Kassel/Butzbach (dpa/lhe) – In an agricultural project in Hesse, experts want to find out whether late-ripening wheat varieties can contribute to the preservation of the field hamster, which has become rare. Because of climate change, grain is increasingly being harvested earlier, which means that field hamsters find it difficult to find enough food, said the State Office for Agriculture Hesse and the Hessian Society for Ornithology and Environmental Protection on Tuesday. Therefore, the second litter of young animals often does not survive, which is important for the preservation of the population. A second problem: Once the grain field has been harvested, the hamsters are easily prey to birds of prey or other predators.
On a farmer’s field in Butzbach in the Wetterau district, 13 wheat varieties were grown in several strips, which were harvested at three different times between the end of July and the beginning of October. “The laboratory is investigating how a later harvest affects the yield and quality.” This could also help the hamsters find enough food for their offspring. The project, which started this year, is scheduled to run for a total of three years.
