14.05.2019

India - As Andhra Pradesh crops fail, mango traders stay away from orchards

Mango traders in north-coastal Andhra Pradesh, who have taken vast tracts of mango and cashew orchards on lease from farmers are now refusing to step into the orchards claiming that it would be a fruitless exercise, as there is  hardly any fruit to be picked. Much of the mango and cashew crops have been lost owing to the initial deficit in rainfall and then effect of cyclone Fani in Srikakulam and Vizianagaram districts. According to the Joint Director for Horticulture in Srikakulam, heavy rains during cyclones Titli and Fani are responsible for the crop loss in Viziangaram and Srikakulam districts. "Titli wiped out all the fruit bearing trees in the Uddanam and the coastal region. Almost 20.000 hectares of mango and cashew crops were destroyed by Titli. which destroyed the fruit bearing branches. Fani ravaged whatever trees were spared by Titli as heavy winds and gale swept across the district resulting in fruit-fall. The damage to mango and cashew this year cannot be measured." Source -https://www.freshplaza.com/

14.05.2019

USA - All orange production in Florida down 5% from April

The 2018-2019 Florida all orange forecast released today by the USDA Agricultural Statistics Board is as follows: All Oranges 72.4 Million Boxes Production of all oranges is forecast at 72.4 million boxes, down 5 percent from the April forecast. The total includes of 30.4 million boxes of non-Valencia oranges (early, midseason, and Navel varieties) and 42.0 million boxes of Valencia oranges. Non-Valencia Oranges 30.4 Million Boxes The forecast of non-Valencia production is finalized at 30.4 million boxes. Harvest is complete for the included varieties. The Navel forecast, included in the non-Valencia portion of the forecast, is 750,000 boxes, 2 percent of the non-Valencia total. Valencia Oranges 42.0 Million Boxes The forecast of Valencia production is lowered to 42.0 million boxes, down 9 percent from the April forecast. Weekly certifications in April averaged 3.46 million boxes. The Row Count survey conducted April 29-30, 2019 showed 62 percent of the Valencia rows are harvested. Estimated utilization to May 1, including an allocation for other use, is 26.4 million boxes. Processors were surveyed regarding fruit processed through April 30th and the estimated quantity remaining to be processed to the end of the season. Analysis of the Row Count Survey, estimated utilization to the first of the month, and the results of the processors report support reducing the Valencia orange forecast. All Grapefruit 4.58 Million Boxes The forecast of all grapefruit production is lowered 320,000 boxes to 4.58 million boxes. The white grapefruit forecast is reduced 20,000 boxes to 780,000 boxes. The red grapefruit forecast is lowered 300,000 boxes to and is now 3.80 million boxes. Estimated utilization to May 1, with an allocation for non-certified use, of white grapefruit is 770,000 boxes and of red grapefruit is 3.70 million boxes. The Row Count survey conducted April 29-30, 2019, indicated harvest is relatively complete for these varieties. Tangerines and Tangelos 1.00 Million Boxes The forecast for the tangerine and tangelo production is increased 50,000 boxes to 1.00 million boxes. If realized, this production level will be 33 percent more than last season’s hurricane affected production of 750,000 boxes. This forecast number includes all certified tangerine and tangelo varieties. Estimated utilization to May 1, with an allocation for non-certified use is 989,000 boxes. Source - https://www.freshplaza.com

13.05.2019

Switzerland - Frost hits crops

The cold has returned in recent days, hitting Western Europe. Night frosts have hit Switzerland. This had not happened at this time of year for about seventy years. In Geneva, the ground temperature reached -3.2 degrees this weekend. The vines were the most affected. Strawberry crops, on the other hand, have been spared thanks to greenhouses and tunnels. Source - https://www.freshplaza.com

