Last week’s heavy snowfall resulted in a layer of snow that protects crops from frost. According to specialists of the Ministry of Agriculture, Regional Development and Environment, the snow will enable water to gradually penetrate the soil, ensuring sufficient moisture for the development of crops when it starts to warm up.

Contacted by IPN, Vasile Șarban, head of the Production, Processing Policy and Quality Regulation Division, said the snow does not melt immediately and there are no risks of landslides or erosion. The snow wasn’t blown away and this is beneficial as the layer of snow is rather uniform even if it varies from 10 to 25 centimeters. As the intensity of the wind was moderate, all the crops were covered with snow.

The snow is also good for fruit trees because it ensures a higher temperature than air temperature in the lower part of the trunk. As to the vines, the plants were covered with snow, but this is not so heavy to push the twigs down or to break them. Problems can appear only where the saplings didn’t reach a proper state or where the trees weren’t appropriately prepared for winter.

Vasile Șarban noted if it grows warmer and there is rain or sleet and the temperatures then drop below zero, a layer of ice will appear above the snow and this can have a negative effect on the crops if it keeps up for a period as the plants will not have proper ventilation.