Because of “massive drought”: Concern about Bavaria’s harvest – but “pretzels and wheat beer are not in danger”

Created: 07/08/2022 09:09

By: Claudia Möllers

Concern about the harvest: In Lengdorf, Minister of Agriculture Michaela Kaniber (CSU) informed herself about the situation.

At her side are the farmers' association representatives Günther Felssner (left) and Hermann Greif.

© Peter Kneffel/dpa

In some regions of Bavaria, the drought is causing farmers great concern.

The good news for German consumers: raw materials for pretzels and wheat beer are not at risk.

Lengdorf - "It stands like a jungle," marvels Günther Felßner, Vice President of the Bavarian Farmers' Association, as he stands in Bernhard Hartl's corn field in Lengdorf in the Erding district.

Juicy green with pronounced cobs, the corn plants tower far over the head of the tall farmer lobbyist.

Drought in Franconia causes concern - "Precipitation situation like in Jordan"

Hermann Greif, grain president of the farmers' association and, like Felssner, from northern Bavaria, is amazed: "Here in Franconia, the corn reaches up to the hips at most and has thin, rolled-up leaves." by the Bavarian Farmers' Association (BBV) and the Bavarian Ministry of Agriculture showed yesterday.

While grain and other crops are doing well in the south - apart from the fields that have been devastated by heavy rainfall - the harvest in the northern regions of Bavaria is "threatened by massive drought", as Greif explains.

By the way: everything from the region is also available in our regular Erding newsletter.

"Table tennis ball caused large hailstones", recalled Minister of Agriculture Michaela Kaniber, on Pentecost Sunday on a 300-kilometer stretch of land from Günzburg to Bad Füssing, causing total damage to maize, grain and beets.

"6,000 individual fields had to be examined by experts." The freak weather showed how badly agriculture is affected by climate risks.

"Franconia is Bavaria's hotspot when it comes to drought - we have a rainfall situation like in Jordan."

Harvest in Bavaria: "Raw materials for pretzels and wheat beer are not in danger"

Bavaria protects its farmers with multi-risk insurance.

Overall, there will only be a below-average harvest in Bavaria due to the different weather conditions.

The harvest yields could be higher - if the federal government had allowed the cultivation of bread grain on the compulsory fallow land.

According to Kaniber, grain could have been grown on an additional 170,000 hectares.

“It is a moral declaration of bankruptcy that the traffic light would rather taunt ideological principles than tackle pragmatic help,” complains the minister.

The grain grown there could have fed three million people for a year.

Federal Agriculture Minister Cem Özdemir missed the opportunity to boost grain production.

Felßner also agrees: "Every tonne of wheat that is produced in excess helps in the global fight against hunger and weakens Putin." Without agriculture, the supply crisis associated with the Ukraine war could not be solved.

Every additional ton of wheat produced helps in the global fight against hunger and weakens Putin.

 Günther Felssner, Vice President of the Bavarian Farmers' Association

also read

A mini alliance arena in the old town

Leaflets against speeders: Unknown person explains new signs – “secret alcohol consumption path”

According to Felssner, German consumers do not need to worry despite the difficult situation worldwide: "The raw materials for pretzels and wheat beer are not in danger." and the crop rotation regulation are made possible - because the farmers are now planning their cultivation for the 2023 harvest. While grain prices initially rose sharply after Russia's attack on Ukraine, prices are "now collapsing a little", reports BBV grain president Greif.

Harvest in Bavaria: Grain prices are "now collapsing"

A development that enrages farmer Bernhard Hartl.

"It's strange that prices are going down right now at harvest time." Smaller farms that can't store their grain and can't wait for better prices have to sell now.

Greif also finds the drop in price “surprisingly high” in view of the continuing tight global supply situation.

The trip to Lengdorf would have been the last harvest press trip by Farmer President Walter Heidl, who is leaving office in October.

He couldn't come because of corona disease.

Kaniber expressly thanked him: "He is a strong fighter for agriculture." 

You can find more current news from the district of Erding at Merkur.de/Erding.