Mitigate the Effects of Drought on Agriculture
The Ministry of Agriculture implements measures to counteract the effects of climate change on domestic agriculture. The focus is primarily on sustainable risk management to mitigate the impacts of drought in agriculture.
Current situation
Weather conditions in Austria during the current growing season are characterized by intense heat and uneven precipitation, with strong regional differences.
After a very dry June, July 2019 initially brought only slight relief from the prevailing drought. As in previous years, the 2019 harvest shows significant regional variation.
Measures
The basis for this is the expansion and further development of the Austrian agricultural insurance system. Within its remit, the Ministry of Agriculture has implemented a number of measures:
Public subsidies for agricultural insurance premiums have been increased from 50 percent to 55 percent, and extended to cover risks such as hail, frost, drought, storm damage, and heavy or prolonged rainfall. This forms the foundation for improved and independent risk management by Austrian farmers.
In addition, insurance against drought has been expanded with attractive and innovative drought index insurance for grassland and key arable crops (maize, winter wheat, sugar beet, soybean, and winter rye). The high level of coverage shows that farmers have widely adopted these measures for risk management.
Payments under the Common Agricultural Policy
Overall, the implementation of the Common Agricultural Policy in the 2014–2020 period created a solid basis for supporting family farms. Reliable and predictable payments are provided as direct income support (direct payments), clearly defined compensation for services (ÖPUL), and compensation for natural disadvantages (compensatory allowance).
In addition, Austria’s federal states can offer further support measures tailored to regional needs, in line with EU regulations.