Crop rotation planning: DRV calls for early legal changes

Crop rotation planning: DRV calls for early legal changes

The second DRV harvest estimate for grain and rapeseed in 2024 shows that crop rotation planning for farmers takes place before autumn sowing. Since mainly cereals are sown in the fall, there is only limited space left for additional crops in the spring. The seed supply requires a lead time, which is crucial for a successful harvest.

Grains and oilseeds are particularly in demand on the world market. The removal of the set-aside obligation in March 2024 was regretted as it would lead to a new low in grain acreage. The DRV emphasizes the importance of every hectare and therefore calls on the EU Commission and the Federal Government to make legal changes to crop rotation at an early stage in order to give farmers and seed producers sufficient time to adapt.

In terms of vegetation, rapeseed and cereals show a clear advantage due to the warm weather and good water supply. On average, the plants are around ten days ahead of the long-term average. Although this is generally positive, the risk of late frosts, which can harm the plants, increases. The more developed a plant is, the more sensitive it is to frost.

The DRV forecast for the grain harvest in 2024 amounts to a good 41 million tons and for the rapeseed harvest to just under four million tons. These figures are below the previous year's results and are mainly due to the reduced acreage. It notes that demand for agricultural raw materials is expected to increase by 50 percent by 2050, highlighting the challenges and opportunities for agriculture in the coming years.