Grubs damage Salzburg meadows after dry summer

Grub damage is increasing across Salzburg’s meadows after a dry summer, ORF reported. The larvae of June beetles and garden chafers feed on grass roots and can severely damage meadows within a short time, particularly in the Flachgau, Tennengau, Pongau and Pinzgau districts.

Fields that were recently covered in lush green grass are now brown and disturbed in many places. Severe infestations can loosen the turf so much that it can be lifted from the ground like a carpet. Affected farms face extensive work, high costs and reduced supplies of animal feed.

Mechanical treatment becoming more difficult

Elisabeth Neudorfer, a grassland expert at the Salzburg Chamber of Agriculture, said the larvae can currently be controlled mechanically by completely re-establishing the affected areas. Farmers drive over the fields twice with a rotary harrow to kill as many grubs as possible while they are feeding near the surface.

That treatment is becoming more difficult as temperatures fall because the larvae are retreating deeper into the soil.

Farmers advised to reseed this year

Neudorfer recommends reseeding affected sections before the end of the year. It is unclear whether the seed will establish well under current conditions and produce a durable grass cover. Some areas may need to be reseeded again in spring.

Because of the dry conditions, the chamber recommends adding cover crops such as oats or rye at up to 40 kilograms per hectare. These crops should support rapid rooting and provide shade for the new growth.

More than 30 farms have already contacted the Salzburg Chamber of Agriculture. The chamber is advising them on control methods and says state funding can be applied for.