Germany’s grain harvest in 2026 will be smaller than in 2025

Despite an increase in the area sown to wheat, barley, rapeseed, and corn, Germany’s grain harvest this year will be lower than last year, according to a forecast from the German Raiffeisen Association (DRV) reported on March 12 by Agrarheute.

DRV expects a grain harvest of 43.7 million tons and just over 4.1 million tons of rapeseed. This is slightly above the long-term average. In 2025, German farmers harvested 45.3 million tons of grain and 3.97 million tons of rapeseed.

“Whether we will be able to grow a harvest like this as usual will primarily depend on the weather in the coming months,” said DRV expert Guido Siedler. Israeli and US aggression against Iran is driving up energy and fertilizer costs, complicating the work of German crop growers.

Furthermore, the war has hampered deliveries to Germany’s traditional markets in the Middle East. “Uncertainty in the Middle East is hindering exports and reducing sales opportunities for German grain,” Siedler explained.

“Fertilizer costs reach 20% of total operating expenses,” the expert reported. The good news, according to the expert, is that there is sufficient fertilizer for sowing.

“We need to ensure reliable foreign sales, especially for wheat. The Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture, and Consumer Protection (BMLEH) has proposed a good strategy. Now it’s time to implement it,” Siedler emphasized.

Reducing taxes and fees would ease the burden on agricultural production and simultaneously reduce fertilizer production costs, Siedler hopes.

Tags: wheat, rapeseed, Germany, crop forecast