Western Europe's 2026 grain harvest is falling sharply as the driest spring on record and extreme June temperatures batter crops from France to Austria, with yields projected 30 to 50 percent below last year in some regions.
In France, the wheat crop is expected to reach 32 million tonnes, down 4 percent from 2025, with provisional yields sliding to 69.3 quintals per hectare and barley output declining 6 percent. In Germany's North Rhine-Westphalia, wheat suffered losses from June heat while maize fields remain patchy and irrigation costs for potatoes and vegetables are rising. Austria's Burgenland faces losses of 20 percent or more, with production costs exceeding revenues as grain prices have languished since 2024.
Austrian official Anja Haider-Wallner called the harvest a sign of the climate crisis. Farming chamber president Nikolaus Berlakovich demanded adequate funding in EU agricultural policy negotiations for 2028–2034, while grain traders report difficult pricing amid high stock levels.