Styrian Beetle Bean harvest faces massive failures due to heatwave

A severe heatwave in Southeast Styria has caused near-total crop failures for the Styrian Beetle Bean, a protected traditional product with a protected geographical indication (g. g. A.). Temperatures exceeding 30 degrees Celsius during the critical flowering and grain-filling stages have led to dried flowers and empty pods.

Farmers in areas including Gleisdorf, Feldbach, and Bad Radkersburg report that the heatwave, combined with high nighttime temperatures, prevented the necessary cooling for fruit setting. Some farms are reporting a 100 percent loss of their harvest. Because these beans are a premium product with pre-established supply contracts, the loss is expected to result in significant financial hardship for local agricultural businesses.