The government reviews assistance program. - Frost harm on fruit and winemaking
Around 85 to 90% of the apple harvest in Thuringen might fail due to the frosty nights in late April this year, according to an initial assessment by Agriculture Minister Susanna Karawanskij (Left) in the Thuringian parliament in Erfurt. The frost is expected to cause significant losses in cherries, plums, and wine too. Winemakers are estimated to sustain around five million euros in damages.
During the parliament's discussion on assisting the agricultural sector in the face of a crisis, Karawanskij confirmed that her ministry would consider financial help. "We aim to provide support to apple and wine farmers," she said. However, a proposal from the Agriculture Ministers' Conference, chaired by Karawanskij this year, didn't gain traction as the federal government deemed the damage as not being on a national level and consequently, did not plan any special program.
Frost damage to fruits and wine predominantly affects Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt.
Karawanskij plans to outline a guideline for the aid. This guideline should also account for learnings from 2020, when similar damage was reported. The exact amount of the aid is undetermined, she said, "It'll depend on the funds available."
She urged businesses to make greater use of subsidized harvest insurance. Karawanskij admitted that the initial uptake of this insurance in Thuringia was slow. In other federal states, however, several businesses have already adopted the insurance as they increasingly consider it necessary due to climate change.
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The Agriculture Minister in Thuringia's parliament mentioned potential five million euros in losses for winemakers due to frost damage. Parliament is considering financial assistance for apple and wine farmers affected by the frost. Despite Thuringia's situation, the federal government deemed the damage not on a national level and declined a special program, focusing on Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt instead.
