display
Würzburg (dpa / lby) - In view of the massive damage caused by late frosts, Franconia's viticulture president Artur Steinmann appeals to winemakers to insure themselves against this risk.
"If you don't do that, it's your own fault," he told the German Press Agency in Würzburg.
"A frost like that throws you back three years."
From 2021 onwards, Bavaria will financially support its fruit growers and winegrowers in taking out insurance against immense frost and heavy rain.
Every year 1.5 million euros are to flow in so that those affected can take out the sometimes cost-intensive insurance against crop failure.
In 2020, frost and drought brought the winemakers in Franconia the smallest harvest in 35 years.
The Ministry of Agriculture expects 500 to 1000 applications in the first year.
"The companies receive up to 50 percent of the costs for insurance premiums against the risks of frost, storms and heavy rain as a subsidy," it said.
It is possible to take out insurance against individual risks or a combination of several risks.
Funding is only given, however, from a cultivation area of at least 0.3 hectares per crop group, such as pome and stone fruit or grapes.
display
According to the ministry, Bavaria wants to use the support to mitigate weather-related yield losses.
"The offers currently on the market for the insurance of agricultural crops against weather risks are still relatively new and are often not economically viable for the farms."
Night frosts have caused enormous damage to wine and fruit growers in recent years.
In mid-May 2020, more than half of the acreage in Franconia's vineyards was affected.
According to Steinmann, some winegrowers lost up to 80 percent.
"The frost hit us more than Corona."
Records from the State Institute for Viticulture and Horticulture (LWG) since 1968 have confirmed that the vines were growing earlier and earlier.
Late frosts affect the then well-developed plants - up to a total failure.
display
Effects of climate change - information material from the State Institute for Viticulture and Horticulture
Studies on prevention of late frost damage
Final report of a LWG report on late frosts