Dürregefray in Döbeln: farmers fight for harvest!

Dürregefray in Döbeln: farmers fight for harvest!

In German region, the weather for farmers is increasingly becoming a challenge. A current look at the drought conditions in the district of Central Saxony shows that the situation is critical. The Dürremonitor of the Helmholtz Institute has found that the overall floor in the region is usually characterized by exceptional drought, such as Sächsische.de

In Döbeln, the location is somewhat better, but here too red and orange areas are visible on the drought card. Torsten Krawczyk, President of the Saxon Farmers' Association, gives a positive signal for 2023 with an average harvest. But as Eckhard Voigt, a farmer from Leisnig, emphasizes, cheap rain has improved the soil moisture this summer. Nevertheless, agricultural meteorologist Falk Böttcher from the German Weather Service warns of a gradual lack of water, even though the plants look healthy.

water balance and soil quality

The indication that the plant -available water in the ground in the Döbeln region is currently only between 30 and 40 percent. This is worrying because the desired value is at least 50 percent. Böttcher emphasizes that there are hardly any water reserves in the lower layers of the soil, which could be problematic for the wheat harvest. Krawczyk therefore calls for intensive water management to clarify the water requirements of the plants and to improve the water holding capacity of the soils.

but also the managed areas are protected with the help of innovative measures. In the Döbeln region, farmers rely on better management strategies and adapted crop rotations to meet the challenges of the drought. The implementation of these measures is crucial to keep agricultural income at a stable level in the future.

drought and their consequences for the forests

The problem of drought affects not only agriculture, but also the forests. Reports show that droughts have occurred more often since 2003, which has visible effects on tree vitality. How UFZ analyzed, premature leaf falls and increased mortality of trees, especially through harmful insects, drives this problem. The term “drought” is defined differently by various experts, which can lead to misunderstandings.

The forest state surveys in Bavaria show that needle and leaf losses, especially in the case of jaws, have increased in recent years. This goes hand in hand with damage caused by drought and heat shells. The regional water supply will remain a central topic for both areas, both agriculture and forestry.

The future in view

whether the prevailing conditions will be better or not remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: dealing with water plays a decisive role in the future of the region and its landscapes.