Drought and heat reduce yields in Lower Saxony

Drought and heat periods with temperatures around 40 degrees are reducing the harvest of many farmers in Lower Saxony this year. The Lower Saxony Chamber of Agriculture announced in its harvest balance that yields of rapeseed and grain had declined significantly compared to the previous year due to drought and heat. According to calculations by the State Statistics Office, the grain harvest amounts to around 5.5 million tons. That is 200,000 tons less than in the previous year, which corresponds to a decrease of 3.4 percent.

At the same time, according to the Chamber of Agriculture, production costs for farmers have increased. “As a result, our farmers hardly benefit from the slightly better market prices,” said Chamber President Gerhard Schwetje, according to a statement. Despite more stable prices, many companies are under economic pressure, it was said.

According to the Chamber of Agriculture, the sowing conditions were favorable in autumn 2025, but the first “severe drought” followed in March and April. There was another dry spell and heat in the summer months. Depending on the culture, location and stage of development, this affected the plants. “The consequences of climate change are obvious,” said the Chamber of Agriculture. There was a lack of precipitation, especially in a strip between Emsland in the west and Lüneburg in the east, as well as in the districts of Peine, Gifhorn and Lüchow-Dannenberg.

Drought affects the growth of potatoes and corn

According to farmers, the drought is also affecting potatoes and corn. After an oversupply last year, the potato market is now on a recovery path with a significantly reduced cultivation area. But a lack of rain and heat meant that losses in the quality and quantity of the main potato harvest that was now due were expected, it was said. Lower supply is expected to increase producer prices.

In the case of corn, drought stress prevents flowering in some places, so that cobs do not form. The chamber said that affected stocks would then have to be chopped up prematurely. Losses in corn yields are also expected.

Adaptation strategies to weather extremes

“The 2026 harvest year is further confirmation of how important it is to keep risks from extreme weather as low as possible with the help of sophisticated crop rotation planning,” emphasized Chamber President Schwetje. Farmers who have crops and, within them, varieties with ripening and harvest times that are as far apart as possible spread the risk of yield losses as best as possible. It said that cultivating the soil as flatly as possible and saving water and sowing drought-tolerant grain varieties could also be further adaptation strategies against weather extremes.