VIENNA / RankWire.AI / – Austria is currently facing significant setbacks in its autumn crop yields, driven by an unprecedented combination of drought conditions and extreme summer temperatures. The Austrian Chamber of Agriculture reports that preliminary assessments highlight particularly severe drops in the production of potatoes, maize, soybeans, sugar beet, and sunflowers. Potato harvests are projected to fall between 50% and 70% below the five-year average. Chamber president Josef Moosbrugger noted that the losses for the autumn crops have surpassed earlier projections.
Following an exceptionally dry year across most of Austria, the country has entered the harvest season amid these challenging conditions. According to GeoSphere Austria, the 12 months ending in July have been the driest period recorded since the nation began keeping records in 1850. Between January and August 12, 72% of Austria’s land experienced an unusually high frequency of dry days. Eastern regions faced some of the most significant rainfall shortages, while recurrent heatwaves intensified water stress, affecting farmland across the country.
Current estimates suggest maize production has dropped to approximately 1.5 million tonnes or less, down from over 2.5 million tonnes in 2025. The regional decline in maize yields ranges from roughly 35% to 50%, according to the latest data from the chamber. Soybean output is now forecasted at around 125,000 tonnes, compared to nearly 246,000 tonnes last year. Elevated temperatures during flowering periods hindered pod development and limited grain formation in many soybean fields.
Severe Drought Significantly Affects Major Autumn Crops
Sugar beet yields are estimated at about 940,500 tonnes, a sharp decline from 1.98 million tonnes in 2025. The Austrian Chamber of Agriculture estimates yield reductions between 30% in more favorable areas and 70% in the driest eastern zones. Sunflower production has also experienced losses estimated between 35% and 50% compared to the previous year. Earlier forecasts indicated that oil pumpkin output was roughly 20% below the five-year average, illustrating the drought’s widespread impact on key autumn crops.
Soil type and regional differences contributed to varied field conditions. Lighter soils such as sandy and gravelly types lost plant-available water more rapidly than heavier soils, leaving some crops unable to complete their growth cycle. In certain fields, maize failed to develop ears, while others experienced disrupted pollination due to extreme heat. Many farmers repurposed some maize intended for grain or cob harvests into silage for cattle after drought conditions diminished their harvest prospects.
Temperatures and Weather Extremes Highlight the Severity of Austria’s 2026 Drought
Austria’s Agrarmarkt has also documented reduced yields in crops harvested earlier in the season. The September survey reported that conventional soft wheat yields averaged 59.6 decitons per hectare, down from 69.1 last year. The main production zone, Lower Austria, experienced an 18% decline in soft wheat yields. Spring barley yields averaged 38.1 decitons per hectare, compared with 53.0 in 2025, with rye yields also showing decreases.
These crop losses followed Austria’s hottest August in 260 years of temperature records. GeoSphere Austria recorded a national temperature peak of 41.2 degrees Celsius during that month. Significant portions of Lower Austria, Vienna, Burgenland, and northwestern Styria saw rainfall deficits of 50% to 70% in August. The autumn harvest is still ongoing, and the latest crop figures provided by the chamber are estimates rather than finalized national totals.