Farmers in Luxembourg are grappling with unprecedented rainfall, leading to oversaturated fields, crop failures, and disrupted livestock routines, significantly impacting their operations and financial stability.
Farmers in Luxembourg have struggled to work their fields and crops in recent months due to unusually high amounts of rain. The precipitation has provoked cases of mycosis and also affected animals, which have spent significantly more time inside.
Speaking to our colleagues from RTL, fruit and vegetable farmer Jean-Claude Muller explained that the ground is oversaturated, which makes mechanical harvesting close to impossible: "We have some cultures that were planted at a later stage and that seem to be doing well, potatoes for instance. Salads are also off well more or less, but others have suffered and are likely little to no good at all."
Cattle farmer Ben Majerus meanwhile delved into the problems that his sector has been experiencing. Having to repeatedly bring out animals has messed up their regular schedules, with fodder destined to be used in winter now already being given out. This in return is driving up their costs, according to Majerus.
Christian Hahn, president of the Agriculture Chamber, believes that it is too early to assess the full extend of financial losses: "I think that is something that has to be analysed on a longer time period, it still depends on the rest of the year. ... It can still turn out to be a dry year."
Hahn went on to say that with current weather predictions looking good, now is the time to act. He therefore asked for understanding if farmers occasionally go on to work longer in the evening or over the weekend.
Video report in Luxembourgish:
