Drought causes €260 mln in losses for Belgian farmers as potato harvest falls 25%

Prolonged heat and drought during the summer of 2026 caused an estimated €260 mln in losses to the agricultural sector in Flanders, one of Belgium’s main farming regions. According to the farmers’ association Boerenbond, the average professional farm lost around €16 thsd in income due to unfavorable weather conditions. Potato, corn and sugar beet growers were among the hardest hit, along with farms producing forage crops.

Potato production suffered the most, with the total harvest declining by 25% compared with 2025. The drop was driven by significantly lower yields and a reduction in planted area. Corn yields fell by 24%, while sugar beet production is expected to decline by more than 15%. Nearly half of the total drought-related losses were associated with grassland, corn, sugar beet and clover.

Unfavorable weather conditions also affected vegetable and fruit production. Bean output declined by 15%, courgettes by 9%, apples by 7.2% and pears by 7%. Meanwhile, several crops recorded positive results: linseed production increased by 18.2%, carrots by 8%, cucumbers by 6% and leeks by 5%.

According to Boerenbond, total agricultural sector turnover in Flanders is estimated at €7.33 bln in 2026, down 9.5% year-on-year and more than 3% below the five-year average. Total production costs are estimated at €5.98 bln, while gross value added fell by more than 37% to €1.35 bln. Rising fertilizer, energy and water costs placed additional pressure on farm profitability, as producers were unable to fully pass these expenses on through higher selling prices.

The livestock sector is also facing challenging conditions. Despite an 8.7% increase in milk production, farmgate milk prices fell by nearly 30%. Pig prices declined by approximately 20%, while poultry prices dropped by 11.4% despite a 3.3% increase in production. Boerenbond warned that falling incomes and high operating costs are limiting farmers’ ability to invest in modernization and sustainable development, and called on the government to avoid imposing additional tax burdens on the sector.

Tags: weather conditions, drought, potato