Andreas Pfaller, Head of Plant Products in the Chamber of Agriculture, told ORF.at that they are currently very satisfied with the rainfall. “In principle, the rain was sufficient with an average of more than 100 millimeters throughout Austria and actually helped a lot.”
This spring, as of May 16, there was around 30 percent more precipitation throughout Austria than in the same period from 1961-1990. The drought has eased to a large extent, which is also shown by the standardized GeoSphere Austria drought index, which takes into account the amount of precipitation and potential evaporation. While eastern Austria in particular was still affected by drought in March, it is now wetter than the long-term average at the same time.
“The situation has improved significantly in certain sectors – especially in agriculture – because the soil has been well supplied with moisture again due to persistent rainfall,” says Klaus Haslinger from GeoSphere Austria to ORF.at. “Spring will probably end with a positive precipitation anomaly, which means that there will be more precipitation in large parts of Austria than the long-term average.” These are favorable conditions for the summer.
Groundwater areas react more slowly
With regard to the groundwater level, however, the situation must be viewed in a more differentiated manner – in eastern Austria, for example, it is becoming apparent that the demand is not yet sufficiently covered. The areas are groundwater areas with a large storage capacity that react slowly, according to the Ministry of Agriculture at the request of ORF.at.
“It will take several days to weeks before the effects of the current rainfall can be observed.” Overall, however, significantly more rain is needed to compensate for the precipitation deficits of the past few months and to reach an average level again.
In addition, heavy rainfall would in principle supply water again, “but not to a sufficient extent and in insufficient quantities,” says Helmut Gaugitsch from the Federal Environment Agency in an interview with ORF.at. Since they are difficult to predict, it is difficult to take countermeasures in the short term.
East continues to suffer from drought
April and May brought a lot of rain. But if you look back over a longer period of time, you can see that it was sometimes too dry in many months. The effects are still being felt, especially in the East. The level of Lake Neusiedl is still at an all-time low.
Precipitation “almost a bit much”
On the other hand, from Pfaller’s point of view, the current rainfall in agriculture is perceived as “almost a bit much”. In combination with the cool weather, there would certainly be difficulties here, although one was “reluctant” to complain after the rain deficits.
The damp weather is currently causing problems with pumpkins, for example, which take longer to emerge, i.e. the phase of plant development in which the seedlings emerge from the seeds and become visible on the soil surface. “The problem we are currently seeing is that the pumpkin then partially rots. With the wet weather you can’t go straight back to the field and grow pumpkins – this means that there are fears that pumpkins will fail.”
In addition, due to the cool, damp weather, the question arises as to what can be grown at the moment. It’s almost too late for the beet, and only a few other crops would come into question, such as corn. “Those are the problems that the rain brought with it a bit.”
Increased pest infestation as a result
According to experts, the fact that, after an unusual drought, things are currently going to the other, wet extreme is a consequence of climate change. “Extreme events, as the name suggests, go in both directions,” says Gaugitsch. Sometimes it is too dry for long stretches and over a long period of time, then there are flood events or heavy rainfall.
Flooded fields not only prevent plants from developing in the first place – they can even result in increased pest infestation and reduced yields, says Gaugitsch. According to Pfaller, this is currently the case with sugar beet, “which is basically very happy with the weather – but now we have the problem that the beet weevil eats sugar beet fields every day”. At least 4,000 to 5,000 hectares – ie ten percent of the area – are partially affected.
Certain crops “can no longer be grown”
According to Pfaller, it is currently difficult to estimate to what extent extreme weather events could affect food security in Germany in the future, as is currently being warned in Spain and Italy. However, the experience of recent years has already shown that dry phases are more stable and last longer. “And certain crops are then simply no longer economically viable and have to be replaced by other crops.”
You’ve had twice as much rapeseed before, and there’s a lot less spring barley. “It’s a combination of the weather and increasing problems with insects and other pathogens or effective pesticides, which we then lack, in combination with the insects that are multiplying more rapidly.” the ban on neonicotinoids is an issue.
Studies are already predicting that yields will fall sharply, especially in eastern Austria. “In the dry region, the long-term forecasts continue to assume a drop in yield of up to minus 40 or 50 percent. And then you have to think about which crops can be grown under these dry conditions in the future.” Soya, for example, has now developed into a crop that can deal better with drought and has already replaced other crops.
“High potential” slumbers in soil
Pfaller sees “irrigation systems at the right time” as a measure to counteract the increasing uncertainty in the industry. Uncertainty is the problem that is difficult to deal with. “When will it really rain? Which cultures can I use then? This is the challenge that agriculture is currently struggling with, and innovative approaches are needed to compensate for this.”
Gaugitsch from the Federal Environment Agency attaches great importance to the soil in terms of water supply. “Soil that is not sealed, that is managed sustainably, has a high potential to store water and also carbon.” Humus-rich soils are particularly important. Here farmers would have the opportunity to prevent even those influences that would adversely affect them.
