Corn growth despite drought: Ostallgäu farmers optimistic!

Corn growth despite drought: Ostallgäu farmers optimistic!

What is going on in agriculture in the Ostallgäu? During the recent harvest press trip, the mood among the farmers was surprisingly optimistic despite the challenges due to the dryness of the past few months. Andreas Schmid, the district chairman of the Bavarian Farmers' Association (BBV) in the Ostallgäu, reported impressive 40 cm growth of his corn plants within a week. Schmid herself was on site with district farmer Karina Fischer, Daniel Dörfler and Lino Missel from the Office for Food, Agriculture and Forestry (Aelf) to commit the fields around the Schmid family and to examine the situation of the harvest. The [Allgäuer Zeitung] (https://www.allgaeuer-zeitung.de/buchlee/ernTressepressefahrt-2025-so-s-schuen-aufwäuer-Auf-Die-Diesjaehrige-Herne-Herne-Herne-Herne-Herne-Herne-Herne-Herne-Herne-Herne-Herne-Herne-Herne-Herne-Herne-Herne-Herne-Harf has already been harvested that the winter barley is satisfied with the earnings, while the harvest of the summer barley is still uncertain. To make forecasts is difficult due to the current weather conditions, says Schmid.

But what about the region in total? Due to the persistently dry weather, the Ostallgäu floors are missing on average 170 liters of water per square meter. Weather data already gained show that in the long -term comparison there were only more precipitation in May. When the fields inspected the fields, it was also found that the dry earth of the corn field whirls up dust and that the soil nature is worrying. On a pH test in the barley field, the soil was too acidic, which affects water and nutrient storage. In order to remedy this grievance, lime and other measures could be necessary to improve the soil structure.

biodiversity and corn cultivation

An exciting aspect of harvest press trip was the planted field with a lein, one of the oldest crops of mankind. This plant is not only valuable for biodiversity, but also sensitive to cultivation. While the flax seeds are pressed into high -quality oil, the maize cultivation raises many questions. The selection of the location for corn cultivation is crucial and is influenced by the climate, soil and altitude. According to the website * Seeds for Future *, the harvest of corn must also take into account the regional peculiarities. So corn thrives particularly well in well-drained soils and requires a frost-free time of 120 to 140 days as well as plenty of sunlight. The extension strategies must be adapted to such conditions in particular is challenging.

The influence of climate change

Another factor that influences the results in agriculture is climate change. Studies show that it leads to the harvesting of staple food such as corn, but also wheat. A report by * research and knowledge * describes that weather extreme such as heat waves and droughts heavily put a strain on the company. In Europe, however, the effects vary: While northern regions may be able to achieve 10 % higher harvests in corn cultivation, declines of up to 40 % can be expected in the Mediterranean. It should be noted that agriculture in northern areas of Canada and Russia was initially able to adapt to the changed climate conditions. emphasize that adaptation measures up to 2100 could compensate for about a third of the climate-related losses, provided no further CO₂ emissions rise.

At the end of the tour, the participants were confident that the upcoming harvest could be positive with a little rain - and maybe there is still something good in the air for the Ostallgäu agriculture in the next few weeks.