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Cicada chaos: plant disease threatens vegetable harvest in Baden-Württemberg!
Plant disease Stolbur is spreading and endangering crops in Germany, especially in Baden-Württemberg and neighboring regions.
Cicada chaos: plant disease threatens vegetable harvest in Baden-Württemberg!
The reed leafhopper is increasingly spreading and is causing great distress to local agriculture with the plant disease Stolbur. The crops of potatoes, sugar beets and a variety of vegetables are particularly affected. Loud Mercury Beetroot, celery, cabbage, onions and carrots are not spared from the disease. The situation is causing alarm among farmers in Baden-Württemberg, and the Ministry of Agriculture describes the spread of the cicada as a serious threat to the supply of local food.
The reed leafhopper, which migrated from France, has already spread from Baden-Württemberg through Rhineland-Palatinate, Bavaria and Hesse to northern Germany. The first cases have also been documented in regions such as Lower Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt. This type of insect sucks on plants and transmits bacterial pathogens that are responsible for the diseases. The yield losses are alarming: in beet growing areas there are reports of a decline of up to 25 percent, and in potato cultivation even of up to 70 percent.
Massive harvest failures and need for action
The situation is so serious that farmers, like Isabell Pergner from the Baden-Württemberg State Farmers' Association, make it clear that the continued existence of cultivation on some farms is at great risk. “The continued existence of cultivation in some companies is in jeopardy,” says Pergner. Joachim Rukwied, President of the German Farmers' Association, also expresses "very great concern" about the spread of the cicada and urgently calls for effective control measures. So far, farmers have been granted emergency approval for pesticides, which is only valid for 120 days. Without sustainable solutions, combating it is practically impossible, as eradicating the cicada is considered unrealistic in Germany.
Weather conditions play a crucial role in the reproduction of the cicada. Hot and dry weather promotes their spread, which further worsens the situation for farmers. Although there is no evidence that Stolbur is harmful to human health, infected products - such as potatoes with a rubbery consistency or signs of rot - are not sold, which further burdens the economic situation of companies.
Invasive species as a challenge for agriculture
The problem of the reed leafhopper is not unique. Invasive species like these are changing the balance in our ecosystems, causing significant problems for agriculture. Loud Agriculture.de Invasive pests such as the corn borer or the cherry vinegar fly pose a serious threat. The economic damage that invasive species have caused to German agriculture since 1960 amounts to over 8 billion euros.
Global connectivity through trade, tourism and climate change contributes to the spread of these species. Early warning systems are crucial to counteract invasive species such as the reed leafhopper at an early stage. Therefore, research urgently needs to be strengthened in the areas of resistance breeding and control strategies - so that we can continue to rely on healthy and diverse agriculture in the future.
The high yield losses caused by this invasive leafhopper clearly show that there is a need for action. The call for regular approvals for effective crop protection products is supported by many in the industry and is crucial to improving the situation. It remains to be hoped that efforts to combat this threat will soon take effect and that domestic agriculture will be protected from further setbacks.