The drought has also caused problems for German farmers this year.

Overall, farmers harvested around 43 million tons of grain in 2022, as the German Farmers' Association (DBV) announced in a preliminary estimate on Tuesday.

The harvest was about 2 percent higher than last year.

Compared to the average for the years 2014 to 2021 - excluding the extremely dry year 2018 - the current harvest volume was around 6 percent lower.

"The prolonged drought in many regions of the country shows once again that farmers are feeling the effects of climate change very directly," said Joachim Rukwied, President of the DBV.

In quantitative terms, this year's grain harvest is somewhat better than in 2021. "However, the qualities of the wheat in particular leave a lot to be desired," emphasized Rukwied.

The regional differences are even more pronounced than in previous years.

A major factor of uncertainty this year is the expected grain maize harvest.

In many regions, this has suffered massively from the drought of the past few weeks.

Farmers harvested 21.8 million tons of winter wheat, the most important type of grain in German arable farming.

That is more than the 21.0 million tons from the previous year, but less than the average for the years 2014 to 2021. For this period, the DBV gives an average harvest volume of around 24 million tons.

Farmers were also able to bring in more winter rape, the most important oil plant in German cultivation, than in the previous year.

But here, too, the harvest amounted to 4 million tons, below the long-term average.

Supply situation remains tense

In view of the war in Ukraine, the "supply situation as a whole remains tense," said Rukwied. Globally, grain stocks are expected to continue to decline.

In Europe, but also on the world market, there is a risk of a supply shortage.

"If you look at the yields in recent years, it becomes clear that there must be no leeway for further nationwide restrictions on food production," explained Rukwied.

"The general ban on the use of plant protection products planned by the EU Commission is irresponsible and would endanger the food supply in Europe."

According to the association, the development of cultures was initially satisfactory in almost all parts of the country.

From March onwards, however, the amount of precipitation fell sharply in some regions, while elsewhere it still rained normally.

"The yields and qualities are therefore very different depending on the distribution of precipitation," said Rukwied.

Central Germany, such as Saxony-Anhalt, is particularly affected by the drought.

"Autumn crops such as corn, potatoes and sugar beet are still suffering massively in the drought areas, so that here too, considerable yield losses must be expected in the region," Rukwied warned.

It is also much too dry in some places for the upcoming sowing of rapeseed and cover crops.

Pet owners worried

"In addition, the drought also affects the livestock owners," warned the DBV boss.

In the drought areas, one or two green cuts were lost for the feed companies this summer.

In some cases, the winter supplies would have to be started in order to ensure the supply of feed. Many farmers would therefore have to ask themselves how they would actually get the animals in the winter, said Rukwied.

Buying feed is very expensive.

Due to rising operating costs, consumers would have to be prepared for constant or even rising food prices in the coming months, said Rukwied.

In addition to feed costs, farmers are primarily burdened by increased energy costs and fertilizer prices.

Rukwied warned that the increase in the minimum wage to 12 euros planned for autumn would put additional strain on companies.

In the organic segment in particular, the farmers' association has already noticed that consumers are reluctant to buy in the past few months.

In view of the high inflation, consumers pay more attention to prices, especially when shopping in supermarkets.