13.05.2019

India - Mango won’t be in abundance this summer

Blaming it on poor flowering, diseases and erratic water supply, the mango growers said only 25% of the expected produce from Malihabad is likely to get into the market. Gorging on your favourite summer fruit could be dearer this season as the mango crop in Malihabad belt has recorded an all-time low produce. Blaming it on poor flowering, diseases and erratic water supply, the mango growers said only 25% of the expected produce from Malihabad is likely to get into the market. While Uttar Pradesh produces around 45 lakh metric tons of mangoes every year, Malihabad alone contributes around 7 lakh metric tons. “We were expecting a good crop this year; poor flowering, diseases and erratic water supply has played a spoilsport here in Malihabad. We are hoping that only 25% of the total produce expected will be market-ready,” said Insram Ali, president, All India Mango Growers’ Association (AIMGA). “Also, the crop is also likely to be delayed for around 20 days and will hit market not before June 20,” added Ali. Two years back the state’s prime mango belts, including Malihabad, had witnessed the record production of Dusheri mangoes. “The low produce will also push up the prices of the mango,” said Ali while talking to HT. “Crop is poor this time, which was not at all expected. We are left with no choice but to hope for the best,” said Mohammed Miyan, a mango grower in Mallihabad mango belt where a total of 23,589 hectares of land is engaged in mango farming. Miyan said in January the crop saw profuse flow, which though was unseasonal but a good sign. “It gave us hope that the crop this year is going to be as good as last year’s. But the hope dashed as the flowering began to shed from February onwards,” he said. Some mango growers also blamed the state government’s apathetic attitude towards the mango growers. We don’t have a status of a farmer. Our crops are not insured and we do not get any subsidy from the government on pesticides,” said a mango grower. Some mango growers along with the members of the AIMGA have approached the state government demanding that mango crop be covered under the prime minister’s crop insurance scheme. In UP, mango is produced in an area of 2.5 lakh hectares. Lucknow, Pratapgarh, Allahabad, Bulandshahar,Saharanpur, Faizabad, Varanasi, Moradabad, Barabanki, Meerut, Unnao, Sitapur, Hardoi, Gorakhpur, Basti, JP Nagar and Mathura are the major mango producing belts. Popular varieties such as ‘Chausa’, ‘Dusheri’, ‘Fazli’, ‘Gulab Khas’, ‘Langra’, ‘Mallika’ and ‘Amrapali’ are produced in the state. Source - https://www.hindustantimes.com/

13.05.2019

USA - Extended rains could washout hopes for high yields, incomes

Farmers across much of the Midwest are facing planting delays—in some cases severe. There are three key implications of late planting, according to University of Illinois Farmdoc: First, incomes could be low because of low yields Second, switching to soybeans will be more complicated than expected because of low prices Third, prevented plant could be a factor on many farms According to USDA, twenty-three percent of U.S. corn acres are planted, compared to 46% over the five-year average. With delayed planting, farmers could see lower corn and soybean yields. Illinois and Ohio agronomists also anticipate preventive planting could come into play on many Midwest farms. Here’s a glimpse at planting: Illinois: 10% compared to a 66% five-year average Indiana: 3% compared to a 35% five-year average Iowa: 36% compared to a 51% five-year average Kansas: 36% compared to a 51% five-year average Michigan: 3% compared to a 16% five-year average Minnesota: 6% compared to a 42 five-year average Missouri: 49% compared to a 74% five-year average Nebraska: 35% compared to a 47% five-year average North Dakota: 3% in 2018 compared to a 23% five-year average Ohio: 2% compared to a 27% five-year average South Dakota: 0% compared to 29% five-year average Wisconsin: 7% compared to a 24% five-year average While delayed planting could lead to lower yields, farmers have dealt with this situation before. In 2009 farmers planted late and yields were 10 bu. above trend. Last year, however, parts of Iowa and Minnesota last year were planted late and had below trendline yields. At this point, many farmers are weighing their crop decisions. In some areas it might soon be time to switch to soybeans, however, low prices are putting pressure on farmers to stick with corn. Farmdoc breaks down what yields farmers need to achieve to break even (in Illinois): What happens if you’re stuck with prevented plant? Prevented plant, the “final planting date,” outlined by crop insurance policies varies by state and crop. Farmers who qualify for prevented plant include those with revenue protection, revenue protection with harvest price exclusion and yield protection. Unless a 5% buy-up was purchased, a farmer will receive 55% of their guarantee for prevented plant acres in corn, according to Farmdoc. Soybeans receive 60% of their guarantee. Acres eligible for prevented planting are limited to the number of acres in the insurable unit unless there’s a history of double crop production. If acres haven’t increased, the number of acres eligible for a crop equals the maximum acres planted to that crop in the insurable unit over the past for years, according to Farmdoc. A similar calculation is performed for soybeans, however, it’s recommended you speak with an insurance agent to understand your options. Source - https://www.agprofessional.com/

