The year 2024 is marked by extreme weather events. Jochen Loy, CEO of the Nuremberg Farmers‘ Association, reflects on the excessive and intense rainfall during the harvest meeting in Eismannsberg (Nuremberg district). He mentions that in the first half of 2024, the Nuremberg region received about a third more rain than the long-term average. While this helped replenish groundwater reserves after previous dry years, it also had an impact on crop yields, varying depending on the type of crop.
Jürgen König, who hosts the harvest meeting for Nuremberg and the Nuremberg district, agrees with Loy. On his farm in Eismannsberg near Altdorf, he feeds his 100 beef cattle only with crops grown on his own land, such as grass, silage corn, peas, and grains. The grass, corn, and clover have grown well, but the quality of the grains is slightly lacking, particularly in terms of protein content.
The wet soil has been causing challenges for farmers like König, especially for those practicing organic farming. Axel Lämmermann, a bio farmer from Deckersberg in the Nuremberg district, highlights the difficulties faced by bio farmers in dealing with the excess rain. The wet conditions have made it challenging to carry out weed control and other necessary farming practices.
Looking ahead, farmers are hoping for a warm and dry August and September to improve the harvest yields for 2024. These upcoming months could play a crucial role in determining the overall success of this year’s harvest. As always, working with nature presents its own set of challenges, but farmers remain optimistic about the potential for a successful harvest season despite the obstacles they have faced so far.