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The late frosts at the end of April with temperatures as low as minus seven degrees Celsius have caused the worst damage to German vineyards for at least 40 years. This is according to a report by the insurance company Allianz Agrar. It expects damage payments in the double-digit million range.
The experts are now busy determining the definitive damage situation in over 30,000 vineyards before the grape harvest. Shortly after the frosty nights, they spent several weeks visiting the vineyards. However, initial impressions confirm the experts' assessment from the spring. Many vineyards are threatened with total loss.
"I've experienced many late frost years, but I've never seen anything like this. The frost came at the worst possible time for the vines," says Martin Heiß, head of the claims department at Allianz Agrar. Until mid-April, the vines were very well developed due to the "exceptionally high temperatures". Although the plants were able to partially compensate for the damage, it will take some time to correctly determine the crop loss, according to Heiß.
The frost had run like a ribbon through Germany's wine-growing regions. Northern Württemberg, northern Baden and Franconia were the hardest hit. More and more federal states are promoting multi-risk insurance to support farmers and winegrowers in taking responsibility for their own risk management. The increasingly volatile weather shows how important it is to insure against crop losses. Allianz Agrar is therefore registering a significant increase in demand for insurance against frost, drought and heavy rain.
(ru / Allianz Agrar)