Germany’s farm prices fall less sharply in March

Germany’s farm-gate prices continued to fall in March, but wine was one of the few agricultural products to move higher, according to data released Wednesday by the Federal Statistical Office, known as Destatis.

Overall producer prices for agricultural goods were 8.8% lower than a year earlier, a smaller decline than in February, when prices were down 10.9% from the same month in 2025. Compared with February, however, prices rose 2.1% in March, showing that some parts of the farm economy were recovering even as the annual picture remained weak.

Wine prices increased 1.8% from March 2025, Destatis said. The rise matters for vineyards and wineries because producer prices help determine income at the first stage of the supply chain, before products move into processing, wholesale and retail markets.

The broader decline in agricultural prices was driven by both crop and livestock products. Prices for plant products fell 8.0% from a year earlier, while prices for animals and animal products dropped 9.3%. On a monthly basis, both categories moved up, with plant products rising 1.4% and animal products increasing 2.5%.

Among crops, potatoes remained under heavy pressure. Table potato prices were 55.2% lower than in March 2025, after declines of 54.2% in February and 49.8% in January. Fruit prices also fell sharply, down 31.2% from a year earlier. Destatis said table apples were among the items with lower prices, down 33.0%.

Vegetable prices moved in the opposite direction and were 19.3% higher than a year earlier. Cucumbers rose 31.9%, lettuce increased 20.3% and tomatoes gained 14.9%. Some cabbage vegetables were cheaper, falling 17.3%.

Prices for grain were down 14.2% from March 2025, while feed crops fell 6.2%. Commercial crops as a group rose 0.9%, the first annual increase since September 2024, when they had climbed 10.4% from a year earlier. Rapeseed also became more expensive, rising 2.5%.

In livestock and animal products, milk was a major drag on the index. Milk prices were 27.0% lower than a year earlier and slipped another 0.7% from February to March. Egg prices rose 13.8% over the year.

Prices for live animals were up 3.6% from March 2025, led by cattle, which gained 13.3%. Slaughter pigs fell 3.6%. Poultry prices rose 3.9%, with other poultry such as ducks and turkeys up 9.7%. Chicken prices edged up 0.2%.

Destatis said the index measures selling prices received by farmers in Germany before value-added tax and reflects price changes at the first stage of the economy.

For wine producers, the March figures point to a modest improvement in pricing power even as many other farm sectors remain under strain from falling commodity values and uneven demand across agricultural markets.