The Schmidko farm is located on the outskirts of the city of Kędzierzyn-Koźle. A modern, dynamically functioning farm with dairy cattle and horses. For now, everything is fine – the crisis team reassures…, but having learned from experiences such as those from 1997, they are preparing for the worst, of course as much as they can.
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Farmers need help. Flood damage to feed, fertilizers, and seed
The farm had already experienced a tragic loss.
We already know the farms of Mrs. Grażyna, Daniel and Laurencja Schmidtko quite well, because we visited them as part of the "Innovative Farmer" competition. The modern farm, focused primarily on milk production from Simmental cows, is very modern and run with great passion. However, in its history it has already had tragic experiences related to floods, including the historic one in 1997. As Mrs. Grażyna told us during the visit, those memories are still vivid and they always look with concern at forecasts of greater rainfall.
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They lost almost everything in the flood. They didn't lose their spirit.
They are preparing for the worst-case scenario. They are taking away the animals
Today, in the face of the floods experienced by, among others, the Opole region and Lower Silesia, there is also great concern here.
We are preparing to evacuate, although the crisis team is very reassuring us, but looking at what has happened to us several times – we will never be flooded by the Odra, only here the water comes from a different direction. For now, the firefighters are fighting as hard as they can. If the embankments are soaked, we will probably be flooded. For now, however, we have information from the commander of the city guard from the crisis team that we have to wait. For now, we will be transporting calves and horses, and with cows last, because we know that they need to be milked – Ms. Grażyna Schmidtko informed farmer.pl.
Will the cows also have to be evacuated from the farm? That remains to be seen. The farmers are in constant contact with the crisis team and are waiting for announcements.
Grażyna, Daniel and Laurencja Schmidtko, photo by B.Wojtaszczyk
Will the flood protection infrastructure hold? They're sitting on a bomb
The key reservoir is the one in Racibórz, from which – according to the information obtained – water is slowly being released.
– There has never been a scenario like this year. We were the first to be flooded, and now we have no water. Krapkowice is flooded and we are dry – adds the farmer.
Much of the credit for this situation goes to the embankments built and reinforced after the experiences of previous years. It seems that there was more rainfall in the western part of the Czech Republic, hence the greater pressure of water on the Nisa.
In 1997, the wave came quickly and about 50 cattle drowned on the farm. At the moment the situation is good, but the farmers expect the worst and are evacuating the animals, photo. B.Wojtaszczyk
There is no rain, it is cloudy. Farmers are counting on the Racibórz reservoir and the Odra embankments to hold out.
-The situation is difficult, we are sitting on a boom. We are one of the lowest points in this area, but by some coincidence we are a dry island. Kędzierzyn-Koźle is very well protected by flood protection systems, but how long will they last… – asks Mrs. Grażyna, a question that probably no one is able to answer.
Tonight seems to be the key, because the water is still rising.
Mural at the entrance to the Schmidtko farm, photo by B.Wojtaszczyk
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