The wireworm endangers potato cultivation in Austria

Heat and drought stress shaped the 2022 potato cultivation year. Especially in the Weinviertel areas that cannot be irrigated, farmers had to accept reduced yields and lots damaged by wireworms. The situation in the Waldviertel and in the irrigation areas was somewhat better. But even there, wireworm infestation has depressed the qualities. The potato cultivation area in Austria fell by around five percent from 2021 to 2022 and amounted to 21,441 ha. Of this, 7,847 ha were used for table and new potatoes. In the run-up, one had expected much larger declines. According to preliminary estimates by Statistics Austria, the harvest volume is almost nine percent below the previous year's level. If one deducts sorting, which is particularly necessary because of the wireworm holes, the harvest volume is reduced even further. The wireworm caused major damage in some regions very early in the season this year. During the main harvest in autumn, the industry feared a repetition of the ...