With financing from Industra Bank, Lejasvecumkalni, a farm located in Zvārtava Parish, Valka Municipality, has completed an important development project — a new, modern dairy facility featuring an automated milking system and improved animal welfare conditions. The new facility was officially opened in the presence of project partners and supporters of the farm.

As part of the project, the farm built a 778 m² cowshed with capacity for 65 animals, installed automated milking equipment and introduced an automated milking process. The new facility enables loose housing for dairy cows, significantly improving both day-to-day farm operations and overall animal welfare.

Lejasvecumkalni is run by young farmer Lauris Vērzemnieks, who took over full management of the family farm from his parents in 2024. With this generational transition, the farm has defined clear short- and long-term development goals — expanding the herd, introducing more efficient and automated processes, and strengthening profitability.

“This project is a very important step in the further development of our farm. When I took over the management of Lejasvecumkalni from my parents, it was important for me to continue what they had started, while also thinking about how to make the farm more modern, efficient and sustainable. The new facility allows us to work more efficiently, provide better conditions for the animals and gradually implement our growth plans,” says Lauris Vērzemnieks, head of Lejasvecumkalni farm.

The project was implemented in cooperation with Industra Bank, the Rural Support Service, ALTUM and Leveria Ltd. Industra Bank provided total financing of EUR 0.56 million for the project, helping the farm carry out its construction and technology upgrade plans and move to the next stage of development.

“Lejasvecumkalni is a strong example of how generational change, a clear development vision and well-considered investment can give new momentum to a farm’s growth. In projects like this, it is especially important to understand the farmer’s vision and the long-term value of the financing,” says Raivis Kakānis, Chairman of the Management Board of Industra Bank.

The new facility will allow Lejasvecumkalni to improve operational efficiency, reduce manual labour, enhance the milk production process and provide better conditions for both the animals and the people working on the farm. Automation and modern farm infrastructure are essential for the farm to continue developing, increase production volumes and strengthen its competitiveness over the long term.

About Industra Bank
Industra Bank is a locally owned bank established by local entrepreneurs, with a clear focus on financing Latvian small and medium-sized enterprises and contributing to the development of the Latvian economy.

In 2025, Industra Bank delivered strong growth, with its loan portfolio increasing by 62% and total lending exceeding EUR 170 million by the end of the year. Customer deposits at year-end were close to EUR 300 million.

Industra Bank is the only locally owned bank in Latvia to have been independently assessed by a global rating agency. In February 2026, Moody’s Ratings assigned Industra Bank a Ba2 long-term deposit rating and a Ba3 senior unsecured bond rating, with a stable outlook.

Industra Bank serves nearly 20,000 customers, providing services both in person — at customer service centres in Riga, Daugavpils, Liepāja, Ventspils, and Jelgava — and remotely, regardless of the customer’s location.

More information is available at: https://industra.finance