The state of agriculture in large parts of Austria is poor. Ground frost and temperatures around zero degrees have already caused the first damage. The apricot is particularly affected – the majority is already damaged, according to the frightening interim report. Because the frost isn’t over yet.
So far, the federal state of Lower Austria has been particularly affected. “Most of the apricots are already damaged,” said Mario Winkler, spokesman for the Austrian hail insurance. So far there has been little damage to plums and cherries in Lower Austria. “That’s because they can still tolerate the cold to some extent at this stage,” says Winkler. Further damage is to be expected. “The next few days will be decisive,” said hail insurance. Damage to apple variety measures in Lower Austria have so far only been met in isolated cases. So far, its use has been limited to wind machines. “But that didn’t help much,” said Winkler. “Candles were not used because more frosty nights are forecast and candles cannot make up minus five degrees. They also don’t work when the wind blows.” According to the insurance company, the Early Golden and Topaz apple varieties were also damaged, and these are particularly sensitive. Stone fruit damage in StyriaIn Burgenland, the damage is still limited, according to the insurance company. However, no countermeasures (irrigation or heating) were taken because of the strong wind, it said. In Styria, hail insurance has already received reports of damage to stone fruit. The experts at Geosphere Austria are forecasting more frosty nights, especially in the next two days and up to Friday. “Then we can also make a serious estimate of the amount of damage,” emphasized Winkler.
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