Frost damage threatens harvest in Baden-Württemberg: cold snap affects vintners and fruit growers

The cool spring temperatures with surprising frosty nights pose challenges to agriculture in Baden-Württemberg. Vintners and fruit growers in the region are facing potential crop losses that currently cannot be fully quantified. Hermann Morast, a leading representative of the Württemberg Winegrowers' Association, commented on this: "Frost damage extends across all vineyard locations from north to south; some parcels are completely destroyed." These weather conditions are also hitting regions that are normally considered frost-resistant, and this year there has been significant growth in the vines thanks to an earlier onset of the climate. The low temperatures, which in various places dropped below the freezing point, hit the flora at a particularly vulnerable stage, with especially early-ripening varieties being affected. An initial federal-level estimate by the insurance company Vereinigte Hagel quantifies the damage at more than half a billion euros. Holger Klein, managing director of the Winegrowers' Association in the Baden region, also confirmed frostbite, albeit with regional variation in severity. Areas such as Ortenau and Kraichgau, in particular, are suffering from the consequences of the bad weather. In contrast, fruit growers seem to be getting off more lightly compared to the vintners, although significant yield losses, especially in stone fruit, are also being reported. Franz Josef Müller, head of the Commercial Fruit Growers' Association, reports losses of up to 80 percent in affected businesses, while others, such as those around Lake Constance, have been spared. The apple yield so far seems unaffected, so an all-clear can be given here. A final summary of the frost damages and their impact on the pricing of regional agricultural products is still pending. A statement from the Ministry of Agriculture is expected in the following days, while critical weather conditions must continue to be anticipated.