Germany: Potato Harvest Splits North–South as Farm Reports Range From 3 to 58.5 t/ha
Key takeaways
- 3 t/ha reported in Adelschlag, the lowest Bavarian yield
- 55 t/ha reported by a grower in Edemissen, Lower Saxony
- 240 euros per tonne paid for processing potatoes in Germany
- 268,000 ha planted in 2026, about 11% less than in 2025
Why it matters
- For farmers
- Southern growers with heavy shortfalls should review delivery clauses and force-majeure terms in contracts now; northern growers with normal yields hold a stronger hand in price talks
- For processors
- Supply will come mainly from northern Germany and abroad; adjust sourcing plans and logistics for southern plants accordingly
- For traders
- Expect southern German buyers to look north and to neighbouring countries for raw material; regional price gaps may widen
60-second summary
Germany's 2026 potato harvest varies widely by region, according to farmer reports collected by top agrar and published on 17 September. Reported yields range from 3 to 58.5 tonnes per hectare. The weakest come from Bavaria: 3 t/ha in Adelschlag, 3.5 t/ha in Hirschaid and 12 t/ha in Thalmässing. In the north, a grower in Edemissen, Lower Saxony, reported 55 t/ha, and a farm in Lützow in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania also reported more than 50 t/ha. Processing potatoes traded at about 240 euros per tonne and table potatoes at 270-280 euros per tonne. These are individual farm reports, not official statistics, and have not been confirmed by a second source. The industry association UNIKA said in August that the potato area was slightly more than 268,000 hectares, about 11% less than in 2025. The spread helps explain national loss estimates and means buyers will depend heavily on northern supply this season.
Germany’s 2026 potato harvest is producing very different results from region to region, according to farmer reports collected by the agricultural publication top agrar and published on 17 September. The reported yields range from 3 to 58.5 tonnes per hectare.
The weakest results come from Bavaria. Farmers reported 3 t/ha in Adelschlag, 3.5 t/ha in Hirschaid and 12 t/ha in Thalmässing. In the north the picture is much better: a farm in Edemissen in Lower Saxony reported 55 t/ha, and a farm in Lützow in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania also reported yields above 50 t/ha.
According to top agrar, processing potatoes were trading at about €240 per tonne, while table potatoes fetched €270–280 per tonne.
Weekdays. Unsubscribe in one click.
These are individual farm reports, not official statistics, and they have not been confirmed by a second source.
Context
The German potato area is smaller this year. The industry association UNIKA said in August that potatoes were planted on slightly more than 268,000 hectares, about 11% less than in 2025.
The regional spread helps explain national estimates of the loss. A recent analysis by the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit put the drought-related loss to the German crop at 1.13 million tonnes; POTATOES NEWS examined those figures earlier this week.
Why it matters
A national average can hide the fact that some growers have almost no crop while others have a normal one. For processors and packers sourcing in Germany, the split means supply will depend heavily on the north. For southern growers with contract obligations, shortfalls of this size raise questions about delivery clauses and force majeure. Traders should expect southern German buyers to look north and abroad for raw material in the coming months. With processing potatoes at about €240 per tonne and table potatoes at €270–280, northern growers with normal yields are the ones best placed to benefit from this season.
Photo: Potato harvester in Germany (illustrative). JoachimKohler-HB / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Global Potato Brief
Top five stories, prices, disease alerts and events. Weekday mornings, no advertising.
What next
Official harvest statistics will show whether the north-south split in farm reports holds across the country. Contract deliveries from southern Germany are the main open question.
Sources
- top agrar — https://www.topagrar.com/acker/news/news-ticker-zuckerrubenkampagne-2026-angelaufen-20028892.html
- UNIKA (area estimate, August 2026), via top agrar context
- ONE SOURCE for yields and prices: individual farmer reports collected by top agrar, not official statistics.
Linked in this material
- Country
- Germany
- Companies
- UNIKA; ECIU
- Sections
- EuropeHarvestingNews
Related stories
Netherlands: Flikweert Vision Launches New-Generation QualityGrader With AI Cameras and Up to 30 t/h
Netherlands: PotatoNL Fries-Potato Quotation Holds at €21–27.50 per 100 kg Despite Heavier Harvest Supply
