Czech Republic agriculture faces severe drought and straw shortages

Extreme drought and below-average precipitation in the Czech Republic have severely impacted the agricultural sector. According to researchers at Mendel University in Brno, the combination of a warm, dry winter with low snow cover, high evaporation rates, and insufficient rainfall during critical growing periods has made this one of the driest years of the century.

While cereal crops have managed relatively well, significant damage has been reported in perennial grasslands, corn, potatoes, hops, and certain fruit crops. The lack of moisture during the meteorological spring, which saw only 57 percent of normal rainfall, has left many crops unable to recover despite recent cooling and rain.

The drought has also triggered a massive deficit in straw supplies across many regions. This shortage poses a critical challenge for livestock farmers who rely on straw for bedding. The scarcity has led to skyrocketing market prices and limited availability, threatening animal welfare and hygiene standards in stables. To combat the rapid degradation of bedding material in these conditions, some producers are looking toward biological solutions to extend the lifespan of bedding and manage ammonia levels.