Alarm in Saxony: Plant disease Stolbur is spreading rapidly!

Alarm in Saxony: Plant disease Stolbur is spreading rapidly!

Agriculture in Germany is faced with a serious challenge: the plant disease Stolbur, caused by the reed leafhopper, is spreading rapidly. Current reports show that Saxony in particular is affected by these developments. In several cases, both the pathogen Stolbur and the vector insect SBR have been detected, fueling concerns among local farmers. The first economic damage has already become known, and the Ministry of Agriculture fears that the damage will increase in the coming months, even if the situation in Saxony is not yet comparable to that in the more severely affected federal states such as Baden-Württemberg, as Zeit Online reports.

In fact, the reed leafhopper is making life difficult for local vegetable growers. The small insects suck on the plants and transmit the harmful bacteria, which leads to massive losses in yield. Sugar beets and potatoes in particular are the focus of the threat. According to a current report by Tagesschau, farmers in Baden-Württemberg can expect losses of up to 70 percent for potatoes, while similar developments are threatened in Saxony.

The spread of the cicada

Originally introduced from France, the reed leafhopper has spread throughout Germany since 2018. From Baden-Württemberg it spreads through Rhineland-Palatinate, Bavaria, Hesse, Lower Saxony and all the way to Saxony-Anhalt. In the 2024 growing season, 85,000 hectares of sugar beets and 22,000 hectares of potatoes were already affected, which led to significant losses in quality and yield. The cicada is impossible to miss - during pilot flights from May onwards there is a great risk that it will fly into agricultural areas, as the BMEL emphasizes.

As far as forecasts are concerned, the problem is presented in a bleak light. Hot and dry weather favors cicada proliferation, giving farmers even less flexibility in their cropping plans. As the ministry reports, it is urgent to take preventive measures to contain the spread. This includes, among other things, not planting winter wheat after growing sugar beets and potatoes.

Preventive measures and research

The use of certain plant protection products with emergency approvals is only possible in defined regions if the responsible state office has requested this. In view of the severity of the situation, representatives of the association are calling for regular approvals for effective plant protection products and increased research into resistance breeding. The pathogens themselves are harmless to humans, but do not reach the market and thus endanger agricultural supplies.

The developments surrounding stolbur and the reed leafhopper have put farmers on alert. The coming months will be crucial to save crop yields and stop the spread of this pest. Farmers now need to have the skills to make the right decisions and follow the recommendations of the experts. At a time when security of supply is once again becoming a greater focus, our local vegetable farmers are facing a crucial challenge. It remains to be hoped that effective solutions will soon be available and the danger can be contained.