Agriculture in Upper Austria is struggling with the drought this year. “In parts of the Innviertel we expect significant crop failures in maize and grassland,” predicts Wolfgang Winkler, provincial director of the Austrian Hagelversicherung. The reason for this lies in the precipitation deficits of more than 50 percent in many places. All in all, the damage is enormous. Matthias Hasiweder is one of the many farmers affected.
“Better than nothing”, says Matthias Hasiweder about the rainy start to the week. But there was far too little rain to allow the soil to recover from the long dry period since June.
Feed price increased due to crisis
The farmer has 200 animals in the barn, which he could feed with feed from his own land. But due to the drought, he has received a third less maize this year and half of the grassland is missing. “Thank God I have insurance. I hope the pastures recover,” he says. This will require a few days of sustained rain, then mowing should be possible again. “But I’ll have to buy food for the winter, I’m sure. The prices are twice as high due to the crisis and I have extra costs due to transport.”
Like many farmers, Hasiweder feels that climate change is increasingly affecting agriculture: “I took over the farm in 2015, according to my data, there were severe hail, storms, droughts – or all together almost every year.”
Claim balance increases
Wolfgang Winkler of the Österreichische Hagelversicherung expects significant crop failures in maize and grassland in the Innviertel. He has already made an interim assessment: the total drought damage in Upper Austria alone is currently about 30 million euros. In addition, frost, hail, storm and flood damage totaling 17 million euros.
Regional agriculture in danger
“Agriculture is directly affected by the effects of global warming in the form of extreme weather,” Winkler says. “We need to take action to slow down climate change. Soil consumption must also be curbed. Otherwise we endanger the future of strong and regional agriculture and domestic food supply!”
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.
