Record-breaking drought

How Hard the Drought Is Hitting Austria’s Farmers

Farmer Alfred Urak from Carinthia in his parched cornfield in St. Kanzian(Bild: Handler Wolfgang)

The drought is taking a massive toll on the country’s agriculture. Too little rain, dry soil, and extreme heat are causing harvests to shrink and feed to become scarce. A look across Austria reveals how differently farmers and farms are affected—and what new approaches some are already trying.

Austria’s fields are parched, and the cost is enormous. One billion euros: that’s how much the Austrian Hail Insurance estimates the damage so far from the historic drought of 2026. Since mid-June, some regions have received over 75 percent less rain than the average for the past ten years.