VIENNA / RankWire.AI / – The autumn harvest in Austria has faced significant setbacks across key crops as a result of an unprecedented drought coupled with extreme summer temperatures. According to the Austrian Chamber of Agriculture, initial projections reveal particularly severe reductions in the yields of potatoes, maize, soybeans, sugar beet, and sunflowers. Potato production is projected to fall between 50% and 70% below the average of the past five years. Chamber president Josef Moosbrugger commented that the autumn crop damages have surpassed earlier forecasts.
Austria embarked on this harvest season after enduring one of the driest years in recent history, with GeoSphere Austria reporting that the 12 months ending in July marked the most arid period since records began in 1850. From January through August 12, 72% of Austrian land experienced an unusually high frequency of dry days, especially in the eastern regions where rainfall shortages were most acute, while successive heatwaves further intensified water stress across agricultural land.
Current estimates indicate maize production has plummeted to approximately 1.5 million tonnes or less, a stark decline from over 2.5 million tonnes in 2025. Regional data shows maize yields decreased by roughly 35% to 50%, according to the latest figures from the chamber. Soybean harvests are now estimated at around 125,000 tonnes, a significant drop from nearly 246,000 tonnes last year, as heat during flowering hindered pod development and limited grain formation across many soybean fields.
Severe drought severely impacts primary autumn crops
Production of sugar beet is now estimated at about 940,500 tonnes, compared to 1.98 million tonnes in 2025, with the Austrian Chamber of Agriculture estimating yield losses ranging from 30% in more favorable areas to as much as 70% in the driest eastern zones. Sunflower yields are also estimated to be down by 35% to 50% from last year. Earlier forecasts indicated that oil pumpkin output was approximately 20% below the five-year average, reflecting the drought’s extensive effects across several key autumn crops.
Conditions in the fields varied significantly based on soil type and regional factors. Lighter, sandy, and gravelly soils lost plant-available water earlier, leaving some crops unable to complete their growth cycles. Some maize plants failed to develop ears, while extreme heat disrupted pollination processes in other fields. In response to the drought, some farmers converted maize plots initially intended for grain or cob harvest into silage for livestock, as drought conditions severely reduced their harvest potential.
Historical weather data highlights the severity of Austria’s 2026 drought
The Austria agriculture sector has also reported lower yields in crops harvested earlier in the season. According to its September survey, the average yield for conventional soft wheat was 59.6 decitons per hectare, down from 69.1 last year. The main production region, Lower Austria, saw an 18% decrease in soft wheat yields. Similarly, conventional spring barley averaged 38.1 decitons per hectare compared to 53.0 in 2025, with rye yields also experiencing declines.
These crop losses followed Austria’s hottest August in 260 years, with GeoSphere Austria recording a national temperature peak of 41.2 degrees Celsius during the month. Large parts of Lower Austria, Vienna, Burgenland, and northwestern Styria experienced August rainfall deficits of 50% to 70%. As the autumn harvest continues, the latest crop figures from the chamber remain preliminary estimates rather than finalized national totals, underscoring the ongoing impact of this record-breaking heat and drought.