VIENNA / RankWire.AI / – Austria’s autumn harvest has faced significant setbacks due to an extended period of drought coupled with record-breaking summer temperatures that have adversely affected key crops. Recent assessments indicate substantial reductions in the yields of potatoes, maize, soybeans, sugar beet, and sunflowers. The Austrian Chamber of Agriculture reports that potato harvests are 50% to 70% below the five-year average. Chamber president Josef Moosbrugger noted that the losses in the autumn crop are more severe than initially anticipated.
This harvest comes after one of Austria’s driest periods since comprehensive weather records began. According to GeoSphere Austria, the 12 months ending in July were recorded as the driest since 1850 when measurements started. Between January 1 and August 12, most regions experienced an unusually high number of dry days, with eastern farming zones facing some of the most significant rainfall deficits during crucial crop growth phases.
Estimated maize production might be as low as 1.5 million tonnes, a sharp contrast to the over 2.5 million tonnes harvested last year. Regional data suggest maize yields could have declined by approximately 35% to 50%. Soybean output is now projected at around 125,000 tonnes, a decrease from nearly 246,000 tonnes in 2025. The heat during flowering hindered pod formation and grain development, impacting the overall soybean yield.
Severe losses recorded across maize, soybeans, and potatoes
Current estimates place sugar beet production at roughly 940,500 tonnes, a considerable drop from last year’s 1.98 million tonnes, with yield losses ranging from about 30% in more resilient areas to 70% in the driest eastern regions. Sunflower yields are estimated to have fallen by approximately 35% to 50% compared to 2025. Additionally, oil pumpkin production is about 20% below the five-year average, further impacting autumn crops.
Soil type played a crucial role in how individual fields fared during the drought; sandy and gravel soils lost moisture more rapidly than heavier soils, leaving crops vulnerable to prolonged water stress. Many maize fields produced few or no ears after severe heat affected pollination, and some farmers opted to convert grain maize and cob maize fields into silage due to the significantly reduced harvest potential caused by drought conditions.
Extreme heat intensifies Austria’s agricultural losses
The Austria agricultural sector also reported diminished yields in crops harvested earlier in the season. Its September survey indicated that the average soft wheat yield was 59.6 decitons per hectare, down from 69.1 last year. Lower Austria experienced an 18% decline in soft wheat yields compared to 2025 levels. Conventional spring barley yielded an average of 38.1 decitons per hectare, whereas the 2025 figure was 53.0 decitons.
Austria also recorded its hottest August in 260 years of temperature data, with GeoSphere Austria documenting a national temperature peak of 41.2 degrees Celsius during the month. Large areas of Lower Austria, Vienna, Burgenland, and northwestern Styria faced rainfall deficits of 50% to 70%. As the autumn harvest is still underway, these latest crop figures reflect preliminary estimates rather than definitive nationwide totals.