Thuringia farmers worry about animal feed supply amid drought

Thuringia's farmers are facing a tense situation regarding animal feed supplies, primarily due to recent heat and drought conditions. André Rathgeber of the Thuringian Farmers' Association highlighted the impact on grass, alfalfa, and clover, with many areas unable to achieve a third cut of green fodder. "There was nothing there," Rathgeber stated, describing how grass on many pastures had simply dried up.

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It is not the case that animal populations have to be reduced due to lack of feed.

The situation varies across the state, with corn crops showing different levels of development. While areas like Altenburger Land and Greiz are faring relatively well, the Thuringian Basin, Ilm-Kreis, and Gotha districts are experiencing problems. "Many farms hope the corn can still recover," Rathgeber noted, emphasizing its importance as a feed source.

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There was nothing there.

To mitigate the shortages, the Thuringian Farmers' Association operates an online feed exchange where farms can offer and seek supplies. Rathgeber mentioned this platform is actively used, allowing farms to help each other. However, he expressed concern about the long-term outlook, stating that even with sufficient rain in the coming weeks, farms will likely be unable to build reserves for 2027. Many farms entered the current year with existing stocks that helped buffer the immediate impact of the shortages.

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Many farms hope the corn can still recover.