Winter Wheat Planting Stagnates
German farmers have expanded their winter crop plantings for the 2026 harvest. The total area sown with winter cereals reached 5.0 million hectares in autumn 2025. Several key crops saw notable increases, though not all fared the same way.
Winter barley experienced one of the largest rises, with planting up by 58,700 hectares. This marked a 4.9% increase, bringing the total to 1.3 million hectares. Winter wheat also grew slightly, covering 2.9 million hectaresāa modest rise of 0.3% from the previous year.
Winter rapeseed saw a significant boost, expanding by 53,500 hectares. The crop now occupies 1.1 million hectares, reflecting a 4.9% increase. Triticale, a hybrid grain, also grew in popularity, with an additional 6,700 hectares planted. This pushed its total area to 294,500 hectares, a 2.3% rise.
Not all crops followed this upward trend. Rye and mixed winter cereals declined by 10,500 hectares, a 2.0% drop to 528,100 hectares. While data for winter barley in individual states like Baden-WĆ¼rttemberg, Berlin, and Brandenburg remains unavailable, Bavaria reported a separate increase of 17,200 hectares in winter rape cultivationānot winter barley.
The 2026 harvest outlook shows a mixed picture for German winter crops. Winter barley, rapeseed, and triticale have all expanded their planted areas, while rye and mixed cereals have shrunk. Farmers will now monitor growth as the season progresses.
