BMEL: Preliminary harvest estimate delivers 43.21 million t Based on the land use survey and the representative yield estimates, the BMEL estimates a preliminary German grain harvest for 2022 of 43.21 million t . That is around 2% more than in the previous year, but only +0.2% compared to the 5-year average. The cultivated areas have increased by +1.2% compared to 2021. The average area yields were determined to be +0.8% higher. At 22.5 million tons, the wheat harvest accounts for slightly more than half of the total production. Compared to the previous year, an increase of +5.1% was recorded. In a 5-year comparison, however, this year's result is -0.4% lower. In view of the dry periods, the decisive factor for wheat production was the unexpectedly high yield per hectare. The lack of precipitation in recent months has done less harm to yield than to quality. Bread wheat is therefore scarce and must be imported.The barley harvest also surprised with an increase of +8.5% compared to the previous year (+6% to the 5-year average). In addition to the area expansion of +3%, an increase in yield of +5.3% contributed to this. The decisive factor was the high hectolitre weight. The BMEL estimates that the remaining K. maize harvest will be -21.6% lower than in 2021. The decisive factors are the low yield expectations of -27.5% due to the drought. There were very different results in the individual federal states . The yields per hectare were particularly unfavorable in Thuringia (-4.4%), Saxony (-4.4%) and Saxony-Anhalt (-2.6%). Bavaria also suffered losses of -1.8%. In contrast, the results in Lower Saxony (+11.2%), NRW (+10.85), Hesse (+8.9%) and Baden-Württemberg (+8.7%) are particularly outstanding.Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania still performed above average with +6.8%.
