Farmlands inundated by floods bring ruin to numerous crops.

Farming practices and technologies - Farmlands inundated by floods bring ruin to numerous crops.

There have been countless farmers whose crops have been devasted by the recent floods. As Markus Drexler, a representative for the Bavarian Farmer's Association (BBV), stated, "The catastrophic water masses have often destroyed large sections of this year's harvest." It's a truly dire situation, especially in Swabia and Lower and Upper Bavaria.

Crops such as wheat, beets, potatoes, corn, field vegetables, strawberries, and raspberries have all suffered extensive damage due to the floods. Some farms experienced such turmoil that their entire cultivated areas have been underwater for days.

If crops like young potato and corn plants are left submerged in water for several days, they will ultimately die and rot away. Moreover, meadows and grains that have been flattened by the floods are usually a lost cause, as they're either irrecoverable or contaminated.

In the past few days, numerous stables had to be evacuated in areas affected by floods. A spokesperson from the Ministry of Agriculture in Munich mentioned that farmers had joined forces and were able to utilize emergency stables.

The degree of damage to arable land heavily depends on the presence of contaminants that may have been washed onto the fields. However, there's some good news - damaged corn fields might still be able to be re-planted. Drexler mentioned, "The well-being of the crops is crucial for their continued management, which depends on the direction of future precipitation. Economically viable losses are impossible to predict until the full withdrawal of the water."

The state government plans to allocate at least 100 million euros to assist those affected by the flood disaster. BBV General Secretary Carl von Butler gave Agriculture Minister Michaela Kaniber (CSU) a note emphasizing that in individual cases, farms could potentially face extreme peril.

The association is grateful for the promised aid, but for many farms, this sum wouldn't even come close to covering their needs. It'd be ideal if, in the most extreme instances, aid could exceed this limit.

Insurance for crops is a complicated matter. In Bavaria, there's a promotion program for a multi-risk insurance (MGV) for agricultural crops. According to the ministry, this insurance can help with the consequences of heavy rain.

The flooding of agricultural land caused by excessive flows from rivers is not covered by insurance. Therefore, the MGV's future promotion isn't likely to account for this type of flooding.

At the same time, both the association and the ministry commended the farmers who came to the aid of the flood relief efforts. In many locations, farmers assisted with their vehicles and machinery.

Read also:

1. The floods have particularly affected farmers in Swabia and the regions of Lower and Upper Bavaria, respectively known for their vast fields of potatoes and other crops like wheat and corn.
2. In Munich, the Ministry of Agriculture is working closely with farmers to provide emergency stables for livestock affected by the floods in the flood zone.
3. According to the Bavarian Farmer's Association, some farms in the affected areas have been flooded for days, resulting in the loss of young potato and corn plants and other cultivated crops.
4. Bavaria is home to a multi-risk insurance program for agricultural crops, which can provide assistance during heavy rain events. However, flood damage caused by rivers is not covered by this insurance.
5. Despite the recent floods causing widespread damage to agriculture in Bavaria, some crops, such as corn, might still be salvageable if farmers can re-plant them and manage the health of the plants accordingly, depending on future weather conditions.

• Few cars weigh under a ton in present times.
• Lack of snow also opens up new opportunities for winter tourism
• Abrupt end to e-car subsidies
• The chemical industry has little confidence