Producers in the important growing region of Styria currently have major problems due to the extreme weather conditions in Central Austria. After weeks of heat, in the past few weeks there's been occasional driving rain and hail. Overall, the financial damage to the local agriculture is estimated at about 1,750,000 euros. In the fruit and vegetable industry, the consequences of the weather conditions are noticeable, as a small survey shows.
'30 percent not marketable'
Currently, it is still very hot or continuously over 30 degrees in Styria, confirms Mr Stefan Lampl, Managing Director of the Styrian berry fruit cooperative based in Lieboch. Sometimes there is heavy, driving rain, as happened last Tuesday. More rain was expected for the weekend.
The cooperative has specialized primarily in the production of elderberries, whose harvest is currently in full swing. "Regarding the early varieties whose harvest we have recently completed, the heavy rain has repeatedly led to problems. This means that a significant portion of the harvest was no longer marketable and losses were estimated at 30 percent. It is still uncertain how the weather will develop next week, when we start with the main crop. We currently assume that the damage to the main varieties is not as large yet."
Preliminary normalization
For the time being, the weather situation has stabilized at a more normal temperature of about 22 degrees, confirmed a greengrocer from St. Ruprecht an der Raab on Friday morning.
Steirische Beerenobstgenossenschaft eGen
GF: Ing. Stefan Lampl
Hans-Thalhammerstraße 28
8501 Lieboch / Steiermark / Austria
Telefon: +43 3136 62 002
E-Mail: info@holunder.com
Web: www.holunder.com