Agricultural workers express concerns over markedly reduced crop yields.
Farmers in Germany have experienced a less than satisfying harvest this year, with grain yields significantly lower than the previous year's figure. The primary causes are excessive rainfall and insufficient sunshine. However, what's really irking the farmers is the "theory-based" regulations from politics.
As per the German Farmers' Association, the anticipated yield for this year is around 39.3 million tons, which is a significant drop from the 42 million tons yielded in 2023. This is quite a downer, they say. The rainfalls, sometimes heavy, have negatively impacted not just the yield, but also the quality of the grain in certain areas.
Farmers' president Joachim Rukwied described this year's harvest as another heartbreaker. He blamed the poor weather conditions, specifically the wet climate from autumn to early summer, and the lack of sunlight, for the disappointing yield. Rain during the harvest period often slowed down the combine harvesters as well. The significantly lower than average grain yield once again highlights the clear impact of climate change.
Rukwied also slammed what he called "misguided legislative requirements". He urged politics to scrap the "theoretical and impractical" rules for the industry. The association accused politics of making it nearly impossible for farmers to produce high-quality wheat, despite its demand. Instead, they are compelled to produce feed wheat due to regulations on fertilization, among other things.
Rain brings blessings to sugar beets, corn, and potatoes
Rukwied also remarked on the increasing restrictions on plant protection as a contributor to the yield and quality decline in grain and rapeseed. He emphasized on the urgent need for a rethink in plant protection policy, given the high risk of fungal diseases in this season.
Interestingly, the excessive rainfalls have been largely beneficial for sugar beets, corn, potatoes, and vegetables. However, potatoes have suffered from leaf and tuber rot, and new diseases have surfaced in sugar beets.
In fruit farming, significant damage has been inflicted, particularly due to late frosts. The association lamented about the dual challenges posed by restrictions on plant protection and minimum wage. In vineyard farming, an below-average yield is expected across the growing regions. The harvest report of the German Farmers' Association is an estimation, derived from reports from the 18 state farmers' associations about the actual harvested areas and yields.
The German Farmers' Association, in their harvest report, predicted a decrease in grain yield to approximately 39.3 million tons for this year, a significant drop from the 42 million tons achieved in 2023. Rukwied, president of the Farmers' Association, criticized the "misguided legislative requirements" and urged politics to abolish the "theoretical and impractical" rules, claiming they hinder farmers from producing high-quality wheat.