13.05.2019

Spain - Estimated losses due to storms in the Extremadura

The losses caused by the storms and hail that took place in April and the first day of May in the province of Badajoz have been estimated at 22 million euro, though authorities still have to determine the real production of the affected plots after the harvest in specific cases. According to Agroseguro, the hail in April is estimated to have damaged some 10,000 hectares of crops in Extremadura. The most affected productions have been fruit trees, with 8,000 hectares affected, and losses estimated at 20.5 million euro. The most affected areas belong to the Las Vegas Altas del Guadiana, and the biggest losses took place in areas such as Los Guadalperales. Jesus Cano, the territorial director of Agroseguro, said that the storms of April 6 and 23 that hit the districts of Don Benito and Logrosan were particularly damaging. The storm of May 1st focused on the surroundings of the municipal districts of Navalvillar de Pela and Acedera. The appraisal work of these latest claims has already begun. "It is important that the insured parties remit the claims as quickly as possible," the agrarian insurer Agroseguro stated. "We expect to start paying the quantification of losses throughout June, although in some cases payments could be done earlier," Jesus Cano said. Some farmers have said that since they their plots had such a high damage, close to 80-90%, the production was practically lost. They have agreed with Agroseguro a final assessment and may receive compensation beforehand. The hiring of agricultural insurance in Extremadura for this campaign has increased. The number of declarations has increased by almost 15%, with more than 13,000 subscribed policies. The subscription of fruit insurance stands out with nearly 1,200 policies that cover a production of almost 300 million kilos; as well as cherry insurance, with almost 200 policies and an assured production that exceeds five million kilos, i.e. 19 % more than in the previous campaign. Source - https://www.freshplaza.com/

13.05.2019

Kenya - Must scale up climate-smart farming for food security

The long-term prospects of Kenya recovering from its frequent cycle of droughts are not looking promising. Delayed rains and rising temperatures have left more than a million people in marginal agricultural and pastoral areas fighting for survival due to food and nutritional deficits. Poor rains have interfered with the regular planting cycle and reduced pasture in pastoral areas, according to the latest Famine Early Warning System Network (Fews). Apparently, Kenya is increasingly feeling the effects of climate change. As temperatures continue to rise, climate shocks, including droughts and floods, are expected to be more frequent. Mitigating climate change should be a development priority, to protect the exponentially increasing population — to 65 million by 2030 and 85 million by 2050, by World Bank estimates. Our survival kit includes implementing climate mitigation and resilience interventions to increase agricultural productivity and improve value chains. There’s no shortage of funding for this. The Dutch government, for instance, is investing €39 million to help Kenya to entrench climate-smart agriculture. The project, being implemented in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda by the Dutch NGO SNV, in partnership with Wageningen University and Research, CGIAR and others, seeks to scale up adoption of smart agricultural innovations and technologies to mitigate the effects of climate change. Case studies on Irish potatoes demonstrate how much local farmers lose by sticking to old production technologies, including waiting for the rains to support their production. While the Netherlands achieved a record output of 52.6 tons of potatoes per hectare, Kenya did 7.9 tons, or just 15 per cent of Dutch farmers’ yield. Potato production Kenya is one of the 10 largest producers of potatoes in Africa, but its efficiency is relatively low. South Africa, for instance, produces an average of 36 tons per hectare and the second-best, Egypt, 26 tons. At 13.8 tons per hectare, Ethiopia is close to the continental average (13 tons). The Irish potato is the second-most important food for Kenyans after maize, but is considered more significant to improving the livelihoods of farmers because of its diverse uses as family food and in agro-processing industries (such as for potato chips and crisps). These value-added activities improve incomes for farmers. Considering the average annual consumption of 25 kilogrammes per Kenyan, a hectare of Irish potatoes can support 316 consumers. Compare this to a hectare of a Dutch farm, which can support more than 2,000 Kenyans. With climate-smart agriculture, a hectare of potatoes would support a much higher number of consumers, substantially increase incomes for producers and expand agro-processing industries. Source - https://www.freshplaza.com

