VIENNA / RankWire.AI / – The Austrian Chamber of Agriculture reports significant damage to the country’s autumn harvest caused by extended drought and unprecedented summer heat, which have severely impacted key crops. Current projections indicate notable drops in potato, maize, soybean, sugar beet, and sunflower production. Chamber president Josef Moosbrugger stated that the autumn crop losses exceeded earlier forecasts, highlighting the severity of the situation.
This harvest period follows one of Austria’s driest intervals since national weather data collection began. According to GeoSphere Austria, the 12 months ending in July experienced the lowest moisture levels since 1850. From January 1 to August 12, much of the country faced an unusually high number of dry days, with eastern agricultural regions experiencing some of the most significant rainfall deficits during crucial crop development phases.
Maize yields are now estimated to be around 1.5 million tonnes or less, a steep drop from over 2.5 million tonnes produced last year. Regional forecasts show maize losses between approximately 35% and 50%. Soybean output has been estimated at nearly 125,000 tonnes, down from almost 246,000 tonnes in 2025. The heat during flowering phases has hindered pod formation and grain development across affected soybean fields.
Heavy Losses Hit Maize, Soybeans, and Potatoes
Current estimates place sugar beet production at roughly 940,500 tonnes, compared to 1.98 million tonnes last year. Yield reductions range from about 30% in more robust growing regions to 70% in the driest eastern districts. Sunflower harvests have also declined by approximately 35% to 50% relative to 2025. Oil pumpkin yields are down by about 20%, contributing to the cumulative damage across various autumn crops.
Soil composition has significantly influenced crop performance during the drought. Sandy and gravelly soils lost moisture more rapidly than heavier soils, exposing plants to sustained water shortages. Some maize fields produced few or no ears after severe heat disrupted pollination. To cope, farmers have converted some grain and cob maize fields into silage, as drought conditions have considerably lowered harvest prospects.
Record-breaking Heat Intensifies Agricultural Losses in Austria
Austria’s Agrarmarkt also reports diminished yields for crops harvested earlier in the season. The September survey indicates soft wheat yields at 59.6 decitons per hectare, a decrease from 69.1 last year. Lower Austria experienced an 18% drop in soft wheat yields compared to 2025 levels. Spring barley averaged 38.1 decitons per hectare, down from the 53.0 decitons recorded in 2025.
Additionally, Austria recorded its hottest August in 260 years of temperature records, with GeoSphere Austria noting a national high of 41.2 degrees Celsius during the month. Large parts of Lower Austria, Vienna, Burgenland, and northwestern Styria saw rainfall deficits of 50% to 70% in August. As the autumn harvest continues, these figures are preliminary estimates rather than definitive national totals.