Farming innovation: Implications of irrigation over precipitation for cereal crops - Harvest Disruption due to Rainfall - Implications for Crop Yield
Heavy Rain Delays Bavarian Grain Harvest and Threatens Quality
A prolonged period of excessive rainfall in Bavaria has caused concern among farmers, as it negatively affects the quality of the grain crop and delays the harvest. Hermann Greif, the grain president of the Bavarian Farmers' Association (BBV), described the situation as one where few combine harvesters have left the farms for about two weeks.
The drought initially posed a significant problem for grain on Bavarian fields, but the recent rain has brought some relief to crops like corn, meadows, forests, and cultures like beets or cabbage. However, for wheat, rye, oats, spring barley, and triticale (a cross between wheat and rye used mainly for feed), the rain has come just in time for the harvest, causing concern about the yield and quality.
The excessive rain leads to poor grain quality through rotting, sprouting, and fungal infections. These conditions threaten both farmer incomes and regional agricultural output. Yields decline due to plant stress and unsuitable harvesting conditions, complicating timely harvesting and sometimes forcing farmers to harvest early or in adverse conditions, leading to further quality issues.
Approximately 20-30% of Bavarian bread wheat has been harvested before the rain. However, about every third wheat grain grown in Bavaria is milled locally and processed into food. The quality of the harvested wheat, from the millers' perspective, was satisfactory. A final judgment on the quality of wheat and rye can only be made after harvest and examination.
Black mushrooms on wheat and rye fields do not affect the grain and are not a problem. No toxins are produced by black mushrooms, and they only affect the husk and end up in the straw during harvesting.
The long drought in spring and early summer had already reduced the amount of grain. Ongoing rain in Bavaria is causing further concern regarding the quality of the remaining wheat and rye. Hermann Greif expressed his concerns, stating, "And we are powerless." Millers in Bavaria are eagerly awaiting the outcome of the harvest.
While specific, detailed reports about the 2025 Bavarian grain harvest are not available, similar conditions are known to cause crop rotting and yield losses globally. This implies that Bavarian grain might face comparable problems under such weather extremes. A poor harvest in Bavaria is unlikely to have a significant impact on the global grain supply.
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- The excess rain in Bavaria has raised concerns in the agricultural sector, particularly in relation to the quality and yield of crops like wheat, rye, oats, spring barley, and triticales, which are key components in both local and national food production.
- As the harvest approaches, environmental-science researchers are monitoring the impact of the weather conditions on the grain crops, with a focus on how the poor quality may affect farmer incomes, regional agricultural output, and the local business of milling and processing grains for food.
- Given the current situation, the Bavarian farmers, millers, and business owners are seeking potential solutions or strategies in education-and-self-development resources to adapt to the challenges posed by climate change and fluctuating weather patterns, with a goal of minimizing losses and maintaining the health of their crops and operations.
