Bavaria hop harvest projected to drop 22.8 percent due to climate factors

Bavaria is facing a significant decline in its hop harvest due to extreme heat and prolonged periods of drought. According to estimates from the Association of German Hop Growers and the Bavarian State Office for Statistics, the 2026 harvest in the Hallertau and Spalt regions is expected to reach approximately 29,244 tons. This represents a 22.8 percent decrease compared to the 37,865 tons harvested in 2025.

The impact of climate change is evident in both yield and land use. The average yield per hectare is projected to drop by 18 percent to roughly 19.3 decitonnes, while the total cultivation area is expected to decrease by 5.8 percent to 15,115 hectares. Bavaria remains a critical hub for the industry, accounting for approximately 84.6 percent of Germany's total hop cultivation area.

To combat these environmental pressures, researchers at the Hüll Hop Research Center are working to develop new, climate-resilient hop varieties. These new strains aim to maintain stable yields even with reduced water availability, addressing the long-term trend of rising temperatures in the region.