Hungary's grain harvest slashed by extreme heat and drought

Prime Minister Robert Fico warned that the unusually hot and dry summer has reduced grain yields across Slovakia, while Hungarian authorities reported similarly poor results in the country's eastern regions. Harvests began early, in mid‑June, but farmers face lower outputs of wheat, barley, rapeseed and other cereals, with some areas seeing up to a 50 % drop.

In Hungary's Békés County, the National Agricultural Chamber noted mixed yields: autumn wheat averaged 3 t/ha but ranged from 0.4 t/ha to 6 t/ha, while durum wheat performed poorly at 0.4–1 t/ha. Corn and sunflower crops are also showing signs of water stress. Feed shortages are looming as poor pasture growth forces livestock to be fed with straw. Officials are urging the reconstruction and modernization of irrigation systems, exploring public‑private partnerships that could attract roughly €500 million in investment.

Both governments emphasize the need for EU agricultural support and warn that continued drought cycles could threaten food security and rural livelihoods.