Flood - Farmers complain about flooded fields due to incessant rain
According to the Lower Saxony Farmers' Association, almost every farmer is currently affected by flooding or water damage to their fields. This is due to the large amounts of rainfall in recent weeks, the Landvolk Niedersachsen in Hanover told dpa on request.
It is currently not possible to estimate exactly how many agricultural areas have been directly affected by flooding from nearby rivers or other bodies of water.
"Several hundred thousand hectares of arable land and grassland are flooded," Landvolk President Holger Hennies told the dpa. Hundreds of farms were also affected by flooding, "but fortunately only very few farms were so badly affected that stables were also affected and livestock had to be evacuated", said Hennies.
Horses brought to safety from flooding
The flood situation has worsened on the Hunte in Oldenburg, for example. Here, four horse farms in the Bümmerstede district were informed by the city that there was potential danger and that they should ensure that their horses were evacuated in an emergency.
Nadine Wilkens has already taken some of her animals to safety as a precaution, although no evacuation has yet been ordered by the authorities. "They're like our children," said Wilkens. Several horses are now staying with friends.
"The solidarity among farmers is enormous. Everyone is helping everyone," emphasized the Lower Saxony Farmers' Association. Only a few stables with dairy cows had to be evacuated. However, accommodating them was a particular challenge, as replacement stables also had to have the necessary milking technology. It was a stressful situation for the farmers who were particularly affected.
Bremen farmer Carsten Schnakenberg has also been fighting tirelessly against the floods since Christmas. "You can't really get down, even when you go to bed," said the farmer from the district of Timmersloh. However, the solidarity among the affected farmers is enormous.
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- The incessant rain in Lower Saxony has led to major flooding issues for farmers, affecting almost every agricultural area in the region according to the Farmers' Association.
- The floodwaters have impacted several hundred thousand hectares of arable land and grassland, forcing farmers to evacuate their livestock from some areas due to the threat of flooding.
- Holger Hennies, the President of the Lower Saxony Farmers' Association, reported that while many farms have been affected, only a few have had to evacuate their stables due to severe flooding.
- Horses have been particularly impacted by the floods, with four horse farms in Oldenburg's Bümmerstede district being instructed to evacuate their horses as a precaution due to rising water levels.
- The Floods in Lower Saxony have led to a significant showing of solidarity among farmers, with many offering support and assistance to those affected, including accommodating evacuated dairy cows with necessary milking technology.
- Farmers like Carsten Schnakenberg in Bremen have been dealing with the floodwaters since Christmas, working tirelessly to protect their lands and livestock, and benefiting from the collective solidarity among those affected by the floods.
Source: www.stern.de
