VIENNA / RankWire.AI / – Prolonged drought and record-breaking summer temperatures have severely impacted Austria’s autumn harvest, leading to significant reductions in key crops. The Austrian Chamber of Agriculture estimates that potato yields are 50% to 70% below the five-year average. Chamber president Josef Moosbrugger noted that the losses in the autumn harvest were more severe than initially anticipated.
The harvest occurs after one of Austria’s driest periods recorded since the beginning of national weather data collection. According to GeoSphere Austria, the 12 months ending in July were the driest since records started in 1850. Most of the country experienced an unusually high number of dry days from January 1 to August 12, with eastern agricultural regions suffering some of the largest rainfall deficits during vital crop development stages.
Maize production is projected to reach approximately 1.5 million tonnes or less, a stark contrast to the over 2.5 million tonnes produced last year. Regional estimates indicate maize yield reductions between about 35% and 50%. Soybean output is now estimated at nearly 125,000 tonnes, down from almost 246,000 tonnes in 2025. Heat during the flowering phase hampered pod formation and grain growth in affected soybean fields.
Severe losses recorded in maize, soybeans, and potatoes
Current estimates suggest sugar beet production is around 940,500 tonnes, a significant drop from 1.98 million tonnes last year. Yield reductions range from approximately 30% in more resilient areas to 70% in the driest eastern districts. Sunflower harvests have experienced losses of roughly 35% to 50% compared to 2025. Additionally, oil pumpkin output is about 20% below the five-year average, contributing to the overall damage across several autumn crops.
Soil type significantly influenced crop performance during the dry period. Sandy and gravelly soils lost moisture more quickly than heavier soils, leaving crops vulnerable to extended water shortages. Many maize fields produced few or no ears following severe heat that affected pollination. Some farmers have converted grain maize and cob maize fields into silage as drought conditions sharply curtailed harvest potential.
Extreme heat aggravates Austria’s agricultural setbacks
Austria’s Agrarmarkt Austria also reported diminished yields in crops harvested earlier in the season. Its September survey indicated soft wheat yields of 59.6 decitons per hectare, down from 69.1 last year. Lower Austria experienced an 18% decrease in soft wheat yields compared to 2025 levels. Average spring barley yields were 38.1 decitons per hectare, compared to 53.0 decitons in 2025.
Austria recorded its hottest August in 260 years of temperature data collection, with GeoSphere Austria documenting a national temperature peak of 41.2 degrees Celsius during that month. Large parts of Lower Austria, Vienna, Burgenland, and northwestern Styria experienced rainfall deficits of 50% to 70% in August. The ongoing autumn harvest means that the latest crop figures are preliminary estimates rather than final nationwide totals.