Hungary suspends JÉGER ice damage prevention system

Former Member of Parliament Ákos Hadházy has criticized Agriculture Minister Szabolcs Bóna’s decision to suspend the JÉGER ice damage prevention system across most of Hungary, except for four counties.

The decision follows a petition and public opinion poll driven by the misconception that the system’s use of silver iodide contributes to drought by reducing precipitation. While some farmers have expressed concerns regarding rainfall, the National Agricultural Chamber stated there is no link between the system's operation and drought conditions.

Hadházy argues the move is a “classic, pure populist measure” taken to avoid political unpopularity rather than addressing scientific facts. He warns that disabling the system could lead to severe hail damage, particularly in vineyards, and emphasizes that scientific evidence does not support the claim that the system decreases overall precipitation.