© AVA-ASAJA
An "intense hailstorm" that hit Spain's Valencia region on Sunday has caused widespread damage to persimmon and citrus crops, according to farming association AVA-ASAJA.
There had been "extremely serious damage" in the La Ribera area, with many growers having lost the entirety of their crop, the organization said.
Some 11,000 hectares are estimated to be affected, with economic losses of up to €47 million (US$58 million), it said. The large storm affected numerous areas in Valencia, passing from east to west.
"It was a brief storm but it was very strong and has been a real disaster for thousands of Valencian growers. Even the wood on the trees has been affected," said AVA-ASAJA president Cristóbal Aguado. He has requested state support for fungicides to protect the trees from rotting.
Persimmons are the most affected crop, with around 3,500 hectares seriously affected. The organization estimated this would translate into a 15% drop in production on the next crop, which, added to the 10% reduction the industry was already expecting due to frosts in February and March, will lead to Valencia's persimmon production dropping by a quarter.
Comment: Even though many farmers in France attempt to protect their crop from hail damage with nets and controversial hail guns, the ferocity and frequency of these storms is rising so even they are unprepared. Increasingly they also need to be aware of erratic frosts, epic floods, heatwaves, microbursts, the list goes on. The future for farming is looking bleak indeed:
More images from the devastating hail in France:
Similar has been occurring all over the world - Italy:
And US: