Agriculture in Poland and Baltics hit by extreme weather

The agricultural sectors in Poland and the Baltic states are facing severe economic challenges due to a chain of extreme weather events. Following early warmth and subsequent frosts in 2025, which prompted the European Commission to allocate nearly 50 million euros in aid—including 14.8 million to Poland, 4.2 million to Latvia, and 1.1 million to Lithuania—the 2026 season has been marked by intense droughts and heatwaves across Central Europe.

EU Commissioner for Agriculture Janusz Hansen estimated total losses for the European agricultural sector between 14 and 17 billion euros. Specific crop yields have dropped significantly below five-year averages, including soy by 15 percent, silage corn by 14 percent, and sugar beets by 11 percent. In Poland, preliminary estimates from Statistics Poland indicate substantial declines in harvests, with fruit production down 18.6 percent, apples by 19.5 percent, and raspberries by 23 percent.

In response to these recurring climate extremes, Poland, alongside Slovakia, Slovenia, Austria, and Croatia, has called for an increase in the European agricultural reserve, which currently stands at approximately 450 million euros annually. The Institute of Meteorology and Water Management reported a record number of hydrological drought warnings through August, particularly affecting the Kujawsko-Pomorskie and Mazowieckie regions.