Germany will have the smallest grain harvest in 24 years as heatwave and drought prevent supplies meeting demand , farming co - operative DRV forecasts . The EU ’s second - largest grower expects to produce 36.3 million tonnes of wheat this year , 20 % lower than in 2017 . Production of Germany ’s main crop , wheat , is expected to be 19 % lower at 20 million tonnes , while corn will fall almost 20 % to 40 million tonnes . German insurance group GDV said the water shortage could cost German farmers € 2bn ( $ billion ) .
Germany will have the smallest grain harvest in 24 years as heatwave and drought prevent supplies meeting demand, farming co-operative DRV forecasts. The EU’s second-largest grower expects to produce 36.3 million tonnes of grain this year, 20% lower than in 2017. Production of Germany’s main crop, wheat, is expected to be 19% lower at 20 million tonnes, while corn will fall almost 50% to 2.3 million tonnes. German insurance group GDV said the water shortage could cost German farmers €2bn ($2.3bn).