13.05.2019

Poland - More frost in various Polish regions

Frequent rain and cooler temperatures are keeping many Wisconsin farmers out of their fields this spring. The latest crop progress report from the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) shows only 7 percent of the state's corn crop has been planted. That's eight days behind the five-year average. Greg Bussler, Wisconsin state statistician for NASS, said farmers could make up that time quickly if there's a period of sunny weather. "With the larger equipment that farmers have today and the changes in technology, they're able to get fields planted a lot quicker than say 10, 15 years ago," Bussler said. Joe Lauer, an agronomist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, said more rain this week means farmers will likely have to continue waiting. He warns planting late can have a big impact on the crop. "Every day that gets delayed, we take not only a yield hit but also an increase in grain moisture at the end of the season where growers have to use energy to basically dry that corn for storage during the winter," Lauer said. But Lauer said getting into the field before it dries out can cause more problems, compacting the soil or hurting root growth. Shawn Conley, a soybean and small grains specialist for UW-Extension, said farmers will likely face some tough decisions about what to plant this year given current trade tensions. "If corn planting is late enough, (farmers) switch some corn acres to soybean acres. But because the soybean price is so low due to the tariff issues and our issues with China, that's really making that a challenge for farmers to do," Conley said. Conley said farmers could also be adjusting planting plans based on winter damage to alfalfa and winter wheat. The latest crop report found moderate to severe winter damage in alfalfa fields due to ice and frigid temperatures. "This delayed spring is going to delay when the first cutting of alfalfa comes off the field too, the alfalfa that did survive," Conley said. "So that’s going to push farmers up against having enough feed available for the dairy operation." He said alfalfa seed is also expensive, which could be a challenge for some operations facing low commodity prices. Source - https://www.wpr.org/

10.05.2019

Europe - Cold weather causes uncommon scenes in Italy and Poland

NFO reports that last weekend nights were uncommonly cold. Temperatures remained just above freezing in most places in the Netherlands, although some places also saw a little frost. Some irrigation occurred, but most growers didn’t have to get out of bed. The cold weather caused quite a few more worries for fruit growers in Italy and Poland. In Poland, temperatures as low as -3 ºC were measured in the night of Saturday 4 to Sunday 5 May. In April, the Polish growers were also faced with severe night frosts of -7 ºC locally. TVN Meteo had forecast temperatures as low as -5 ºC for this week as well. The low temperatures cause the growers to be quite worried. The night frost is expected to have consequences for the coming harvest. Snow fell in Italy on Sunday. In the Trentino region in South Tyrol, snow even fell in the lower regions at just 500 metres. That’s quite exceptional for the time of year. However, it appears as if the snowfall hasn’t caused a lot of damages to the trees. italiafruit.net reported that ‘despite the uncommon nature of the snowfall, no crop damages occurred for the apple trees still in bloom.’ Growers had to open up their hail nets to prevent damages. Source - https://www.freshplaza.com/

10.05.2019

China - Heavy rains cause lychee, longan, and pomelo trees in Guangdong to drop fruit

Guangdong has experienced continuous rainfall since April and the weather is beginning to affect agricultural production. The Guangdong Department of Agriculture and Rural Development announced that spring sowing activities have been slow as a result of continuous rainfall. Excessive rainfall and limited sunshine significantly slowed down early-season rice development. Fruits and vegetables similarly show signs of distress such as yellow leaves. Some of the lychee, longan, and pomelo trees are dropping their fruit. The Guandong Department also published "Guangdong Agricultural Weather Report for April 2019", which shows that temperatures were relatively high, but sunshine was limited, and rainfall was excessive. The average rainfall in Guangdong in April reached 309.7 mm, which is 64% higher than the April average in previous years. Source - https://www.freshplaza.com

