Impact of black frost yet to be determined

Farmers in the Breedekloof
Wine Valley are continuing
to assess the damage to crops
after an unexpected but
widespread night of black
frost in October.
According to Vinpro
viticulture expert Leon
Dippenaar, the full extent
of the damage is yet to
be determined. “It is very
difficult to estimate the
number of tonnes lost because
of the frost damage,” he told
FTW. “It is certainly not
50% overall as was initially
reported although there are
some producers who could
expect a 50% reduction.”
Black frost, strictly
speaking not frost at
all, happens when the
temperature falls below zero
but the humidity is too low
for frost to form. With the air
too dry to form visible frost
that protects the plants, plant
tissues freeze and dry and
turn black.
Some farmers said the black
frost experienced in October
was the worst they had seen in
more than 20 years.
Rough estimates are now
in the region of 20 000-
25 000 tonnes lost in the
Breedekloof and Worcester
areas combined.
Dippenaar said he did not
foresee the frost impacting on
exports dramatically as there
was sufficient carry-over stock
still available.