In many regions of Austria, combine harvesters are out earlier than usual this year—and yet the grain tanks remain surprisingly empty. Farmers report yield losses of between about 20 and 40 percent compared to an average year, and even higher in particularly dry areas. At the same time, initial analyses by the agricultural chambers confirm that grain yield figures and quality parameters are often in the “good” range—but the marketable yield per hectare is clearly below the long-term average.
Dry areas in eastern Austria have been particularly hard hit, where a very dry spring and heat waves in June put the crops under stress early on. In many cases, fields that received less than half the usual amount of spring rainfall had to mature as early as June, rather than reaching their full yield potential by July. Consequently, the same phrases come up again and again in conversation: “The quality is good, but the quantity is lacking” or “The combine is running, but the silo remains half-empty.”
This is exactly where Green Legacy comes in: Our water-retaining granules help keep water right in the root zone and mitigate drought stress during critical phases. In field trials, we were able to demonstrate that irrigation requirements for certain crops can be significantly reduced without lowering yields. At the same time, we are working with farms to document in detail how water-retention technology affects yield, quality, and water consumption in crop production.
For farms, this means: While they can’t control the weather, they can certainly improve their soil’s ability to retain water. Those who make targeted investments in water storage technology on land that repeatedly suffers from drought stress and reduced yields will create an additional buffer for the years ahead. After all, there are many indications that similar precipitation patterns and heat waves may occur more frequently in the future. Water storage in the soil does not replace rain, but it extends the period during which plants remain active despite dry spells—and it is precisely these extra days that can ultimately make the difference between a harvest and a crop failure.
Sources: Report: Meinbezirk