10.05.2019

USA - Cold, wet spring delaying cotton planting

A wetter and cooler May has many Oklahoma cotton growers reaching for their soil thermometers before hitting the fields. With seed availability already at critical lows, it’s vital that growers plant the seed they have been able to source in as optimum environment as possible because replanting may not be an option. In the May 9 “Cotton Comments” newsletter from the Oklahoma State University Southwest Oklahoma Research and Extension Center, Extension Assistant Jerry Goodson wrote that “cooler than normal and saturated fields have prevented the start of planting this year.” The Oklahoma Mesonet shows that 4-inch bare soil temperatures across the state range from 50 degrees in the panhandle, to 67 degrees in the far southeast corner as of May 9. The next seven days weather forecast calls for lows ranging from 38 to 60 degrees, and highs from 51 to 77 degrees. And, just about every day has a chance of rain and thunderstorms in the forecast, according to the newsletter. Already, across much of Oklahoma, the last two weeks have accumulated up to 6.97 inches of rain in the southwest corner, to 9.77 inches of rain in the far northeast corner of the state, according to the Mesonet, further delaying planters getting into the field. “The optimum temperature for cotton germination is near 85 degrees,” Goodson wrote. “Cooler temperatures can lead to poor stands or stand failures if the correct conditions align.” Slow germination because of the cold can lead to slow growth, which adds time that the cotton seedling is susceptible to disease pathogens. Goodson advised growers to: • Delay planting until mid-morning temperatures in the rooting zone are higher than 60 degrees at a 6-inch planting depth, and 68 degrees at the 2-inch planting depth; • Wait until the Mesonet’s 5-day forecast calls for dry conditions and at least 25 DD60 heat units; and• Wait until that same five-day forecast calls for lows above 50 degrees.Source - https://www.hpj.com/

10.05.2019

United Kingdom - Spring barley disease management needs a special fit for 2019

Spring barley this year is coping with some stressful conditions – since brairding, temperatures have rocked between summer highs of 20°C plus and single digit lows, plus some drying winds. There was heavy rain in some areas after drilling and now very dry conditions are common, particularly in the North-east. This has led to some stress spotting being evident on lower leaves – you can differentiate this from ramularia as it doesn’t go right through the leaf and isn’t bounded by the veins. There is no need to treat for ramularia this early in the season – it is more of a risk late season and early in crop growth rhynchosporium is the main concern. Rhyncho is hard to eradicate once established and so spring barley crops are usually treated protectantly just prior to stem extension to keep the disease out. But, with economic pressures to reduce input costs and to work in more integrated and sustainable ways, is there scope to reduce fungicide inputs in the spring crop? This disease, when severe, will take out side tillers and reduce the number of potential grain sites the crop will set, so ultimately yield potential will be reduced. It will also stress the crop and increase the chances of late season ramularia, particularly where eradicant fungicides have to be deployed to manage the rhyncho as chemistry can stress the crop in the wrong conditions. The risk of rhynchosporium can be reduced through the use of T1 fungicides but with more resistant varieties and a trend for drier springs then the risk of significant infestation is reduced, so there is some scope to reduce early season inputs in lower risk crops. Leaving crops totally unprotected is risky, though, and reduced doses and simpler mixes give a sensible middle ground for low risk crops. Eyespot is often overlooked in spring cereals, but poor grain fill has been a feature in affected spring crops over the last two seasons. This disease may have been favoured by a pattern of warmer springs and although spring crops are at lower risk of the disease compared to winter crops, they don’t get away totally free of risk. Many barley fungicide actives will have some eyespot efficacy, particularly cyprodinil, SDHI and prothioconazole-based treatments. This will be our last season with chlorothalonil as an option to manage ramularia later in the season. At this time, it is the only effective fungicide to manage the disease and the best timing is at booting to very early ear emergence. Flowering and senescence are the major triggers of symptoms, but other stresses also play a part and include bursts of sunshine, fluctuations in temperature, nutrient deficiencies and the presence of other foliar diseases. Sprays need to be on ahead of ramularia symptoms appearing on final leaves one and two and have to persist for long enough to keep the crop green well into grain fill. This is why booting is the best compromise timing – aiming the spray at flag leaf emergence is often too early and not the best approach. The ‘mid-way’ flag leaf timing between T1 and T2 is often too late for early protection and too early for ramularia and late season greening. Source - https://www.thescottishfarmer.co.uk/

