Farmers arm themselves against frost
Published: Monday, Apr 22nd 2024, 12:21
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In Valais and eastern Switzerland, the current cold spell is causing a tense situation in fruit and vegetable growing. Farmers in Valais fear frost damage due to the persistent cold. No damage has yet occurred in eastern Switzerland.
To protect their fruit trees and vines, farmers in Valais are putting up heating candles or spraying their crops with water. A large part of the canton of Valais is currently affected by the risk of frost," said Olivier Borgeat, Secretary General of the Valais Fruit and Vegetable Association, when asked by the Keystone-SDA news agency on Monday. Both the crops on the plain and on the slopes are under observation.
The most important tool in the fight against frost is spraying fruit trees with water. This forms a protective layer around the buds, which protects them from temperatures below freezing. On slopes, candles are lit under the fruit trees to prevent temperatures from dropping too low. Irrigation is less suitable on slopes because it could lead to landslides.
Balance sheet mid-May
The risk of frost damage to vines varies greatly from place to place, said Yvan Aymon from the industry association for vines and wine. The risk is considered to be lower on the slopes than on the Rhone plain. However, the cold spell that has lasted for more than a week is generally worrying.
The preventative measures will be maintained throughout the week due to the weather forecasts. The risk of frost damage will only really be averted after mid-May, when the ice saints have passed, explained Borgeat from the fruit and vegetable industry association. Only then will it be possible to estimate the extent of any frost damage.
Tense situation in Eastern Switzerland
The situation in fruit and vegetable growing is also tense in eastern Switzerland. However, there is currently no frost damage, Reto Leumann from the Arenenberg Agricultural Advisory Center in Thurgau told Keystone-SDA.
As a measure, individual vegetable crops were sprayed. Some cherry trees are also being protected from low temperatures with plastic sheeting. It is currently difficult to estimate how the current remarkably long cold spell will actually affect yields.
©Keystone/SDA
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