Harvest balance 2023: Dull weather dampens yields in Ottendorf

Harvest balance 2023: Dull weather dampens yields in Ottendorf

In Schleswig-Holstein, the arable farmers simply don't come to rest. Today, the harvest balance for the current year was presented at the Sager company in Ottendorf, in the Rendsburg-Eckernförde district. The number of harvesting is not very optimistic. The continued cloudy weather and the associated loss of yield over a large period determine the current image of farmers. Over the entire vegetation year, the weather, in particular the rains, has made it difficult for farmers to work.

The forecasts of the statistics office draw a similar scenario: the yields in wheat and rapeseed have dropped greatly, which represents a worrying development for the farmers. At the beginning of the season, many farmers had hoped that the conditions would improve, but reality is currently different. In its trials, the Chamber of Agriculture has documented the effects of the adverse weather conditions, which additionally burden the overall balance of the harvest.

income and challenges

In particular, the results of the regional types of the state are alarming. Here are the serious consequences of the inconsistent weather conditions and low producer prices. The rapeseed harvest is also visibly affected. The repeated poor weather conditions have led to a significant reduction in the yield, which could cause a decline in production overall. This year, this threatens to become another year that is characterized by extreme weather conditions, which exacerbates the economic framework for the agricultural farmers.

• loss of yield in wheat and rapeseed visible.
• Problems with the weather during the entire vegetation period.
• Low producer prices also strain.

The company Sager is representative of many arable farms in the region, which are faced with similar challenges. The weather conditions have influenced not only the harvest, but also the entire production planning of farmers. Often a safe yield was no longer guaranteed for many of them, which has great uncertainty.

Another important detail is that the other federal states in the north are also affected by these loss of yield. The linking of the agricultural chambers of various regions could help to analyze the situation regionally and possibly find solutions together. Nevertheless, it turns out that the majority of farmers stick to their plantings, although the framework conditions are more difficult than ever.

market development and extension strategies

The development of producer prices is also the focus of the discussion. The low prices are a serious challenge that many farmers are difficult to overcome. They not only reflect the quality of the harvest, but also the earnings conditions in the entire market. It will be important how the prices will develop in the coming months, while agriculture has to rely on new strategies to adapt to these new conditions.

The situation forces the arable farmers to re -evaluate their extension strategies and harvest planning. Persistent uncertainties require creative approaches and possibly a recourse to resistant varieties. The long -term goal remains to overcome the inflation of producer prices and to secure economic stability. The keys to this could be improved weather analyzes, adapted cultivation techniques or the increased use of technologies for weather forecast.

In this challenging time, you have to rely on the exchange with experts and other farmers to find new ways, even in the face of adverse circumstances to be successful.

Current challenges for agriculture

The agricultural farms are faced with a variety of challenges this year. In addition to the extreme weather conditions, which are characterized by rain and cold, increasing production costs also influence the income situation of farmers. The price increase for resources, especially fertilizers and fuels, has meant that the economy of many companies is in danger. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, the costs for fertilizers have increased by up to 30 percent since the previous year.

The low producer prices also contribute to the preserving location. Despite the demands for higher prices, farmers rarely benefit to the extent that it would be necessary to secure sustainable yields. The potato and grain producers whose margins are under pressure are particularly affected. A look at the producer prices shows that in recent years they have often not increased in accordance with the production costs, which further reduces the profitability of the companies. The German Farmers' Association regularly indicates the precarious market conditions that are reinforced by the volatile demand situation.

Influence of climate changes on agriculture

The weather phenomenon that affects the current harvest balance is not just a short -term problem, but part of a larger trend that is reinforced by climate change. Long -term studies show that extreme weather events, such as drought and heavy rain, are expected to increase. A current analysis of the Potsdam-Institut for climate impact research confirms that farmers have to adapt to an increasingly unpredictable weather that will also affect the choice of cultures and agricultural practices.

The adapted extension strategies require investments in technologies and knowledge in order to cushion the risks caused by unfavorable weather conditions. This is not only hindered by the need to work with limited financial resources, but also by the slow implementation of funding programs on the part of politics. Therefore, the question of how long -term resilience can be built up in agriculture remains a central challenge for the industry in the future.