10.05.2019

USA - USDA announces dual use insurance coverage for grain/graze

USDA’s Risk Management Agency recently announced updates to Annual Forage insurance for the 2020 Crop Year. Because of the 2018 farm bill, the Annual Forage pilot program now offers a Dual Use Option in select counties of six Great Plains states. Producers who select this option can insure their small grains crop with both an Annual Forage Policy for grazing and a multi-peril Small Grains Policy for grain. “These changes allow crop insurance to provide coverage and recognize a practice that farmers and ranchers have used for years in certain parts of the country,” said RMA Administrator Martin Barbre. “This is another key step in ensuring RMA is meeting the risk management needs of U.S. agriculture.” The Dual Use Option is ideal for producers who plant a small grain by October 15, 2019, to use as a grazing crop over the winter and to harvest for grain the next summer. The option is available in counties where RMA considers “grain/graze” a good farming practice in Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. Dual use The county base value for the Dual Use Option reflects the value of the grazing crop for the shortened grazing period when used in tandem with a Small Grains Policy. The CBV is adjusted by estimating the ratio of grazing value between grazing animals for a full crop year, compared to pulling off animals early to allow for a grain crop to flourish. The Dual Use CBV is equal to 40 percent of the full year Annual Forage CBV. In addition to the Dual Use Option, RMA announced additional Annual Forage program updates, including offering Catastrophic Risk Protect for grazing, restoring the 1.5 productivity factor program-wide and updating the CBVs to account for the varying yield potential within a state. This method provides sub-state CBVs for all program states, resulting in more accurate values across state. Annual Forage Insurance The Annual Forage pilot program provides coverage to acreage that is planted each year and used as forage or fodder by livestock. This pilot program uses the Rainfall Index, based on National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Climate Prediction Center weather data, to correlate to this acreage and is available in eight states: Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Texas. Annual Forage is a private product maintained by AgForce. The changes described were approved by the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation Board of Directors on April 23, 2019. On December 20, 2018, President Trump signed into law the 2018 Farm Bill, which provides support, certainty and stability to our nation’s farmers, ranchers and land stewards by enhancing farm support programs, improving crop insurance, maintaining disaster programs and promoting and supporting voluntary conservation. RMA is committed to implementing these changes as quickly and effectively as possible, and today’s updates are part of meeting that goal. Source - https://www.hpj.com

10.05.2019

USA - Did the frost kill fruit flowers?

As trees begin growth in the spring, buds begin to swell and lose the ability to withstand cold temperatures. There is a range of temperatures over which damage occurs with more and more buds and flowers damaged at lower and lower temperatures until all the fruit buds are killed. Often the freeze will only damage some of the flowers, typically beginning with the most developed ones or those lower on the tree. After a freeze, people often want to know how bad the damage was. It takes several hours for the symptoms to develop. As frozen tissues thaw, they will turn brown or black if they were damaged or killed by the cold, revealing the extent of the damage. At or near the bloom stage, the critical temperature is the same for almost all fruits and flowers. Freezing temperatures of 28 degrees Fahrenheit will result in about a 10 percent loss and 24 degrees will result in a 90 percent loss. The percent of flowers killed in a frost may or may not relate directly to lost yield later in the season. With large fruits such as apples, peaches, plums and pears, the loss of 50 percent of the flower is not devastating since we may only want a small percentage of the flowers to become fruit. For small fruits such as cherries and grapes, many small fruits are needed for good yields and a full crop. Crop losses due to freezing temperatures are almost always significant in these. Stone fruit (apricots, cherries, peaches and plums) The stone fruit flower contains a single pistil (the female part of the flower that will become the fruit). This can be exposed by tearing the cup formed by the petals of the flower. If the pistil is brown or black after a freeze, that flower will not develop into a fruit because the pistil has been killed. A healthy green pistil means the blossom was not damaged and still has fruiting potential. This evaluation is best done no earlier than noon on the day following the freeze. Symptoms are more evident a day or two later. Pome fruit (Apples and pears) Apples and pears are very different than stone fruit. In these, the fruit buds are actually small shoots with both flowers and leaves. In the flower cluster, the center flower is the oldest and most developed and will be the first flower to bloom. This central flower is called the king bloom and is the most desirable of the flowers in the cluster. The king bloom has the potential to be the largest fruit. Depending on the developmental stage of the tree when frost occurs, the king bloom may be killed but another of the radial blossoms may not be. While fruits produced from a radial blossom are typically smaller, only one of the blossoms in the cluster needs to set fruit. Evaluation of individual blossoms is the same as described for stone fruit, but king blossoms should be inspected separate from radial blossoms. Source - https://www.hjnews.com/

