Agriculture
Despite the drought, farmers in Styria will be able to record a good harvest. They still benefit relatively well from the rainfall in May and June. The problem is not always the heat, but also the winds.
Despite the drought in the country, the grassland farmers’ harvest in Styria is not at risk. The rain always came in time. It is striking once more that there are very large local differences in rainfall. Overall, however, the farmers will get away with a black eye. Even rain at the end of August ensures good autumn growth for the coming period.
Soy suffers the most
Styrian maize might also survive the dry summer. However, it depends on the further course of the weather until the beginning of September. In some regions of Styria, soya suffered from the lack of precipitation. Damage can therefore be assumed for the Styrian soybean harvest. The winds are also a problem, says Karl Mayer, plant cultivation expert at the Styrian Chamber of Agriculture: “High temperatures do not immediately mean a major catastrophe. The problem has been exacerbated by the hot winds, which means that the plants are under even more pressure because more water is simply needed for cooling,” says Mayer.
Pumpkin Benefits
When the pumpkins were being cultivated around Easter, the fields had the necessary moisture so that the plants might develop well. Conditions were ideal during flowering. It was dry and the insects and bees were able to optimally pollinate the plants. Pumpkins are heat-loving plants and prefer dry conditions to wet ones.
About 30 percent of Styrian arable land is affected by the drought. Mainly the south-west slopes in East and Upper Styria. Other areas are even favored this year. “The Raabtal, areas where there has been precipitation, benefit from this high total temperature. The plants are still completely intact, green. They will have very good yields,” says Mayer.