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Grain harvest on the Swabian Alb: It will soon be difficult for corn, sugar beets and potatoes
Photo: IMAGO/Arnulf Hettrich
Actually, the farmers are currently supposed to help secure the food supply that has been affected worldwide by the war in a production crisis.
But sharply increased prices for fertilizer, animal feed or fuel are causing them problems.
In view of the persistent drought, the harvest will probably be significantly smaller than usual.
The German Farmers' Association is already warning of even higher prices.
“Right now we are fighting on many fronts.
Fertilizer prices are four times higher than a year ago.
The energy costs are twice as high.
The feed costs have increased,” said the president of the association, Joachim Rukwied.
"If it doesn't rain consistently in the near future, then there is a risk of a drop in yield of 30 to 40 percent."
Fewer diseases from drought
Lower Saxony's Landvolk Vice President Ulrich Löhr told the "Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung": "It will be difficult with corn, sugar beets and potatoes.
We are expecting a significant drop in yields because of the drought.« In particular, it is simply too hot and too dry for the potato harvest at the moment.
However, there is also an advantage of the drought: fewer diseases.
The grain harvest for this year is already on the home stretch.
According to estimates, it should be slightly below the average of the past few years.
The harvests of the autumn crops, potatoes or sugar beet, for example, are still pending.
"I don't want to rule out that crops that are harvested in autumn in particular will experience price increases," said Farmer President Rukwied.
"All in all, the weather situation is of course a burden on our operations." Inflation had already made staple foods in particular significantly more expensive in the past few months.
Less baking grade wheat
On the other hand, Lower Saxony's Deputy Löhr was not yet able to estimate whether consumers would have to reckon with further price increases.
"Producer prices will certainly rise for individual agricultural products, but since the price is also determined by the quality of the goods, even that doesn't have to be the case," he told the newspaper.
When it comes to wheat, however, farmers are also concerned about quality.
Due to the drought, but also due to the requirements of the Fertilizer Ordinance, according to numerous farmers, which means that less nitrogen can be applied, less baking quality wheat is available.
This can potentially pose problems for the food industry.
Due to the drought, the turf is brown in some regions, said Rukwied.
“Nothing at all grows back there.” Some farms would therefore have to add winter fodder supplies because they could no longer cut green fodder.
According to Rukwied, agriculture is preparing for drier and hotter summers with water- and soil-saving processes.
»But in the end it is to be feared that, due to climate change, we will no longer be able to achieve the earnings level of the 1990s, for example.«
apr/dpa