Frost causes severe damage to farm products in Austria

The damage caused by heavy snow and frost in Austria last week has threatened the livelihood of farmers across the country, Minister for Agriculture Andrae Rupprechter said Monday.

He announced a package of short- and medium-term measures to aid the affected farmers, including money from a catastrophe fund that has already been approved by the finance ministry, Austria Press Agency reported.

Among other measures, farmers can ask for a deferral of agricultural investment loans. Plans are also being made to allow them to pay half of the premiums on drought and frost insurance, with the state and federal governments paying a quarter each.

Insurance group the Oesterreichische Hagelversicherung has estimated the total nationwide damage to be over 200 million euros (230 million U.S. dollars).

State Agricultural Chambers President Hermann Schultes said practically all crops have been affected, from stone fruit, berries, pumpkins and corn to deciduous trees, Christmas trees, and vineyards, all of which will see significantly lower harvests.

Rupprechter is to meet with state agricultural officials for further talks on the issue in Vienna on Tuesday.