- Harvest estimate by the DBV: Harvest 2020 again graduated
The German Farmers' Association (DBV) has lowered the grain harvest in 2020 for the third time. The threshing results vary in a very wide range even on a small area. On the less water-retaining locations, the May / June drought combined with additional frost caused considerable damage. Some of the ears were numb. Even a mouse plague is part of the damage. The estimated grain harvest is estimated at 42.351 million t . The result is composed of a lower cultivated area of 6.1 million ha and the DBV yield estimate of an average of 69.6 dt / ha . In a 6-year comparison, the 2020 harvest is -1.7% below the medium-term average. This year's harvest was -4.3% lower than in the previous year.With 21.5 million tons, the wheat reaches approx. half of the total harvest. The winter wheat area has remained almost 10% smaller than in 2019 because the autumn cultivation suffered from weather difficulties. The average yield increases to a slightly above average 76.3 dt / ha . The rye harvest increases by 7.7% to 3.5 million t and is well above the 6-year average. The result is not so much influenced by an increase in cultivation as by a yield increase of 7.9%. Rye, which is more drought-resistant, can withstand periods of low precipitation better. The last rains in July were supportive. The results for barley are characterized by a 3% lower acreage for winter barley and a 2.8% increase for lower-yielding spring barley. The total harvest is calculated at 10.7 million t.The winter barley quantities are 6.3% worse, but cannot be recovered due to the smaller spring barley cultivation. The summer fruit was less damaged by the drought, but the sale of brewing barley is suffering from the decline in beer consumption. High expectations are attached to the K. maize harvest . One around approx. 2% higher acreage and 6.2% higher yield expectations are expected to result in a total harvest of approx. 4.4 million t lead. Compared to the 6-year average, this is an increase of 5%. However, the result can still change. Despite the poor harvest results, grain prices have declined under the current delivery pressure. Significant influence also comes from international trade. High harvests in important export regions such as Russia, Ukraine and the USA ensure low prices on the world markets. The export also suffers from the euro exchange rate, which has risen to 1.19 $ / €, while at the same time imported goods are cheaper.
