Grain farmers predict a harvest of approximately 40 million metric tons
In recent searches, there appears to be no evidence or reports indicating that the glassy-winged sharpshooter cicada is present or impacting agriculture in Germany as of August 2025. This particular cicada species is known to be an agricultural pest in parts of the Americas, notably California, where it vectors plant diseases like Pierce’s disease in grapevines.
While the search results do not suggest the species is currently established in Germany, it's worth noting that official German agricultural or environmental agencies such as the Julius Kühn-Institut would be the authoritative sources for up-to-date pest status.
Meanwhile, the agricultural sector in Germany faces other challenges. High costs for fertilizers, energy, and plant protection products are causing tight calculations for farmers. Timely rain arrived in many regions during the grain formation period, offering some relief. However, the president of the German Farmers' Association, Joachim Rukwied, has stated that better soils with higher water retention capacity fared better than weaker locations during the spring drought.
A heterogeneous picture of the crops is emerging due to regional differences in soil quality and weather conditions. This also applies to further grass cuts on pastures for animal feed. The glassy-winged sharpshooter cicada, however, poses a threat to agriculture and food supply security, according to Rukwied.
Nearly half of the total grain cultivation area is winter wheat, the main variety. The farmers' association expects a total grain harvest of around 40.1 million tonnes, slightly more than last year's 39 million tonnes. The farmers' association also expects a rapeseed harvest roughly at last year’s level, but below the average of the past five years.
The weather from February to mid-May was persistently dry, leading to unusually low moisture levels in the topsoil and sometimes deeper layers. Farmers are particularly concerned about the increasingly widespread appearance of the glassy-winged sharpshooter cicada. The disease transmitted by the cicada can cause significant yield and quality losses, even up to total failure.
For potatoes, sugar beets, and maize, which are harvested in the fall, the weather in the coming months will be crucial. The grain harvest in Germany is expected to be better than last year, but the situation is still critical, as stated by Rukwied. The EU is expecting a grain harvest of around 280 million tonnes, which would be a return to normal levels after the small harvest of 2024.
Grain prices have currently reached a low point, as stated by the farmers' president. Despite these challenges, the German Farmers' Association remains hopeful for a near-average grain harvest and is monitoring the situation closely.
The weather conditions in the coming months will be crucial for the harvest of potatoes, sugar beets, and maize, as extreme weather can impact these crops significantly. Joachim Rukwied, the president of the German Farmers' Association, has emphasized the glassy-winged sharpshooter cicada as a potential threat to agriculture and food supply security in Germany.
