With their fields covered in snow, farmers cannot plow their fields.
Summer crops are especially affected by this. According to Karl Mayer of the Styrian Chamber of Agriculture, the harvest could be severely affected. (Styria is state in southeast Austria.)
Under normal weather conditions, summer crops are sowed at the end of February. The latest possible time in the South is the first week of April and the second week of April in North Styria. But even these dates will not be possible this year.
Since farmers cannot drive tractors on the fields, not only does sowing have to wait but also fertilization.
Farmers are also worried about early potatoes, which must be in the ground by the beginning of April but cannot be planted when there is frost.
What have I been saying about fighting in the streets for food?
http://austriantimes.at/news/Business/2013-03-27/47660/Agriculture_suffers_from_cold_weath er
Thanks to Caroline Snyder in West Virginia for this link