Reduced corn harvest, increased winter wheat production - Reduced maize production, remarkably increased winter wheat yield
Saxony-Anhalt Sees a Decline in Corn Cultivation and a Rise in Winter Wheat
The cultivation area for corn in Saxony-Anhalt is experiencing a significant decrease, according to the Statistical Office in Halle. This year, silage corn is expected to be planted on 104,000 hectares, marking a 10% reduction compared to 2024. The area for grain corn and corn for silage is also decreasing, by around 17%, to 37,800 hectares this year. These figures are preliminary estimates provided by the statisticians.
Fewer livestock and expired contracts for biogas plants are contributing factors to the decrease in corn cultivation. With fewer pig and dairy farms in the region, the demand for corn as feed has diminished. Additionally, a good harvest in 2024 led to an oversupply of corn, requiring less for the following year.
In contrast, the area for potatoes is projected to increase by 15.7% to 15,700 hectares this year, compared to the previous year. Farmers were able to achieve relatively good prices for table potatoes in 2023, stimulating the increase in potato cultivation. Although Saxony-Anhalt is a relatively small potato-producing region, the increase is noteworthy.
The cultivation area for sugar beet is expected to decrease by 9% this year, from 54,500 to 49,600 hectares. This shift is attributed to a bountiful harvest in 2024 that created a small "sugar mountain," causing factories to rely less on beets. The reduction is expected to be concentrated in more remote areas, rather than near the factories. Changing eating habits may also contribute to the reduced need for sugar beets.
On a positive note, winter wheat is expected to see a significant increase in planting. Winter wheat is projected to be planted on around 288,700 hectares, representing a 31,800 hectares or 12.4% increase compared to the previous year. Winter wheat has the highest share of grain in Saxony-Anhalt, making up 58.8% of the total grain cultivation. The area for winter rape is estimated to have increased by 0.6% to 122,900 hectares, while winter barley has stayed relatively consistent, with 96,300 hectares of cultivation, representing a 5.7% decrease compared to 2024.
The shift towards winter wheat can be attributed to declining maize demand, changes in animal husbandry, and a traditional emphasis on cereal grains in Saxony-Anhalt. As a result, the region is expected to see a flourishing winter wheat harvest while other crops face cultivation declines.
The declining demand for corn, influenced by factors such as fewer livestock and oversupply in the industry, has led to a decrease in employment opportunities in the corn farming sector. Concurrently, the rise in winter wheat cultivation, driven by a traditional emphasis on cereal grains and shifts in animal husbandry, could potentially create more job openings in the winter wheat farming industry, as per the community policy and employment policy. This noteworthy increase in winter wheat farming also has financial implications for the region, as winter wheat has the highest share of grain cultivation in Saxony-Anhalt.
