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Drought is pushing Sarthois farmers to make early Moisson decisions!
The article highlights the premature harvests in Sarthé due to persistent drought, rising temperatures and their impact on agriculture.
Drought is pushing Sarthois farmers to make early Moisson decisions!
Farmers in northern Germany are currently facing a challenge: an acute water shortage is forcing them to harvest their harvests earlier than usual. That reported France Bleu, where agricultural problems due to constant drought are discussed. Didier Brault, an organic farmer from Noyen-sur-Sarthe, has already noticed that the rapeseed harvest begins several weeks earlier than usual. This three week head start is a direct result of the high temperatures and low rainfall.
The wheat harvest is also imminent and is also expected to take place three weeks in advance. Brault expresses concern about the quality of the harvested grain, as he says the prolonged heat could cause the grains to be smaller.
There is a risk of significant losses in yield
The forecast is not rosy: Brault estimates crop losses of 20 to 50%, depending on soil type, if dry conditions continue. This situation not only leads to dwindling yields, but also to a deterioration in the quality of the meadows that serve as a source of fodder for livestock. Many farmers are forced to rely on their feed stocks while at the same time there is a risk of a prolonged drought.
The precarious weather conditions are not an isolated case. Loud INSEA, agriculture is heavily influenced by rising prices for inputs and changes caused by climate change. Prices of agricultural products increased by 9% in 2021 and merged in 2022 with an increase of 21% compared to the previous year.
Causes of the persistent dryness
Past frosts and a heat-stricken season paint a picture of extreme weather events. The months of April and May 2022 were characterized by nighttime frost damage and persistent drought. July of that year turned out to be the driest month since 1959. These extreme weather conditions cause loud noise Agriculture.de This leads to significant crop failures; companies are often forced to press their crops as straw because a regular harvest is not profitable.
The soils, which have different levels of water-storing potential, are usually the main cause of the different drought tolerances of plant species. Humus-rich, loamy soils have a clear advantage here compared to sandy soils. These differences can ultimately result in drastic losses in yield.
The ongoing drought and the associated losses clearly show how climate change is affecting agriculture in northern Germany. Future solutions could include selecting drought-tolerant plants and using organic fertilizers to create humus to overcome these challenges. However, the hope remains that the weather conditions will soon stabilize and offer farmers optimal conditions again.