VIENNA / RankWire.AI / – Austria’s autumn harvest has experienced substantial setbacks, with estimates indicating especially severe drops in potatoes, maize, soybeans, sugar beet, and sunflowers following an unprecedented drought and intense summer heatwave. According to the Austrian Chamber of Agriculture, the current figures show declines of 50% to 70% in potato yields compared to the five-year average. Chamber president Josef Moosbrugger noted that the losses during this season have surpassed earlier projections.
Following a notably dry year across much of Austria, the country commenced harvest activities. GeoSphere Austria revealed that the 12 months ending in July were the driest recorded since 1850, when national records began. From January to August 12, a staggering 72% of Austria’s land area experienced an unusually high number of dry days. Regions in the east faced some of the most significant rainfall deficits, while repeated heatwaves compounded water stress across farmland.
Current estimates place maize production at roughly 1.5 million tonnes or less, a sharp decline from over 2.5 million tonnes in 2025. Losses in regional maize yields are expected to range from about 35% to 50%, based on current data from the chamber. Soybean output is projected to reach approximately 125,000 tonnes, down from nearly 246,000 tonnes last year. High temperatures during the flowering period hampered pod development and grain formation in many soybean fields.
Severe Drought Significantly Affects Key Autumn Crops
The production of sugar beet is now estimated at around 940,500 tonnes, compared to 1.98 million tonnes in 2025. The Austrian Chamber of Agriculture reports yield losses ranging from 30% in better-suited areas to 70% in the driest eastern zones. Sunflower harvests are projected to be 35% to 50% lower than last year. Oil pumpkin production, which was previously estimated to be about 20% below the five-year average, highlights the drought’s widespread impact on several crucial autumn crops.
Field conditions differed dramatically based on soil type and location. Sandy and gravel soils lost plant-available water sooner than heavier soils, leaving some crops unable to complete their development cycle. In some fields, maize ears failed to form, while in others, extreme heat disrupted pollination. Farmers also shifted some maize fields from grain or cob harvesting to silage for cattle after the drought diminished their crop potential.
Climatic Records Highlight the Severity of Austria’s 2026 Drought
Agrarmarkt Austria has also reported decreased yields in crops harvested earlier in the season. Its September survey indicated soft wheat yields averaged 59.6 decitons per hectare, down from 69.1 last year. The main production area, Lower Austria, experienced an 18% decrease in soft wheat yields. Spring barley yields averaged 38.1 decitons per hectare, compared to 53.0 in 2025, with rye yields also showing declines.
These crop losses followed Austria’s hottest August in 260 years of temperature records. GeoSphere Austria documented a national temperature peak of 41.2 degrees Celsius during that month. Significant parts of Lower Austria, Vienna, Burgenland, and northwestern Styria recorded rainfall deficits of 50% to 70% for August. As the autumn harvest continues, the latest crop figures from the chamber remain preliminary estimates rather than definitive national totals.