German Farmers' Association Expects Average Grain Harvest Under Growing Pressure

Weather and Climate Are Taking Their Toll on the Crops

Especially the heatwave phase in June could, in the association president's assessment, lead to yield losses, particularly for later-ripening crops such as wheat. Rukwied said: „Insofern befürchten wir, dass wir hier Ertragsrückgänge, insbesondere bei späteren Kulturarten wie Weizen, hinnehmen müssen." The consequences of climate change are directly felt: „Extremwetterlagen wie Hitze, Starkregen und Trockenperioden treten häufiger auf."

Beyond the weather, the economic framework conditions are burdening operations considerably. Rukwied pointed to rising energy costs: „Jetzt ist die Zeit, wo bei uns die Hauptarbeiten anfallen" – meaning precisely when the combine harvesters require large amounts of fuel. The German Farmers' Association is therefore demanding an extension of the agricultural diesel discount until the end of November.

Just how great the cost pressure is was described by Christoph Plass, vice president of the Brandenburg State Farmers' Association. On his farm, a single combine harvester requires more than 1,000 liters of fuel per day. „Das sind Mehrkosten von über 500 Euro bei den Preissteigerungen im Vergleich zum letzten Jahr", Plass calculated. For his overall operation, the additional fuel costs add up to „mehr als 100.000 Euro".

High Energy Costs and Weak Producer Prices

In addition, according to the association, there are massive cost increases coupled with low producer prices. Back in June, Rukwied bluntly summarized the situation for grain: „Die Preissituation im Ackerbau ist für alle Getreidearten miserabel, bis auf Raps." Plass captured the mood of many operations: „Das führt zu blanker Frustration bei mir. Auch wenn wir eine durchschnittliche Ernte einfahren, ist sie auf der wirtschaftlichen Seite einfach nicht gut."

The farmers' association sees another burden in the plans to reform minijobs. Rukwied stressed: „Gerade auch wir in der Landwirtschaft, neben der Gastronomie, sind auf Minijobber angewiesen." These workers cannot be replaced by the operations, „und insofern bedeutet das eine weitere Belastung der Landwirtschaft, die im Moment schon ums Überleben kämpft". The coalition committee of CDU, CSU, and SPD had decided on Thursday to raise the flat tax rate for minijobs from two to five percent, and Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) announced further decisions on pension-law treatment in the fall.

Reed Glass-Winged Leafhopper and Crop Protection

Farmers are also concerned about the spread of the reed glass-winged leafhopper. The insect transmits bacterial pathogens to potatoes, sugar beets, and vegetables and can, according to the association, cause considerable harvest losses. For 2026, emergency approvals for plant protection products have been granted. Rukwied welcomed this as short-term relief but demanded: „Wir brauchen Zulassungen für wirksame Pflanzenschutzmittel" as a permanent solution.

Overall, the mood in the sector is tense; the grain harvest is being overshadowed by extreme weather and rising costs. Rukwied spoke of an agriculture that is currently „ums Überleben kämpft". At least: Last summer, after two weak years, farmers had been able to bring in larger quantities of grain again. The current harvest, according to initial expectations, continues that success in terms of quantity – but economically, the situation remains precarious for many operations.