Drought-Stricken Germany Faces Grain Harvest Shortfall

German grain production is expected to fall short of last year's bumper crop, thanks in part to an extended drought across the country. According to the German Farmers' Association (DBB), the harvest will likely come in at around 41.9 million metric tons, a decrease of 7% from 2025 but only 1% below the five-year average.

The DBB attributed the reduced yield to severe damage in southern Germany, where winter wheat and winter rapeseed crops suffered due to lack of rainfall and pest infestations. The drought was further exacerbated by a heatwave in June, which hit during the critical grain-filling period.

DBB head Joachim Rukwied described the harvest as 'disappointing', with many farms struggling under financial pressure due to low prices for several years. He predicted that consumer prices would remain stable, as the cost of grain is a relatively small component of the total price.