring 2,910.1 thousand ha of agricultural land (last year – 2,915.1 thousand ha). The statistics confirm a long-term trend in Lithuanian agriculture – the number of applicants is falling, but the areas declared remain virtually unchanged,  resulting in an increase in the average area declared per applicant. This year, it stands at 27.1 ha (26.5 ha in 2025). It is noted that increasing attention is being paid to environmental protection and more sustainable farming practices.

Sustainable farming practices are gaining popularity

Since the start of the implementation of the 2023–2027, production activities under the organic farming scheme ‘Activities on Arable Land’ have remained the most popular. Following the entry into force of amendments to the SP last year, it is no longer necessary to choose non-production activities when participating in production activities.

Under the activity “Crop rotation”, the area declared this year is 4 per cent larger than in 2025: 821.2 thousand ha in 2026, compared with 788.9 thousand ha in 2025. Nearly 5 per cent more applicants took part in this activity.

This year, the area declared under the “Intermediate crops” scheme was 8 per cent larger than last year (2026 – 435.9 thousand ha, and 2025 – 404.8 thousand ha), although 4 per cent fewer applications were submitted.

Under the measure “Non-tillage sustainable farming technologies” the declared area (1.581 million ha) decreased slightly (by 1 per cent) compared with 2025 (1.601 million ha). Applicants (93 per cent) preferred other no-till farming methods (1.478 million ha), which are subject to simpler requirements and for which a lower payment is granted – €20 per hectare. Those opting for direct drilling (7 per cent, or 103,000 ha) receive a payment of €66 per hectare.

The declaration results show that under the measure ‘Use of certified seed’ the declared area increased by 13 per cent to 296,600 ha (2025 – 262,800 ha), although 4 per cent fewer applications were submitted.

Fewer farmers took part in the “Maintenance of landscape features” measure this year, as the commitments undertaken in 2023 had already expired for some of them. Under this scheme, not only did the declared area decrease by 15 per cent (2026 – 7.5 thousand ha, and 2025 – 8.9 thousand ha), but the number of applications submitted has also fallen by 11 per cent (10.7 thousand in 2026, compared with 12 thousand in 2025).

This year, farmers were more willing to enter into one-year commitments under the ‘Short-lived honey plant strips’ scheme, under which 43 per cent more area was declared than last year (2026 – nearly 2,500 ha, and 2025 – 1,700 ha).

Farmers were even more keen than last year to take part in the “Integrated management scheme for grasslands and wetlands” under the activity “Extensive management of permanent grassland through livestock grazing”. This level of participation is linked to the fact that farmers can use the same livestock to participate in both the “Animal Welfare” agri-environmental scheme and this measure. Compared with 2025, a 13 per cent larger area has been declared under this activity this year (74.7 thousand ha in 2026, compared with 66.2 thousand ha).

The ‘Sustainable Fruit, Berry and Vegetable Programme (NKP)’ eco-scheme also remains popular among farmers. The area declared this year (8.9 thousand ha) increased by 14 per cent compared with 2025 (almost 7.9 thousand ha), whilst the number of applications submitted rose by 23 per cent. This indicates that the scheme has gained popularity even among smaller farms in terms of area.

Furthermore, participation in the organic scheme “Conversion of arable land to grassland, its maintenance and management” has increased this year. Under the activity “Conversion of arable land to grassland”, 49 per cent more land was declared (2026 – 15.9 thousand ha, compared with 10.7 thousand ha in 2025), whilst under the measure “Maintenance and management of permanent grassland” – 23 per cent more area (55.5 thousand ha in 2026, compared with 45.2 thousand ha in 2025).

Area of organic farms on the rise

This year, organic farms (including those in transition to organic farming) declared around 325.8 thousand ha, i.e. 48.8 thousand ha (18 per cent) more than in 2025.

The area declared by farms in transition to organic farming this year has increased by a factor of 1.5 compared with last year.

The declared area of certified fruit, berries, vegetables, medicinal herbs and aromatic plants this year was 2,900 ha (34 per cent) larger than last year.

The area declared for perennial grasses (124.6 thousand ha) exceeded last year’s figure (108 thousand ha) by 15 per cent. There was also a 19 per cent increase in the areas declared for organic and in-conversion cereals (138.5 thousand ha in 2025 and 165.4 thousand ha). The areas under cereals and perennial grasses grown for seed also increased by 14 per cent (2025 – 18.5 thousand ha in 2025 and 21.1 thousand ha in 2026).

Declared areas – similar

Applications were also submitted this year under other CAP measures. Within the „Natura 2000“ area, 19.9 thousand ha of grassland and 10.7 thousand ha of forest area were declared. Under the measure “Protection of wild birds outside ‘Natura 2000’ sites”, 13.5 thousand ha of permanent grassland were declared. The areas declared in these territories are similar to those of last year. In areas with natural or other specific obstacles, the results are also similar to those of last year (around 726.7 thousand ha).

There will be no need to restore permanent grassland

In 2026, the declared areas of permanent grassland and associated land cover approximately 540.4 thousand ha, i.e. they remain similar to previous years. As forecast, these areas have not decreased significantly. Of this area, approximately 423.1 thousand ha consists of permanent grassland, whilst the remainder – other areas classified as permanent grassland, including those participating in agri-environmental and environmental protection schemes. The total area of permanent grassland in Lithuania, including undeclared permanent grassland, amounts to approximately 654.7 thousand ha.

It is important to note that, from 2026, under the GAAB 1 standard, the permitted reduction in the reference ratio of permanent grassland area compared to 2018 has been increased to 10 per cent. (previously 5 per cent). For the time being, there is no risk in Lithuania that farmers will be required to restore permanent grassland. However, as in previous years, there remains a general trend of decline in the area of permanent grassland, linked to structural changes in agriculture, and farmers are therefore urged to maintain their existing areas of permanent grassland and not to plough them up unless absolutely necessary, in order to avoid a potential restoration obligation.

What else is important to know

The final figures for the declaration of agricultural land and other areas will become available later, once the National Paying Agency under the Ministry of Agriculture has finished processing all applications received for 2026.

It is also important to note that the financial envelopes for organic farming schemes under the Single Payment Scheme (SPS), as with other types of direct payments, remain unchanged for 2026. Consequently, as certain measures become more popular and more land is declared under them than originally anticipated, the payment amounts decrease, but not by more than the minimum payment amount set for the measure under the Single Payment Scheme.