VIENNA / RankWire.AI / – Austria’s autumn harvest has experienced significant setbacks as prolonged drought and unprecedented summer heat have severely impacted key crops. Recent assessments indicate notable reductions in potatoes, maize, soybeans, sugar beet, and sunflowers. The Austrian Chamber of Agriculture reports potato yields are falling short by 50% to 70% of the five-year average. Chamber president Josef Moosbrugger remarked that the losses in the autumn crops were more severe than initially anticipated.
The harvest occurred after one of Austria’s driest periods since official weather records began. According to GeoSphere Austria, the 12 months ending in July were the driest since 1850. Between January 1 and August 12, most regions experienced an unusually high number of dry days. Eastern farming zones faced some of the largest rainfall deficits during critical crop development phases.
Maize output is projected to be around 1.5 million tonnes or less, compared to over 2.5 million tonnes last year. Regional estimates currently show maize yield reductions between 35% and 50%. Soybean production is estimated at nearly 125,000 tonnes, a decline from almost 246,000 tonnes in 2025. Heat stress during flowering impeded pod formation and grain development in affected soybean fields.
Heavy losses recorded for maize, soybeans, and potatoes
Current estimates place sugar beet production at approximately 940,500 tonnes, down from 1.98 million tonnes in the previous year. Yield reductions vary from around 30% in more resilient areas to 70% in the driest eastern districts. Sunflower yields have also fallen by roughly 35% to 50% compared to 2025. Oil pumpkin harvests are about 20% below the five-year average, adding to the losses across multiple autumn crops.
Soil type significantly influenced how different fields fared during the drought. Sandy and gravel soils lost moisture more rapidly than heavier soils, leaving crops vulnerable to prolonged water stress. Some maize fields produced few or no ears following severe heat that affected pollination. Farmers have converted some grain and cob maize fields into silage, as drought conditions sharply reduced their harvest potential.
Austria’s extreme heat worsens agricultural setbacks
Agrarmarkt Austria has also reported lower yields in crops harvested earlier in the season. A September survey indicated that soft wheat yields averaged 59.6 decitons per hectare, down from 69.1 last year. Lower Austria experienced an 18% decrease in soft wheat yields from 2025 levels. Spring barley yields averaged 38.1 decitons per hectare, compared to 53.0 decitons in 2025.
Austria recorded its hottest August in 260 years of temperature recordings. GeoSphere Austria documented a national temperature record of 41.2 degrees Celsius during that month. Large parts of Lower Austria, Vienna, Burgenland, and northwestern Styria faced rainfall deficits of 50% to 70% in August. Since the autumn harvest is still underway, these crop figures are preliminary estimates rather than final nationwide totals.