Thuringian fruit growers celebrate normal harvest after frost damage!

Thuringian fruit growers celebrate normal harvest after frost damage!

What a harvest time for the Thuringian fruit growers! After last year was marked by devastating frost damage, producers are looking forward to the fruit harvest this season with optimism. This year, the specter of frost is largely absent and harvest expectations are within normal limits. Loud MDR The tasty strawberries have particularly benefited from the sun this year and are in great shape.

The sweet cherry harvest has just begun, and initial results reveal yields for early varieties. But there is excitement when it comes to the later cherries: frost damage is causing headaches for farmers. This situation is particularly bitter when you consider the losses of the previous year, when frosty nights in April led to an almost complete failure of many pome fruit varieties.

The shadows of the past

Despite the relatively positive outlook this year, the memory of the frosty past gnaws at fruit and wine growers. Last year some even lost their entire harvest. Loud The Thuringians Up to 90 percent of the apple harvest could have failed as a result of the frosty nights in April 2023. Agriculture Minister Susanna Karawanskij is already appealing to companies to increase their reliance on crop insurance in order to better counter future frost risks.

The financial situation is dire and the state parliament is discussing support for the farming operations affected by crop failures. While the return to normality is noticeable, many farmers have to look for the route of the EU aid application. These aids are intended to help mitigate frost-related losses, such as that n-tv reported.

Waiting for help

Anyone who has found themselves in a situation that threatens their existence due to frost-related losses can now apply for EU aid. The conditions are clear: a frost-related crop loss of over 30 percent and damage of at least 7,500 euros. Local businesses have until January 8, 2025 to submit their applications to the State Office of Agriculture.

Although this year's harvest situation is mostly positive, there is still a bad aftertaste. Farmers must be prepared for both fertile and cold periods and face new challenges. In any case, it's not because of the sun that the strawberries taste particularly good this year - it's more the combination of optimal conditions and the hope for a good harvest.