Farms.com Home   Ag Industry News

German farmers could receive financial aid

German farmers could receive financial aid

Many fields in the country are suffering from drought

By Diego Flammini
Staff Writer
Farms.com

Germany’s federal government may provide farmers with financial assistance as crops in the country struggle under drought conditions.

The German Farmers Association (DBV) estimated a grain yield of about 41 million tonnes in May. They recently decreased that estimate to about 36 million tonnes.

The organization approached the federal government for €1 billion in aid (US$1.17 billion) to offset the costs associated with lower yields and imported livestock feed.

But Germany’s agriculture minister wants to have as much information as possible before authorizing any sort of payment plan.

“It’s important that we have valid data, and not just individual estimates,” Julia Klöckner told local media yesterday, The Irish Times reported. “Farmers themselves do not know how their harvests will turn out.”

Farmers, however, feel waiting too long will only do more damage.

A lack of rain since April paired with more warm temperatures mean growers need the help now, said Joachim Rückwied, president of the DBV.

“The government needs to declare a state of emergency so that farmers in areas hit hardest by the drought can be helped directly with cash aid,” he said yesterday, Deutsche Welle reported.

German farmers aren’t the only in Europe experiencing drought conditions.

Producers in Finland and Denmark are also managing hot weather.

“To a single farmer this type of year is catastrophic, Max Schulman, a producer from Helsinki, Finland, told NBC News today. “We are a minority, but we play a big role in the economy and in your daily life.”

The drought in Denmark could cause the country’s ag industry to lose $944 million, Troels Toft, a representative with the Danish Agriculture and Food Council, told NBC News.

And some farmers may not be able to recover from the hot weather, he said.

“Some farmers will go bankrupt, that’s for sure,” he told NBC News. “If you had problems before the drought then this can be the push over the edge.”

Agence France-Presse photo


Trending Video

Dr. Emerson Nafziger: Nitrogen Fertilizer Rates for Corn

Video: Dr. Emerson Nafziger: Nitrogen Fertilizer Rates for Corn

The Crop Science Podcast Show, Dr. Emerson Nafziger from the University of Illinois breaks down decades of nitrogen research. From the evolution of N rate guidelines to how soil health and hybrid genetics influence nitrogen use efficiency, this conversation unpacks the science behind smarter fertilization. Improving how we set nitrogen fertilizer rates for rainfed corn is a key focus. Discover why the MRTN model matters more than ever, and how shifting mindsets and better data can boost yields and environmental outcomes. Tune in now on all major platforms!

"The nitrogen that comes from soil mineralization is the first nitrogen the plant sees, and its role is underestimated."

Meet the guest:

Dr. Emerson Nafziger is Professor Emeritus of Crop Sciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, with degrees in agronomy from Ohio State, Purdue, and Illinois. His research has focused on nitrogen rate strategies and crop productivity. He co-developed the Maximum Return to Nitrogen (MRTN) model, which is widely used across the Midwest. His research spans N response trials, hybrid interactions, crop rotation effects, and yield stability.