Total losses in some cases

Late frost caused 56 million euros in damage

The frost of the past few days has taken its toll on viticulture in southern Styria. The picture shows the situation on Tuesday in Gamlitz (Leibnitz district).

(Bild: APA/BETTINA STRAUSS)

According to the Austrian Hail Insurance, the late frost of the past 14 days has caused damage totaling 56 million euros to domestic fruit and wine growers. Styria was hit the hardest with 37 million, followed by Lower Austria with 17 million.

"Around 50 percent of the Styrian fruit-growing area is affected, but we expect a normal harvest overall," said Herbert Muster from the Styrian Chamber of Agriculture. Because it should soon get warmer again.

"Significant damage"
"There was significant damage, especially in the night from Sunday to Monday", said Muster, responsible for pome fruit advice at the chamber, on Friday. The temperatures were particularly low in the eastern Styrian district of Weiz, where most of Styria's fruit farms are located. There, apples, which are currently just the size of a marble, make up 80 percent of the fruit-growing area.

"However, the favorable flowering weather beforehand ensured a strong blossom, which compensates for the whole thing somewhat," Muster told APA. He expects "quality losses in some cases". Lower altitudes in particular are sometimes confronted with total failures, although frost protection rain and heating have probably prevented worse.

Styria as a "hotspot"
As of midday on Thursday, the late frost had led to damage amounting to 56 million euros across Austria within two weeks, the hail insurance company announced on Friday. Of this, 44 million is attributable to fruit growing, the rest to wine. The "hotspot" was Styria, with 32 million euros in damage to fruit and five million in the wine sector. In addition to Lower Austria (17 million euros), a damage volume of two million euros was reported in the other federal states.

Frost had also been forecast for Friday night. "We were at the limit of minus two degrees, where not too much has happened yet," said Muster with relief. It is set to get warmer again in the coming days. Muster hopes "that's it for this season".

In temperatures around freezing point, bales of straw were set alight at dawn on Friday in Weißenkirchen in der Wachau. The winegrowers were trying to prevent further damage to the crops from frost.

(Bild: APA/MICHAEL J€GER)

According to the Lower Austrian Chamber of Agriculture (LK NÖ), Friday night was "not as bad as feared" for wine and fruit growers in the state. There were only sub-zero temperatures in the morning. Surveys are underway, said Manfred Weinhappel from the chamber. A more precise overview would be available at the beginning of next week. There are no signs of a disastrous situation.

Hoping for the "last night of frost"
Weinhappel was not the only one hoping on Friday that the previous hours had brought "the last night of frost" in spring. There are farms that have "little to no problems" due to their location, while others, such as those in exposed locations, have been hit harder. As far as fruit growing was concerned, Lower Austria was not affected to the same extent as Styria, added Weinhappel.