Harvest in MV: Winter barley surprises farmers despite drought!

Harvest in MV: Winter barley surprises farmers despite drought!

The new grain harvest in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania is going better than expected. As of today, July 16, 2025, the first yield figures report a harvest that corresponds to the national long-term level. This positive news awaits both farmers and consumers, especially given the challenges posed by climate change. The president of the state farmers' association, Karsten Trunk, was pleased with the surprisingly positive yield results, although yields vary greatly depending on the location. While some farmers are satisfied, others look at their fields with disappointment. The winter barley harvest will soon be exported worldwide via the Rostock port, primarily as animal feed. The effects of the drought that was felt in parts of the country are still evident.

But what are the overall returns in Europe? According to the EU Commission, grain production in the EU-27 is expected to increase to 287.9 ​​million tonnes in 2023, which corresponds to an increase of 8.4% compared to the previous year. This positive development is attributed to an expected better harvest, as the previous season was severely affected by heat and drought. An increase to 130.9 million tonnes is forecast for soft wheat in particular. This positive news regarding grain production could be reassuring for many farmers, especially at a time when low grain prices do not cover costs.

Political challenges and future prospects

However, market developments are influenced by political factors. Farmers are increasingly having to prepare for possible tariffs on Russian fertilizer, which could drive up fertilizer prices in Europe. Trunk also expressed criticism of the planned reforms of EU agricultural support that farmers will face in the coming period. The EU plans to merge agricultural funds with other policy areas, which could result in changes to funding criteria. So far, farmers in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania have invested around 27 billion euros from EU CAP funds in agriculture since 1990, with these payments accounting for more than a third of farmers' income in this country.

Against this background, it remains to be seen how the coming months will develop. The harvest of wheat and rapeseed is scheduled to begin next weekend, weather permitting. Given the harvest forecasts and the political framework, farmers are required to position themselves well. Nevertheless, the yield results for winter barley show that success is possible in agriculture even under difficult conditions.

Innovations in agriculture

Another example of innovative spirit in the region is the tomato grower from Barth, who is planting melons for the first time. Even if these are not yet ready for harvest, it shows the courage of the farmers to break new ground. While fruit and vegetable farmers and agriculture ministers are demanding lower wages for foreign seasonal workers, asparagus farmer Sebastian Böckmann is looking forward to a satisfied 2025 season, but also has his worries for the future. How the harvest will develop in the next few weeks remains exciting.

Overall, the grain harvest for 2025 is an indicator that, despite all the challenges and uncertainties, there are also bright spots in agriculture. Positive yields are increasing and farmers can look to the future with optimism.

For further information about the current harvest development in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, NDR offers comprehensive reports, while schweine.net provides deeper insights into the EU Commission's harvest forecasts.