Bjelovar, March 5, 2018

Fifth agrometeorological workshop Agrometeorology at the service of the users "Agriculture and vegetation protection against fires under the impact of extreme meteorological events"

In the 21st century 16 years were warm, even 8 years extremely warm, only 2005 was average but not cold year. The last extreme cold year was in Croatia in 1940. This causes a faster and more frequent change of extreme weather conditions - very hot and dry periods contribute to reducing the yield of agricultural crops and the occurrence of large wildfires. On the other hand, extreme cold or frost causes large losses in orchards and vineyards and abundant rain of catastrophic floods. These are all the consequences of climate change and global warming, which is so much to talk about. But the public is still unconvincing about all the warnings that scientists give, even though they feel consequences caused by climate change.

Therefore, the Croatian Agrometeorological Society organized Fifth agrometeorological workshop "Agriculture and vegetation protection against fires under the impact of extreme meteorological events" at the College hall in Bjelovar on March 5, 2018. The president of HAgMD Višnja Vučetić welcomed distinguished guests and participants and thanked the co-organizers and donors. Welcoming speeches were held by Assistant Director of Croatian Agricultural and Forestry Advisory Service Robert Črep, Director of the Meteorological and Hydrological Service Branka Ivančan-Picek, Commander of the Public Fire Brigade of the City of Bjelovar Davor Đalog, Deputy Mayor of the City of Bjelovar Igor Brajdić and Deputy County Prefect of Bjelovar-Bilogora County Bojana Hribljan. During the opening of the workshop, animated film "Fire is a joke" was presented and they praised our film.

The workshop was attended by 58 participants (farmers, agronomists, foresters and firefighters) mostly from Bjelovar-Bilogora County. There were eight lectures in the two sections, followed by a discussion that resulted in several conclusions what should be done:

• to better explain to users the differences between short-term and medium-term forecasts in relation to long-term forecasts and projections of climate change in the future

• to explain farmers importance of agrometeorological measurements and monitoring of plant development (phenological) stages in their plantations in order to implement agro-technical measures in a timely manner

• inform the public with the legal provisions for incinerating plant residues.

The workshop was well-versed in the broadcasts of HRT Regionalni dnevnik and Plodovi zemlje, Miris zemlje of the TV Network and in newspaper articles in Bjelovarski list and Bjelovarac.

Višnja Vučetić, PhD

Translation:  Višnja Vučetić, PhD and Branimir Omazić

Participants of the Fifth agrometeorological workshop in Bjelovar on March 5, 2018

Speakers and Organizing Committee of the of the Fifth agrometeorological workshop in Bjelovar on March 5, 2018

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