Farmers in Germany expect a below-average harvest this year due to persistent heat and drought, with some crops in southern regions at risk of complete failure, the head of the country's farmers' association said.
"We expect a below-average harvest for grain, particularly wheat, as well as rapeseed," association president Joachim Rukwied told the RND media group in remarks published on Friday.
Autumn crops such as potatoes, vegetables, sugar beet, grain maize and soybeans were also likely to suffer significant losses, he said.
Northern regions have fared somewhat better thanks to occasional rainfall, but yields there are also expected to remain below average. The drought is also reducing animal feed supplies, particularly in southern Germany, forcing some farmers to slaughter livestock earlier than planned.
Rukwied said farmers were under severe financial pressure as high costs for fertilizer and other inputs coincided with low prices for agricultural products. Some farmers were already struggling to pay their bills and seeking loans to cover short-term cash needs, he said.
He called for government support, including higher EU funding for fertilizer aid, earlier payment of EU agricultural subsidies and a temporary cut in diesel taxes. He also urged the government to introduce a tax-free reserve fund that would allow farmers to build up financial buffers for difficult years.
Germany's farmers have been adapting to climate change for years, Rukwied said, but need heat-tolerant and more resilient crop varieties more quickly.