Heavy rains and hail have severely damaged nearly 1,000 acres of olive trees in Arganda del Rey, a small municipality outside of Madrid. Nearly all of the damaged trees belong to small-scale family producers.
The Association of Young Farmers and Ranchers (Asaja) said that olive oil production is estimated to be 90 percent lower this year as a result.
A combination of strong winds, heavy rains and large pieces of hail hit the small town, leaving 998 acres of trees without fruit.
“When we went out we had more than half a meter of hail. Hail moved like iceberg blocks on roads and paths,” Cipriano Guillén, a local olive farmer and delegate of Asaja Madrid, told Agropopular in a radio interview. “We saw that there were some areas, which were totally razed. And all this 48 hours before planning the olive campaign.”
Arganda del Rey is not a large producer of olive oil, so overall production figures for Spain are largely unaffected.
The municipality was already expecting a significantly lower yield, compared with last year, due to many farmers entering an off-year and a lack of rain in the springtime.
“Now there will be absolutely almost nothing,” Guillén said.
Related Articles
Jan. 29, 2024
The Joy and Sacrifice of Organic Olive Oil Production on Mallorca
Oli de Santanyi founder Dirk Müller-Busch believes that producers who want a fair price must meet consumer demands for organic, high-quality extra virgin olive oil at all costs.
Jul. 9, 2024
Enhancing Excellence: How the World's Best Restaurant Uses Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Locally sourced extra virgin olive oil is an essential ingredient for the Michelin-star chefs at Disfrutar Barcelona and their award-winning tasting menu.
Aug. 7, 2024
Open Source AI Model Accurately Predicted Olive Oil Prices
The model accurately predicted olive oil price movements and timing while it was developed in 2017 and 2018. Its creator said its scientific basis remains valid and released it publicly.
Apr. 12, 2024
Global Production May Exceed Expectations, but Not Enough to Move Prices
Analysts predict climate change will result in new price dynamics, with high-quality extra virgin olive oil and other market segments behaving differently.
Jun. 26, 2024
Rising Olive Oil Imports Contribute to Spain’s Trade Deficit with Argentina
While Spain’s agricultural trade deficit fell by 33 percent between 2022 and 2023, olive oil imports increased by nearly 230 percent due to a poor harvest and rising prices.
Apr. 1, 2024
Belgian Farmer Sues Energy Company Over Climate Damages
Hugues Falys wants energy giant TotalEnergies to take part of the blame for the dry and warm weather that has impacted his livestock and farming business.
Mar. 7, 2024
Spanish Campaigners Lobby for Glyphosate Ban After EU Fails to Reach Consensus
The world’s most used herbicide was found in concentrations exceeding the legal limit in Mar Menor, spurring advocates to call for a ban in Spain.
Dec. 3, 2023
2023 Is the Hottest Year on Record; 2024 Will Likely Be Hotter
The average global temperature in 2023 was 1.40 ºC above the pre-industrial average, with many olive-growing regions bearing the brunt of extreme heat.