Israel: Winter showers boost wheat crop, but water worries continue to stalk farmers

Wheat

Dairy

Israel

Sustainability & Environmental Impact

Market & Price Trends

Published Mar 29, 2024

Tridge summary

Farmers in Israel have had mixed reactions to the recent wet weather, with many welcoming the rain for their rain-fed crops like wheat and barley, while others worry about the future. The country has experienced significant rainfall, beneficial for these crops, but continued rain is needed for a successful harvest. Challenges from climate change, such as warmer winters and less frequent but more intense rainfall, impact wheat cultivation. Israel, which heavily relies on wheat imports, faces potential reduced local production due to a Hamas assault. Efforts are underway to develop drought-resistant grain varieties, highlighting the importance of local wheat production for Israel's food security and the benefits of reducing imports, especially from geopolitical standpoints.

Disclaimer: The above summary was generated by a state-of-the-art LLM model and is intended for informational purposes only. It is recommended that readers refer to the original article for more context.

Original content

Many farmers of rain-fed crops such as wheat and barley have been celebrating the wet weather that has drenched much of the country for the past two weeks. Around 1.1 million dunams (270,000 acres) are cultivated for wheat in Israel each year, with half of it used for hay, mainly for the dairy industry, and the other half for grain and straw, according to David Levy, general manager of the Israel Association of Field Crop Growers. An additional 50,000 dunams (12,300 acres), are used for barley, which is more drought-resistant than wheat. Barley is primarily used for animal feed. According to data from the Israel Meteorological Service, parts of the country have gotten over 700 millimeters of water so far this fall and winter, nearly double the seasonal average. In the western Negev, an area known as Israel’s breadbasket, the totals have been lower, but have still neared seasonal averages, with a large chunk of the rain coming in the last few weeks’ downpours. “There’s been some ...

Source: UkrAgroConsult