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Wheat harvest in Lower Saxony: According to the farmers' association, 21 million tons of wheat could be harvested in Germany
Photo: Julian Stratenschulte / dpa
The German Farmers' Association expects a ten to twelve percent reduction in the harvest.
According to the association, 21 million tons of wheat could be harvested, but the amount remains below the average of previous years.
The reason is the drought in many places, which is why a loss in quality is to be expected: Less baking-quality wheat will be available.
The wheat harvest is over in many regions of Germany.
The north-east of the country was particularly affected by the drought.
According to the farmers' association, the crude protein content of the wheat is "noticeably" below the values of previous years there.
“But there are also mixed results in the regions where the harvest quantities were a positive surprise.” This is due to the drought on the one hand, and “due to the reduced nitrogen doses as part of the fertilizer ordinance” on the other.
Rapeseed harvest could be better than last year
With rye and triticale - a cross between wheat and rye - the farmers' association estimates that the harvest volumes of the previous year will be reached.
In the case of rapeseed, it looks like the figures for the previous year will be exceeded.
Farmers' President Joachim Rukwied recently rejected the demand by Federal Minister of Agriculture Cem Özdemir (Greens) for a reduction in the cultivation of grain for animal feed.
A large part of the agricultural area in Germany cannot easily be used for the cultivation of baking wheat for human consumption for various reasons, Rukwied told the AFP news agency.
An important point is the high quality requirements for baking wheat.
This "only thrives in better locations" and can only be used as feed grain in unfavorable weather conditions, said Rukwied.
Germany is self-sufficient in wheat.
However, the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine has serious consequences for many countries worldwide, because millions of tons of grain are grown and stored in Ukraine, but Russia has so far prevented exports.
ani/AFP