cold-weather damage; cold damage
Specifically refers to damage to crops caused by low temperatures during the growing season, especially in summer. Common in agricultural and weather reports.
This year's cold-weather damage caused a significant drop in the rice harvest.
Development of varieties resistant to cold damage is underway.
This year, cold-weather damage to crops occurred in the Tohoku region.
The rice suffered cold-weather damage and the harvest decreased.
This region is repeatedly hit by cold-weather damage.
Farmers changed the crop variety as a measure against cold-weather damage.
冷害 is crop damage from cold weather, while 干害 is crop damage from drought or lack of water.
Compound of 冷 (cold) and 害 (damage). The reading is on'yomi for both characters.