VIENNA / RankWire.AI / – Prolonged drought and unprecedented summer temperatures have severely impacted Austria’s autumn harvest, causing significant reductions in key crops. The Austrian Chamber of Agriculture reports potato yields are 50% to 70% below the five-year average, with Chamber president Josef Moosbrugger noting that the damage to autumn crops exceeds earlier forecasts.
This harvest follows one of Austria’s driest periods since records began, as GeoSphere Austria stated that the 12 months through July were the driest since measurements started in 1850. Between January 1 and August 12, most regions experienced an unusually high number of dry days, with eastern farming areas facing some of the largest rainfall deficits during critical crop development stages.
Maize production is estimated at around 1.5 million tonnes or less, down from over 2.5 million tonnes last year, with regional estimates indicating yield losses between approximately 35% and 50%. Soybean output is now projected near 125,000 tonnes, a decline from nearly 246,000 tonnes in 2025, as heat during flowering hindered pod formation and grain development across affected fields.
Heavy Losses for Maize, Soybeans, and Potatoes
Current estimates place sugar beet production at about 940,500 tonnes, compared to 1.98 million tonnes last year, with yield reductions ranging from roughly 30% in stronger-growing areas to 70% in the driest eastern districts. Sunflower losses are estimated between 35% and 50% relative to 2025, while oil pumpkin output has fallen approximately 20% below the five-year average, adding to the damage across various autumn crops.
Soil type significantly influenced how individual fields responded during the dry spell, as sandy and gravel soils lost moisture more rapidly than heavier soils, exposing crops to prolonged water stress. Some maize fields produced few or no ears due to severe heat impacting pollination, prompting farmers to convert some grain and cob maize fields into silage where drought sharply reduced harvest potential.
Record Temperatures Deepen Agricultural Setbacks
Austria’s Agrarmarkt has also documented weaker yields from crops harvested earlier in the season. Its September survey indicates soft wheat yields averaged 59.6 decitons per hectare, down from 69.1 last year, with Lower Austria experiencing an 18% decline compared to 2025. Spring barley averaged 38.1 decitons per hectare, compared to 53.0 decitons in 2025.
Austria recorded its hottest August in 260 years of temperature records, with GeoSphere Austria noting a national temperature peak of 41.2 degrees Celsius during the month. Significant rainfall deficits of 50% to 70% affected large parts of Lower Austria, Vienna, Burgenland, and northwestern Styria. As the autumn harvest continues, these figures reflect current estimates rather than the final nationwide totals.