Aug 2024: DBV estimates grain harvest at 39.3 million tons or -7% below previous year
In its latest Aug 24 issue, the German Farmers' Association estimated the German grain harvest at 39.3 million tons or -7% below the previous year. This is based on a -5% reduction in acreage and -2% lower yields per hectare. In a 5-year comparison, the result is even -8% lower.
At 18.7 million tons, the 2024 wheat harvest will not quite reach half of the total harvest. The area of winter wheat in particular has fallen by -12% due to unfavorable weather conditions at sowing time. Yields are -3% down on the previous year, with overall harvest losses of -15%. In addition, the quality leaves much to be desired, with regional differences. Bread wheat is in short supply.
At just under 11 million tons, the barley harvest is estimated to be only slightly below the previous year's level. The sharp drop in winter barley yields was largely offset by increased summer barley cultivation.
A decline in rye cultivation of -13% could not be fully offset by the higher area yields of +7%. The area under triticale was reduced by -14 %; however, yields were +2 % higher than in the previous year. Both types of grain together reached 4.3 million tons.
For grain maize, a harvest of 4.4 million tons is expected, primarily due to the increased acreage (+8%), but reduced by -9% lower yield expectations compared to the previous year.
What is striking is the 81% increase in the oat harvest as a result of a larger acreage and higher yields compared to the disastrous result of the previous year. However, at 0.8 million tons, the harvest volume is of secondary importance.
