Rainy July boosts nature and agriculture in Brandenburg?

Heavy Rainfall in July 2025 Wreaks Havoc in Baden-Württemberg

In July 2025, Baden-Württemberg was hit by heavy rainfall that brought significant adverse effects on nature, agriculture, and industries.

The persistent torrential rains led to increased risks of localized flooding and mudslides, particularly between the Black Forest and Bavarian Forest regions south of the Danube. This heavy rainfall affected aquatic ecosystems in multifactorial ways, disrupting aquatic organisms due to sudden changes in water flow and quality [1][2].

The heavy rain and flooding would have negatively impacted farming by waterlogging soils and increasing runoff, consistent with known effects of such intense rainfall. The region already experiences challenges like shrub encroachment impacting dryland productivity; heavy rainfall events could complicate grazing regimes and pasture conditions further [2].

The intense rain caused critical infrastructure damage, notably causing deadly train derailments due to mudslides triggered by saturated soils and landslides. One major incident near Riedlingen involved a train derailment that killed three people and injured 41 when embankments destabilized by heavy rain collapsed onto the tracks. Similar crashes in the region near Biberach were also caused by landslides from bushes destabilized by heavy waterflows and sewer overflows. These incidents highlight the vulnerability of transportation networks and potential disruptions to industry logistics in Baden-Württemberg during such extreme weather [3][5].

Despite the challenges, there were some positive outcomes. Free baths in Baden-Württemberg reported positive results overall, with some baths like those in Konstanz and Freiburg reporting more bathing guests than at the same time in previous years. However, the hotel and restaurant industry suffered significant revenue losses due to the rainy weather, affecting not only outdoor dining but also day trips and short-term hotel bookings [4].

The rain in July did not significantly help amphibians in Baden-Württemberg, as most breeding waters had already dried out after the dry spring. The populations of 14 of the 19 amphibian species native to Baden-Württemberg are declining [6]. To combat the mosquito problem caused by the heavy rain, the Communal Action Group for Combating the Mosquito Plague (KABS) began treating breeding sites with the biological active ingredient Bti at the beginning of August [7].

The heavy rain in July has created ideal conditions for mosquitoes to breed, particularly in low-lying areas, ditches, riparian forests, and rainwater retention basins. Free baths in Stuttgart reported a decrease in visitors during the cool, rainy weather, with only 112,000 visitors in July compared to 215,000 in June and 270,000 in July 2022 [8].

Corn, sugar beets, or soybeans are not harvested until September or November, so the rain came at a good time for these crops. The rain can cause grain to germinate in the ear, reducing protein content, which is crucial for processing. This may result in the wheat being suitable only for animal feed, not as bread grain. However, farmers in Baden-Württemberg are either laughing or crying about the rainy July, depending on their crops. Winter barley had good yields and quality, but other grains like wheat and rapeseed were affected by the rain [9].

In summary, the heavy rainfall in July 2025 led to environmental stress on ecosystems, likely agricultural setbacks through flooding and soil saturation, and severe disruptions to transport infrastructure, including fatal rail accidents triggered by mudslides and landslides [1][2][3][5]. Despite these challenges, there were some positive outcomes, such as increased visitors to free baths and good yields for winter barley. However, the hotel and restaurant industry suffered significant revenue losses, and the populations of many amphibian species continued to decline. The heavy rain also created ideal conditions for mosquitoes to breed, necessitating the use of measures like Bti to control the mosquito population.