09.05.2019

Europe - Impact of Climate Change on the region

Europe experienced its most extreme year for unusual weather events in 2018. Record heat and precipitation were recorded across the continent, with extremely cold weather during the winter, and heat and drought through spring and summer. Now, the start of 2019 has already seen warm record daily winter temperatures in Europe, too. For example, the UK has experienced unusually warm weather during the beginning of the year — with record-breaking temperatures that hadn’t been seen in the last 122 years. This year we had the hottest February in UK’s history, with the highest average daily maximum temperature at 18.3 °C. Even though it would be naive to say that such weather events are specifically caused by climate change, climate scientists have said that the only direction that climate change is pushing, is towards warmer temperatures. We at GreenMatch have therefore conducted a comprehensive study that looks into recent trends surrounding climate change in 32 European countries. The study has been illustrated on a map containing data about nationwide trends in surface temperatures, sea temperatures, sea levels, and precipitation. How Has Climate Change Affected Countries in Europe? This interactive map below illustrates the extent to which European countries have been affected by climate change, based on the four indicators mentioned above — with 0 being the least affected, and 100 being the most affected. Climate Change Effects on European Countries Based on the scale from 0 to 100. The higher the score, the more the country has been affected. The European Countries Most and Least Affected by Climate Change Based on GreenMatch’s findings in the map above, Lithuania is the most affected European country, whereas Iceland is the least affected. We will now elaborate on the three European countries that have been most and least affected by climate change. The 3 European Countries Most Affected by Climate Change 1. Lithuania According to GreenMatch’s findings, Lithuania has been seeing a significantly high rise in sea levels compared to the other European countries that were a part of the study, with an increase of 4.46 mm per year between 1970 and 2015. The sea temperature in Lithuania has increased by 0.73 °C, from 1960 to 2014, sharing the first place with five other countries. The surface temperature has increased the most, with an increase of 0.325 °C per decade, again sharing the first place with six other countries. Finally, the precipitation in Lithuania has increased by 20 mm per decade, between 1960 and 2015. All indicators considered, Lithuania ended up with a total score of 75.04. 2. Finland Coming in second: Finland. The surface temperature in Finland increased by 0.314 °C per decade, whereas precipitation saw the exact same increase of 20 mm per decade, as in Lithuania. Furthermore, the sea temperature in Finland has increased by 0.73 °C, from 1970 to 2015, whereas the sea level has seen a decrease of 4.26 mm per year. However, according to the National Land Survey of Finland, new land has been appearing from the sea for centuries due to the Fennoscandian land uplift. It might, therefore, be difficult to determine the extent to which the sea level drop in Finland has been caused by climate change. After combining the different indicators, Finland ended up with a total score of 72.96. 3. Latvia The data for Latvia showed very similar results to Lithuania, with three of the indicators ending up with the exact same score. The only indicator where Latvia had a lower score than Lithuania is the rise in sea levels. However, compared to most other European countries, Latvia has still seen a high rise in sea levels, with an increase of 4.02 mm per year between 1970 and 2015. All indicators considered, Latvia ended up with a total score of 72.82. The 3 European Countries Least Affected by Climate Change 1. Iceland According to GreenMatch’s study, Iceland turned out to be the European country that has been affected by climate change the least. Iceland saw an average change in surface temperatures, with a 0.275 °C increase per decade. Compared to the other European countries in our study, Iceland has seen by far the lowest increase in sea temperatures, with a slight increase of 0.208 °C, from 1960 to 2014 — being significantly lower than the European average of 0.621 °C, as well as the global average of 0.327 °C. Additionally, sea levels have increased by 1.31 mm per year, from 1970 to 2015, which is 0.71 mm lower than the European average. Finally, precipitation in Iceland has been increasing significantly compared to other European countries. Their precipitation increased by 35 mm per decade, between 1960 and 2015, whereas the average precipitation in Europe, in fact, decreased by 1.95 mm per decade. After combining these indicators, Iceland ended up with a total score of 36.07. 2. Greece The second country least affected by climate change turned out to be Greece. Greece saw by far the lowest change in surface temperature, with an increase of only 0.075 °C per decade. On the other hand, the Greek seas have become 0.706 °C warmer between 1960 and 2014. This is relatively high compared to many other countries in Europe. Sea levels have seen an increase of 2.01 mm per year, from 1970 to 2015. Finally, precipitation in Greece has been decreasing by 20 mm per decade between 1960 and 2015. These indicators combined have given Greece a total score of 37.15. 