The valuation of the damage to crops in the municipality of Lorca, affected by frosts, has officially started. The sub-zero temperatures have been especially harmful for artichokes and lettuce, although actual losses have yet to be estimated.

The president of COAG in Lorca, Miguel Padilla, explained that Agroseguro technicians have started early with the damage assessment, and have already confirmed that artichoke crops are "the most affected."

Night frosts started being registered during the last week of December and have remained persistent, "so we decided to wait a few days before carrying out any assessments to see how the plants coped," he added.

Miguel Padilla has stated that in the case of lettuce "it is sure that many outer leaves, which have been frosted, will have to be removed," consequently resulting in a reduction of calibres.

The president of COAG in Lorca said that these are "the two most sensitive crops to cold temperatures," next to beans, while broccoli, which is also in full production, is more resistant to frosts, just like rainfed crops like almonds, since the cold slows down the flowering.

The agricultural organisation's representative pointed out that what producers fear most "is for such cold temperatures to continue" in the municipalities of Valle del Guadalentín, the most affected region.

The most severe frosts registered in the region in recent years took place in December 2010, with damages estimated at 23.3 million Euro after the loss of the entire artichoke harvest, some nine million kilos worth nine million Euro

Source - http://www.freshplaza.com/