Brescia Province Assesses Hailstorm Damage for Farm Aid Eligibility

The Ministry of Agricultural Policies has recognized the exceptional nature of the hailstorm that hit our province on September 16th.

As a result of this decree, published recently in the Official Gazette, farming companies and cooperatives from the municipalities of Desenzano, Lonato, Padenghe, Pozzolengo, and Sirmione, for the Benaco area; and Sulzano and Montisola, for Sebino, can apply for damage compensation.

The application must be submitted by February 17th to the Protocol Office of the Provincial Department of Agriculture, based in Brescia, at Viale Bornata (Villa Barboglio). The forms are available at the department offices, in the affected municipalities, and through agricultural associations.

Eligible applicants will need to demonstrate damages exceeding 35 percent of the gross product, which is sellable throughout the year, after deducting insurance and subsidies.

Damage assessment and official statements

“Thanks to inspections carried out by our technicians,” explains provincial Agriculture assessor, Giampaolo Mantelli, “we have identified precisely the areas eligible for state aid due to the damages caused by the hailstorm on September 16th. The Ministry has not yet allocated funds. It will depend on the number of applications and the extent of the damages.”

The most affected town was Pozzolengo. Roofs torn off, gutters destroyed, and sports facilities damaged, with total damages estimated at 20 billion euros. Desenzano had reached 13.5 billion euros in damages.

Sirmione suffered damages totaling 14 billion euros, including buildings, public structures, private homes, and companies.

Impact on viticulture and losses

The tornado on September 16th practically crippled the winegrowers of the Lugana area. Initial assessments indicate that 70 percent of the harvest was lost. Only a few vineyards had already started the harvest.

Those who decided to delay just a few more days lost everything: grapes and plants — an unprecedented catastrophe.

Responses and limitations of disaster recognition

“Immediately after the hailstorm,” says Mantelli, “we notified the mayors of the affected towns, advising them to contact the most damaged companies.

Within a few days, about ninety applications had arrived at the department. Now, there are likely many more. From Pozzolengo alone, around fifty requests are expected.”

Other towns in the province, such as Bagnolo Mella, were also affected by bad weather, but unfortunately law states that for an area to be declared a natural disaster, it must be homogeneous and of a certain size.

For Garda and Sebino,” concludes the assessor, “these conditions were met.”