VIENNA / RankWire.AI / – The autumn harvest in Austria has encountered significant setbacks as prolonged drought conditions and unprecedented summer temperatures have adversely affected key crops. Recent assessments reveal notable reductions in yields for potatoes, maize, soybeans, sugar beet, and sunflowers. The Austrian Chamber of Agriculture estimates potato yields are 50% to 70% lower than the five-year average. Chamber president Josef Moosbrugger stated that the damage to the autumn crops exceeded earlier forecasts.
The harvest comes after Austria experienced one of its driest periods on record since the start of national weather monitoring. According to GeoSphere Austria, the 12 months leading up to July were the driest since records began in 1850. From January 1 to August 12, most regions observed an unusually high number of days with little to no precipitation. Particularly, eastern agricultural zones faced some of the largest rainfall deficits during crucial crop growth stages.
Maize output is projected to be around 1.5 million tonnes or less, a sharp decline from last year’s harvest of over 2.5 million tonnes. Regional estimates indicate maize yields could have fallen by approximately 35% to 50%. Soybean production is now estimated at about 125,000 tonnes, significantly down from nearly 246,000 tonnes in 2025. The heat during flowering disrupted pod formation and grain development across affected soybean fields.
Heavy Losses Hit Maize, Soybeans, and Potatoes
Current estimates show sugar beet production at roughly 940,500 tonnes, compared to 1.98 million tonnes recorded last year. Yield reductions are estimated between about 30% in the more resilient regions and 70% in the eastern districts experiencing the driest conditions. Sunflower yields have decreased by approximately 35% to 50% compared with 2025. Oil pumpkin production also remains about 20% below the five-year average, extending the adverse effects across several autumn crops.
Soil type significantly influenced how individual fields responded during this dry spell. Sandy and gravel soils lost moisture more rapidly than heavier soils, leaving crops more vulnerable to prolonged water stress. Many maize fields produced few or no ears due to severe heat affecting pollination. Some farmers have shifted from grain maize and cob maize cultivation to silage in areas where drought severely curtailed harvest prospects.
Record-Breaking Heat Worsens Austria’s Agricultural Setbacks
The Austria agricultural sector also reports diminished yields in 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. In Lower Austria, soft wheat yields decreased by 18% compared to 2025. Spring barley averaged 38.1 decitons per hectare, whereas the 2025 figure was 53.0 decitons.
Austria experienced its hottest August in 260 years of temperature records, with GeoSphere Austria recording a national temperature peak of 41.2 degrees Celsius during that month. Large parts of Lower Austria, Vienna, Burgenland, and northwestern Styria encountered rainfall deficits of 50% to 70% during August. As the autumn harvest continues, these latest figures are preliminary estimates rather than definitive nationwide totals.