Financial report detailing the outcomes of the 2025 crop harvest

In the picturesque region of Baden-Württemberg, agriculture has faced a mixed bag of fortunes in 2025. While some crops have thrived, others have faced significant setbacks due to various factors.

Minister Peter Hauk, the Minister for Food, Rural Affairs, and Consumer Protection, has emphasised the importance of adapting agriculture in Baden-Württemberg to climate change. This adaptability has been put to the test this year, with the weather proving to be a considerable challenge.

The cereal harvest was completed successfully, despite interruptions due to rainy periods. Grassland and maize have thrived due to the rainfall and warm temperatures. However, the sowing of winter cereals was difficult due to a wet to very wet autumn in 2024.

Asparagus farmers recorded an overall positive season in 2025, a welcome relief after a challenging year. The apple harvest at Lake Constance is expected to be good, although the quantity is slightly lower than the previous year. The quality and aroma of the apples, however, are particularly good.

Unfortunately, not all crops have been so fortunate. Bacterial infections transmitted by the reed leafhopper have spread in the relevant growing regions of sugar beets, resulting in mixed infections and sugar yield losses of 50 percent or more. Significant yield losses and reduced sugar contents have also been recorded in sugar beets, as well as in potatoes and various vegetable crops such as red beet, celery, cabbage, onions, and carrots.

Catch crops in Baden-Württemberg have grown strongly and are providing good overwintering opportunities for numerous insects. This has raised concerns about the potential impact on future crops.

Minister Hauk is employing all legal and agricultural means to gain control over the reed leafhopper. He has emphasised that the rainfall provided optimal germination conditions for catch crops, but also highlighted that the reed leafhopper is a significant threat to the region's agriculture.

Fruit growers and winemakers were spared from weather damage in 2025, with only locally limited hail damage occurring. The 2025 harvest was satisfactory for many special culture operations, despite difficulties in the strawberry season.

Despite the challenges, Minister Hauk is committed to ensuring that operations in Baden-Württemberg have diverse control options, with chemical plant protection being a last resort. He is working towards a sustainable and resilient agriculture that can weather the storms of climate change.