{
  "id": 5115745,
  "title": "Landwirtschaft: „Schäden wie noch nie“: Wie der trockene Sommer das Geschäft deutscher Landwirte vernichtet",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/02/landwirtschaft-schaden-wie-noch-nie-wie-der-trockene-sommer-das",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-09-02T15:24:24.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Handelsblatt",
    "slug": "handelsblatt",
    "url": "https://www.handelsblatt.com/unternehmen/handel-konsumgueter/landwirtschaft-so-einen-sommer-hat-hier-noch-niemand-erlebt/100248266.html"
  },
  "original_language": "de",
  "account": "An historically severe heatwave draws to a close in the Baden-Württemberg Rhine Valley, according to Klaus Dorner, the regional chairman of the Baden-Württemberg Agricultural Association for the Lahr/South Black Forest region. As a farmer himself, Dorner expects total crop failures for maize and soybean at up to a third of the lowland Rheinebene farms. For another third, massive yield reductions are anticipated. Dorner cultivates over 95 hectares of maize, with the remaining 100 hectares divided among wheat, soybean, winter rapeseed, and wine production. Additionally, he maintains 2,500 chickens and 400 conventionally raised pigs. This makes Dorner's farm one of the 20 largest agricultural operations in the surrounding area. He estimates his profits declining by two-thirds compared to an average harvest year. The southwestern Baden-Württemberg Rhine Valley exemplifies the nationwide impact of the prolonged drought in the past weeks. The German Farmers' Association predicts below-average cereal harvests throughout Germany, particularly in Southern and Western Germany. Across all federal states and crops, cereal yields are expected to be about 9% below the previous year's average. German Federal Agriculture Minister Alois Rainer (CSU) has declared a national crisis in German agriculture due to the drought-related damage and plans to support affected businesses with a billion euros in aid. Baden-Württemberg experienced its warmest summer since records began, with the past weeks breaking heat and temperature records, decimating feed reserves, and causing dramatic damage to agriculture and food markets. The Handelsblatt researched the damage caused by the weather extremes and the ideas and demands farmers have to better withstand the heat in the future. The future is predictable: many German cities already exhibit a climate that until half a century ago prevailed 100 to 600 kilometers further southwest, according to the Environment Agency Germany. Climate zones are shifting northward. All regions in Germany will face a climate like the one currently experienced in Southern Europe in the coming years to decades. In the Mittelgebirgs-Thal, where Dorner operates, temperatures surpassed 30 degrees on over 50 days this year—more than twice as often as in 2025. Meanwhile, precipitation was recorded at just over half the usual amount since January. Maize suffered the most The sight of Dorner's withered maize stubble prompts a sudden shower, but it arrives too late. As Dorner had originally thought, maize might comparatively well withstand the climate crisis, as it requires significantly less water than wheat or soybean. Furthermore, Dorner cultivates particularly nutrient-rich, water-rich soils. Many farms in the region, however, have sandy or gravelly soils that cannot retain water. Nevertheless, the weeks-long drought period was too long for Dorner's fields and hit maize the hardest. Wheat or winter rapeseed are harvested early in the summer and avoided the peak of the drought, while maize, which enters its critical flowering phase in July, suffers. Til Feike, head of the Institute for Plant Breeding and Soil Science in Braunschweig, confirms this phenomenon: \"Early maturity has proven advantageous in many places because key development stages were already completed before the intense heat and drought period.\" Heat increases pest infestation Moreover, heat encourages increased pest infestation. Low-water plants absorb nutrients poorly, grow more slowly, and become more susceptible to pests, which increasingly find new habitats due to changing climatic conditions. According to the plant protection industry group, winter temperatures have milder winters, allowing pests to avoid freezing and multiply. Global crop losses due to harmful insects increase by 10 to 25% for each 1°C of global warming, according to a study in the journal Science. New, invasive species are increasingly making their way from warmer southern regions into northern Germany. An example is the Spotted Tailed Crane Fly, which transmits dangerous bacteria to sugar beets and potatoes, as reported by \"Tagesspiegel Background\". The future is evident: many German cities already have a climate that half a century ago prevailed 100 to 600 kilometers farther south, the Umweltbundesamt reports. Climate zones are moving northward. All regions in Germany will experience a climate like the one currently found in Southern Europe in the coming years to decades. In the Mittelgebirgs-Thal, where Dorner cultivates, temperatures rose above 30 degrees on more than 50 days this year—more than twice as often as in 2025. On the other hand, rainfall was recorded at only slightly more than half the usual amount since January. Maize was hit the hardest As Dorner points to the remnants of his dried-up maize fields, rain finally begins to fall—finally. However, the rain comes too late. Dorner had initially believed that maize might withstand the climate crisis relatively well, as it requires less water than wheat or soybean. Moreover, Dorner cultivates particularly nutrient-rich, water-rich soils. Many farms in the region, however, must deal with sandy or gravelly soils that cannot retain water. Yet the weeks-long drought period was too long—even for Dorner's fields—and particularly affected maize. Wheat or winter rapeseed are harvested early in the summer and escaped the peak of the drought, while maize, which enters its critical flowering phase in July, suffers the most. Warming increases pest infestation In addition, heat encourages increased pest infestation. Low-water plants absorb nutrients poorly, grow more slowly, and become more susceptible to pests, which increasingly find new habitats due to changing climatic conditions. The plant protection industry group notes that winter temperatures have milder winters, allowing pests to avoid freezing and multiply. Global crop losses due to harmful insects increase by 10 to 25% for each 1°C of global warming, according to a study in the journal Science. New, invasive species are increasingly making their way from warmer southern regions into northern Germany. An example is the Spotted Tailed Crane Fly, which transmits dangerous bacteria to sugar beets and potatoes, as reported by \"Tagesspiegel Background\".",
  "summary": "Mais und Soja vertrocknen, Futter wird knapp: Die Dürre trifft vor allem die Bauern in Süddeutschland hart. Wie sich die Branche gegen das neue Klima wappnen will.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}