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The cereal sector council of Spain's Cooperativas Agro-alimentarias published its second harvest estimate with positive results. Total production is expected to reach 25.8 million tons, making this the second-largest harvest since 1990, surpassed only by the record set in 2020 (27.5 million tons). The national average yield reached a record high of 4.57 tons per hectare (t/ha), which is 16% higher than in 2024 and 21% higher than the average for the last five years (excluding 2023, when there was a poor harvest).
Despite the harvest's slow progress due to logistical constraints, a lack of machinery, and adverse weather conditions—including sporadic rainfall and heat waves at the end of the cycle—the available data suggest that this will be an exceptional season.
The estimated production by crop is as follows: soft wheat, 8.3 million tons (Mt); durum wheat, 0.69 Mt; barley, 10.3 Mt; oats, 1.5 Mt; rye, 0.3 Mt; triticale, 0.94 Mt. There is also a preliminary estimate of 3.8 Mt of corn.
Cereals are essential for the sustainability of the Spanish agri-food system. Genetic improvement has been fundamental in achieving high yields and greater resilience to adverse conditions. However, an increase in extreme weather events underscores the importance of advancing adaptive agronomic practices.
Given the sustained reduction in cereal-growing areas (450,000 fewer hectares than five years ago), it is crucial to promote professional crop management, use certified seeds, and encourage collaboration among farmers, cooperatives, and breeders. The Farmers Against Climate Change (ACC) initiative is establishing itself as a key strategy for mitigating the effects of climate change on cereal productivity.
July 18, 2025/ Cooperativas Agro-alimentarias/ Spain.
https://www.agro-alimentarias.coop
