Climatology and the countryside

Good luck to everyone again! Today, I am going to dedicate this post to the close relationship between the weather and the countryside in which the farmers who make up Bodegas La Aurora are located.

The field that the vast majority of farmers own, if not all, is dry land, generally sown or planted by two large crops, the vineyard and the olive grove, being dry land, not only does the storms that affect this field affect They normally come to visit us at this time of year, but we are also affected by drought and any adverse weather conditions (frost, snowfall, hail, etc.) that may occur during any season of the year.

Which crop is more delicate? The vineyard or the olive tree? I would say, and I think most would agree with me, that it is the vineyard, the vineyard is a crop that needs a lot of pampering, a lot of care, it needs its work done in due time, the harvest is quite short compared to that of the olive, so if you have a lot of production you will have to hire external labor, yes or yes, so the harvesting will become more expensive. I would say that the olive tree has suffered more, proof of this is the number of olive trees that are being planted in places where there were previously vineyards. If you do too much work on the olive tree, or if you don’t prune it one year, it doesn’t have as negative consequences as if you did it in the vineyard.

Can we fight against these phenomena? No, it is impossible, our crops are outdoors, without any type of protection that can limit the damage caused by these phenomena, the only possible option is to secure our field and cross our fingers that the year, climatologically speaking, is kind to us. our field and let us collect most of the fruits that our trees generate.

This close relationship between our field and the weather makes it, and consequently us, so vulnerable and we have so little room for maneuver when making any type of investment. But you will say, You have the insurance! With that you cover the losses caused by the damage caused! In many cases insurance is not what it seems to be and does not cover the total losses. What’s more, if it does not amount to a total loss of the harvest, it is very likely that what they pay you will not cover the total cost of the insurance if you have several plots.

So what is appropriate? What interests? I think that the best thing is that nothing happens and that the year is complete in terms of production, ensure just in case and cross my fingers. If a catastrophe comes (a frost, hail, etc.) that affects the total harvest, so that when the expert arrives to assess the damage, he does not start to object and gives you a lower percentage than what you really deserve. Finally, say that you can always take a risk and not insure the field, because honestly, the field is not in a position to add more and more expenses, but that is something that the farmer has to face for himself and value it very well, since it is an important risk, losing everything completely and having worked a whole year for nothing.

Any advice to offer to minimize the damage caused by the weather in the field?

Greetings and until next time!

By Rafael Espejo.