In addition to problems with pumpkin cultivation and flooding, Styrian farmers are also having to contend with “extremely destructive” crows this year. The birds are mainly after corn plants. A connection with the hunting ban is not recognized.
The “Krone” reported on the major problems with the cultivation of the oil pumpkin – now, according to the Chamber of Agriculture, the crows are also causing “unprecedented damage to the fields”. Young corn plants in particular are in the animals’ sights: “Some of the farmers are already sowing their corn for the third time,” reports plant cultivation boss Arno Mayer. The crows destroy the lettuce, fennel and squash, although he tries to drive them away acoustically using a loudspeaker. Heavy damage is also reported from the Leibnitz and Weiz districts. “The farmers try to drive the crows away with scarecrows and personal presence, but this has little effect. After a few minutes, the game starts all over again,” says Arno Mayer. But not only farmers struggle with crow damage: In Upper Styria, the animals destroy numerous silo bales by picking up the film. New victims would report to the district chamber every hour, the damage is great. In July 2022, the ordinance that allowed crows to be hunted in Styria expired. However, Mayer does not see a direct connection with the current situation, and there are no calls for shooting (yet).
