Munich, May 23, 2024 – The BayWa Drought Monitor 2024 has been launched and provides initial data on the drought stress of wheat in Germany.

Climate change is altering agriculture, with longer periods of drought in particular causing problems for arable farming. But not all droughts are the same. With regard to the harvest, the complex interplay of precipitation, soil moisture and plant growth is crucial for agriculture. In order to be able to draw a differentiated picture here, Vista developed the BayWa Drought Monitor together with its parent company BayWa – and published data on the drought stress of winter wheat in 2023 for the first time. This season the monitor will be extended and also cover Maize.

Vista uses satellite data, soil maps and hydrological, meteorological and topographical information to compile the BayWa Drought Monitor. The BayWa Drought Monitor is an example of how different data sources can be combined and suitable analyses developed. Such information on the drought stress of plants also provides data on food security, as drought is the greatest risk factor for food production.

In contrast to other drought maps, the BayWa Drought Monitor is specifically geared towards agriculture and also takes into account the current growth stage and leaf development, the plant’s daily water requirements, root development and the water at different soil depths. The BayWa Drought Monitor thus contributes to a differentiated discussion about the consequences of a lack of precipitation. Even if there is a lack of water in the upper soil layer, the plant can still do well – provided the roots are well developed and the site is suitably deep.

The BayWa Drought Monitor is an orientation tool for anyone concerned with the effects of drought in agriculture. It shows large-scale maps and is designed to provide an overview. You can see the specific regions where the drought is particularly severe in the current year, and this is often very variable in terms of space and time. The evaluations over several years allow to quantify risks that can lead to adjustments in cultivation. For example, crop rotations are adjusted or investments are made in irrigation.

Find out more about the BayWa Drought Monitor.