The German Farmers' Association (DBV) has estimated the 2026 grain harvest at 41.9 million tonnes, a 7 percent decline from last year, after earlier warnings of severe drought-driven losses across southern and western regions. Yields per hectare fell 9 percent to 6.89 tonnes, while rapeseed output dropped 20 percent nationally, with northern farms particularly hard hit.
In Lower Saxony, now enduring its sixth consecutive dry year, winter wheat harvests fell 7 percent and rapeseed yields plunged as much as 40 percent compared with 2025. One farmer projected losses exceeding 80 percent for feed maize.
DBV president Joachim Rukwied, noting that some farmers are pledging life insurance policies as loan collateral, called for tripling EU emergency aid from 60 million to 180 million euros and a diesel tax cut. He cited surging fuel, fertiliser and pesticide costs exacerbated by Middle East supply disruptions compounding low crop prices.