When will the long-awaited rain come? The drought has left many farmers with their backs against the wall and forced to sell their livestock. Meteorologists are currently struggling with forecasts, where and how much it will rain is uncertain.
Last night in August it had only rained two liters in Fürstenfeld – at a time when the grass was literally about to sprout. That is a sober fact. A look behind the scenes shows how dramatic this is in reality – for example with the Schützenhöfer family in Grafendorf near Hartberg. With 60 dairy cows and organic cheese, they are on their way to success there.
But right now we are facing huge problems. There are five cuts in a normal year, which the pastures give as urgently needed fodder. “This year the first mowing was great. The second bad, the third almost non-existent”, sums up Max Schützenhöfer. Since then, the grass has grown just three inches — the fourth cut will likely be the last this year.
„We have never experienced such a dry summer“
The yield of the first cut is different the winter fodder – but this year it was already used up! What makes it even harder: Purchasing isn’t that easy. “Because the companies here all have the same problem. And there isn’t that much organic feed on the market.” Ultimately, Schützenhöfer will probably have to sell cows – a move that threatens many of his colleagues. “My parents were farmers here. But they too have never experienced such a disastrously dry summer. ”
Meteorologists grapple with uncertain forecasts
However, it is still uncertain that rescue will eventually come in the form of extensive rain showers. The meteorologists are currently struggling with predictions: “The models are very erratic, we rarely experience that to this extent,” said ZAMG yesterday in Graz. A high-altitude low from southeastern Europe frustrates weather professionals, but “at least there is a chance of rain across the country”.
It is difficult to predict how much and where it will rain, according to weather service Ubimet. Nevertheless, meteorologist Michele Sami dares to make a prediction: “The center of gravity of the precipitation will probably be in the Mariazell region, where 50 to 60 liters per square meter could converge on Monday and Tuesday.”
Things are looking much more uncertain in the Graz Basin and in southern and eastern Styria, where the drought has been dramatic this year. For example, only 6.2 liters of precipitation fell at the monitoring station of the University of Graz in August. “But there is hope that it will rain heavily here too – but it remains uncertain,” say the ZAMG experts.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
