Expanded Potato Farmland in Bavaria Under Pressure from Pest Invasion
In the picturesque landscapes of Bavaria, the harvest season is in full swing, but one pest is casting a shadow over the potato fields. The cicada, also known as the reed glass-winged cicada, is spreading across the region, posing a significant threat to potato cultivation.
Despite ideal weather conditions, farmer Johannes Wittmann in Haidlfing near Wallersdorf has found cicada specimens in sticky traps on his fields. This unwelcome discovery comes as the cultivation area for potatoes in Bavaria has increased slightly this year, reaching nearly 40,000 hectares.
The cicada causes the plant disease Stolbur, which can also infect sugar beets and beets. The increase in the potato cultivation area may potentially increase the risk of cicada infestation.
The potato harvest is proceeding well this year, according to Agriculture Minister Michaela Kaniber (CSU), with an expected yield of 12.6 million tons. However, the cicada threatens to cause yield losses of 30 to 50 percent in potato cultivation.
To contain the spread of the cicada pest, there are two main options: refraining from planting winter wheat after sugar beets or potatoes, and the emergency approval of plant protection products in affected regions.
In a show of support for the industry, Minister Kaniber recently visited a farmer's property in Lower Bavaria. The Free State is also investing in research projects, with two million euros allocated in 2024 alone. However, the search results do not provide information about which organization is responsible for this funding.
Potato cultivation is an important pillar of food security in Bavaria, generating around 300 million euros in annual income. Farmer Wittmann expects to harvest around 500,000 tubers on his fields this year. Despite the challenges posed by the cicada, the resilience of Bavaria's farmers remains undeterred.
In comparison to the previous year, the increase in the potato cultivation area represents a 3.6 percent increase. In 2021, Bavaria's farmers harvested around 1.5 million tons of potatoes, a 2.6 percent increase from 2023.
As the battle against the cicada continues, the future of Bavaria's potato industry hangs in the balance. The region, which is one of the main potato-growing regions nationwide, will undoubtedly be watching the developments closely.