3. Norway The third country least affected by climate change is Norway. Out of all the European countries part of the study, Norway saw the highest increase in precipitation, with an increase of 37.14 mm per decade between 1960 and 2015. Just like Iceland, Norway’s surface temperature increased by 0.275 °C per decade. Furthermore, sea levels saw a slight rise of 0.25 mm per year, from 1970 to 2015, which is 1.78 mm lower than the European average. Finally, sea temperatures in Norway have been increasing by 0.439 °C per decade, thereby being below the European average. These indicators combined have given Norway a total score of 41.91. How Is the UK Doing in Comparison to Europe’s Average? Out of the 32 European countries that have been a part of the study, the UK was revealed to be the 8thcountry least affected by climate change. The UK came out of the test with a total score of 49.35 out of 100, which is 6.01 better than the European average. The table below compares the UK’s results with Europe’s average for each indicator. Natural Disasters in European Countries 1960‒2019 According to the World Meteorological Organization, change in the frequency, intensity, and variability of extreme weather events — such as drought, extreme heat, flooding, and extreme precipitation — is one of the most important impacts of climate change. Using consistent and meaningful indicators has been proposed as a way to reflect upon the global influence of climate change on extreme events. However, it is very important to keep in mind that it is too early to tell how such indicators may relate to climate change. In order to get an overall, estimated understanding of the climate conditions in Europe, GreenMatch has looked into trends surrounding extreme events in European countries between 1960 and 2019. The map below illustrates the total number of extreme events per European country between 1960 and 2019. As illustrated in the map above, France has experienced the most extreme events since 1960. The country has experienced a total of 48 floods and 62 storms during those years, which is significantly higher than most other European countries. Iceland, Finland, and Estonia stand out from the crowd with very few extreme events, with Iceland experiencing only one extreme event since 1960: a flood. Interactive Graph: Trends of Extreme Events in Europe In addition to the map above, GreenMatch has created an interactive graph that shows the trend of extreme events in European countries between 1960 and 2019. The graph shows a tremendous increase in the number of storms around the early 90s: a total of 66 storms in all the selected countries. After 1990, Europe saw a lot more extreme events than before, particularly droughts and extreme temperatures. How Can We Limit Any Further Impacts? There is no denial in the fact that climate change is causing environmental problems all around the world. Problems of this magnitude need a universal policy on sustainability and renewable energy. However, limiting any further impacts of climate change starts with individual households around the world. Besides contributing in small, everyday actions — such as recycling and lowering your consumption — changing your domestic energy source can make a huge difference. Investing in renewable energy is one of the most effective ways to lower your carbon footprint and contribute to a greener planet. For example, by installing solar panels or heat pumps you can help limit the effects of climate change and simultaneously lower your electricity bills in the long run. Source - https://www.greenmatch.co.uk/

09.05.2019

Bulgaria - Farmers in Balgarene will be compensated for crop damages from the hail storm

The farmers affected by the hail storm in the village of Balgarene, Pleven district, will be compensated in accordance with the damage assessment, Bulgaria’s Minister of Agriculture, Rumen Porozhanov said on May 7 after he examined the damaged crops. A team of specialists started to assess the damages, reports BNT. Hail to the size of walnuts battered the area of the village of Balgarene on May 6, causing damages to gardens, crops, and roofs and windows of buildings. The cover of ice blocks reached 20 cm. At a meeting with the farmers from Balgarene, the minister said that the compensations will paid as quickly as possible and will be to the amount of 80% of the costs. The farmers will be compensated under the fast-track procedure. There are no anti hail grounds near Balgarene, the suppression zone reaches thirty kilometres from the village - to Pleven, the Minister said. Hail suppression now covers only a third of agricultural land. Rumen Porozhanov: We have lodged the draft law on hailstorms to the Parliament. We offer the airplane use for hail suppression in order to cover the whole country. The farmers asked for assistance so that they could re-sow the affected areas. The Minister has undertaken to hold talks with the institutes at the Agricultural Academy for supply of seeds. Source - https://www.novinite.com