German grain harvest forecast to fall 7% as drought hits Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg
The Deutscher Bauernverband forecasts Germany's 2026 grain harvest at 41.9m tonnes, down 7% year on year, with Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg facing losses of up to 20%.
Germany's 2026 grain harvest is forecast to fall to 41.9 million tonnes, a drop of roughly 7% from 2025, after drought and heat damaged crops across the south of the country.
The Deutscher Bauernverband (German Farmers' Association) expects Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg to bear the brunt, with grain losses of up to 20% in those two states, according to the Handelsblatt Today podcast on 19 August.
Farmers warn of liquidity squeeze
Joachim Rukwied, president of the association, said many farms face a strained economic situation and a liquidity crisis. He urged the federal government to move quickly on support measures.
The policy requests
The association wants the government to triple EU fertiliser aid to €180 million from the current €60 million. It is also asking for 80% of EU direct payments to be paid out in October 2026, well ahead of the normal schedule.
| Measure | Current | Requested |
|---|---|---|
| EU fertiliser aid | €60m | €180m |
| EU direct payment advance | — | 80% in October 2026 |
The requests come as Berlin and Brussels finalise the 2026 budget cycle and national aid packages. Neither government has yet said whether it will accept the demands.
