Good harvest in sight: Agriculture in Solothurn benefits from dry weather

Good harvest in sight: Agriculture in Solothurn benefits from dry weather

The current agricultural situation in Solothurn is predominantly positive. Gaetano Mori, head of the plant protection service at the Wallierhof education center, reports a mild winter that benefited both winter cereals and rapeseed. Despite the mild temperatures, the crops did not grow any further in the winter because the temperatures were too low at times. At the beginning of spring, the weather conditions were favorable, as a dry period was observed compared to the previous year. This not only promoted the growth of the plants, but also enabled effective mechanical weed control in the grain.

The sowing of vegetables, sugar beets and potatoes particularly benefited from the dry soils, which reduced the risk of soil compaction. Mori highlights that crop growth this year is good, but not exceptionally strong. The conditions are significantly better compared to last year, which was characterized by wet and cold weather.

Pest and disease situation

A comparison of the current situation with previous years shows that there have been no noticeable problems with pests and diseases so far. The only significant thing is the observation of more aphids than in previous years. Last year, widespread late blight in potatoes posed a major challenge for farmers. The risk of resistance in weeds, pests and fungal diseases also remains a central issue. Plant protection products are used multiple times in different crops because alternative products with other active ingredients are no longer available, which can potentially lead to the development of resistance.

Further information on combating grain diseases can be found in the information sheets from lfl.bayern.de. Aimed at field practitioners, this resource provides comprehensive diagnostics and control options for common wheat diseases such as ear fusariasis, stone smut, and dwarf smut.

The challenges in the field of plant protection are enormous. Despite low grain prices and increasing environmental awareness, the use of fungicides remains necessary, but this should be limited to the necessary minimum. The lfl.bayern.de provides decision-making aids that provide valuable information on managing diseases for barley, rye and oats.

Overall, it can be summarized that the agricultural crops in Solothurn are currently thriving under better conditions than last year. The combination of rainfall, sunlight and temperature appears to benefit farmers, while at the same time crop protection challenges remain.