The changeable weather with lots of rain and storms could have spoiled the German farmers’ grain harvest. However, there are no exact figures yet.
After frequent rains this summer, German farmers probably only brought in a smaller grain harvest. As things stand at present, it is questionable whether the mark of 40 million tons can still be reached, the farmers’ association in Berlin announced. This would be significantly less than the previous year’s amount of 43 million tons of grain.
Heavy and frequent rain in large parts of Germany have repeatedly slowed down the harvest. In some regions, there is still wheat in the fields that should have been harvested long ago. Rain and storms caused significant damage in some cases, which led to reduced quantities and qualities.
Farmer President Joachim Rukwied called this year’s harvest a “real nail-biter”. A wet spring followed by drought in May and June and a harvest that was constantly interrupted by precipitation presented the farmers with enormous challenges. According to the association’s provisional estimate, wheat yields, the most important grain variety, are likely to be well below the previous year’s level. Only in the case of winter barley, which could be harvested before the rainy season, did the harvest increase. In the case of winter oilseed rape, a smaller harvest is to be expected despite an increase in the area under cultivation.
Rukwied said: “This year’s weather conditions show once again the clearly noticeable effects of climate change. We must do everything we can to be able to secure our yields and food supply in the future.” These included the breeding of more resilient plants, a wide range of active ingredients for crop protection, water-saving tillage and the promotion of an irrigation infrastructure.
Source: Stern
