Germany: How weather extremes impact local agriculture
Heat, drought, heavy rain and late frosts are taking a toll on German farmers. They increasingly respond with adapted varieties, new crops, modern breeding techniques and modified farming methods.
Germany's late June heat wave proved particularly disastrous for local agriculture. Horst Gömann of the North Rhine-Westphalia Chamber of Agriculture warned the extreme heat coincided with vulnerable crop stages, leading to failures. Corn, in particular, suffered as temperatures soared above 40 degrees Celsius during the flowering period, causing many cobs to fail.
This resulted in a significant decline in grain production value across Europe, with losses estimated at over €2 billion ($2.3 billion). Germany's barley harvest also suffered, with some crops harvested weeks earlier than usual. Wheat and barley were both affected, with losses of about 10% expected for wheat. Risk diversification became crucial for farmers, who now plant multiple grain varieties with varying maturity rates.
Fruit growers protected blossoms with frost-protection sprinklers to prevent early freezing. New solutions, like hail protection nets that also shade plants, and semi-transparent photovoltaic films, were explored. Irrigation proved economically viable mainly for vegetables, potatoes, and fruit. Soil condition and the avoidance of compaction were also emphasized by Gömann.
Farmers must adapt quickly to rapidly shifting climate conditions, with new crop varieties and plant breeding techniques offering more resilient options.
Written by urgent.news from DW Business's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
