Asturias stays green in August, but Spanish farmers await the autumn rains
Asturias in northern Spain looks spring-green in August, but livestock farmers fear the autumn rains may fail and they will have to buy feed and forage.
English · Original discussion in Spanish · Published
Asturias, green in August: the landscape doesn't pay for feed
On 21 August, Asturias still looks like a tourism advert: intensely green meadows, 20 degrees in the sun and the Picos de Europa peeking through the clouds. First-time visitors are amazed. But the landscape is deceiving.
The autumn rains that never come
Traditionally, the late-August rains — the otoñada, as they are known locally — break the summer drought around St Bartholomew's Day, 24 August. This year, conditions remain dry and livestock farmers in northern Spain are already preparing for what seems inevitable: buying feed and forage for their cattle. It is no small expense: it raises production costs and squeezes margins that have been barely holding on for years.
The gap between the image and the reality fuels scepticism. Some doubt the photo is real, suggesting it has been retouched or was taken months ago. Either way, green does not miccionan usable pasture, and the primary sector's balance sheet doesn't care about postcards.
On 21 August, Asturias still looks like a tourism advert: intensely green meadows, 20 degrees in the sun and the Picos de Europa peeking through the clouds. First-time visitors are amazed. But the landscape is deceiving.
The autumn rains that never come
Traditionally, the late-August rains — the otoñada, as they are known locally — break the summer drought around St Bartholomew's Day, 24 August. This year, conditions remain dry and livestock farmers in northern Spain are already preparing for what seems inevitable: buying feed and forage for their cattle. It is no small expense: it raises production costs and squeezes margins that have been barely holding on for years.
The gap between the image and the reality fuels scepticism. Some doubt the photo is real, suggesting it has been retouched or was taken months ago. Either way, green does not miccionan usable pasture, and the primary sector's balance sheet doesn't care about postcards.
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Summary of a discussion on Burbuja.info - Foro de economía, actualidad y política., translated from Spanish and reviewed before publication. Read the full discussion (13 replies).
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