It could lead to crop failure if farmers switch to too frugal mode

Market pressure and economic challenges: there were serious losses in 2025 

At the professional event of Nyír-Chem Kft., it was revealed that at the beginning of the 2026 season, the domestic agricultural sector is facing serious market and economic pressure. World market crop prices are low, while production costs have remained high. This significantly narrows the scope for farmers and also forces them to be more cautious. The effect of last year’s overproduction is particularly felt in the vegetable sector. In the market for cabbage, onions, potatoes and some field vegetables, prices often did not cover costs. It has also happened more than once that the produced goods could not be sold, which meant a serious loss of income. Extreme weather phenomena resulting from climate change, such as heat stress, drought or intense rainfall, are also making production increasingly unpredictable. In the fruit sector, the spring frosts of 2025 caused significant crop losses – this was usually felt by farmers as well as buyers in the prices of certain stone fruits. All this affected not only the income of the previous year, but also the farmers’ sense of security.  

“Farmers often look for a short-term solution at the beginning of the 2026 season to cut costs, but excessive savings can lead to crop losses in the long term”

– said Dr. Gerda Anikó, agronomist, agricultural chemist and agricultural engineer, managing director of Nyír-Chem Ltd., is the expert in cost reduction. According to the experts’ suggestion, cost reduction should not be thoughtless. It is important to consciously optimize the number of treatments and the materials used. The goal is to minimize risks and increase crop security, while farmers use their available resources efficiently. 

Digitalization and targeted technology decisions can help farmers in a meaningful way 

The importance of digitalization in modern farming was highlighted at the Nyír-Chem Kft. customer conference. With the help of AgroLYNX Zrt.’s platform, FarmLYNX, for example, farmers can track their costs, used input materials, and the cost side of production on a daily basis. 

“In the case of an ideal decision-support agricultural software, real efficiency often lies in the fact that the producer can know exactly what cost and profit impact a particular technological decision may have. Thus, although the use of such a system may suddenly appear as an additional expense “, yet in the long term it can result in tangible cost savings”

– emphasized Dr. Gerda Anikó. 

Digital tools can support targeted, area-based decision-making. Farmers can more easily determine which parts of their fields or plantations to apply which plant protection treatments. This way, the input can be optimized more effectively, and crop security also increases. According to experts, the “less of everything” approach is not a solution in itself, and in fact, it can even lead to crop failure in the long run. Therefore, farmers need to adopt a conscious, data-based approach.

They have to make better decisions. As a result, precision farming and continuous monitoring of costs can bring more sustainable results in the long term. 

International experiences: Hungarian farmers’ room for maneuver may further narrow  

In addition to the domestic speakers of the conference, the international part of the event received special attention. The representative of the Polish parent company of Vitafer foliar fertilizers presented the European experiences of modern foliar fertilization and plant condition strengthening. As part of their presentation, they highlighted the role of biostimulants, algae extracts and conditioning preparations in improving the physiological state of plants. 

“A healthy plant responds better to stress situations, is more resistant to environmental challenges, and also provides a more stable yield”

– highlighted the managing director of the company organizing the professional event, who added that in parallel with the extraction of active ingredients, solutions that improve the health of plants are currently gaining value throughout Europe. They support crop security by improving the physiological condition of the crop. 

According to experts, the key to competitiveness in the 2026 season does not only depend on technological innovations. Strengthening plant condition, the application of biological and physiological solutions, and data-based decision-making can together ensure more successful production results.  

“International experiences show that regional competition is strengthening. For example, high-quality apples arrive from the Polish market at favorable prices, which puts additional price pressure on domestic producers. International price competition further narrows the room for maneuver of Hungarian farmers”

– drew attention to Dr. Gerda Anikó. 

Other presentations at the conference also emphasized the importance of cost-effective, sustainable and innovative solutions. According to the professional guidelines of Nyír-Chem Kft., farmers should now focus on precision farming, data-based planning and optimizing the physiological state of plants in order to manage the challenges of the 2026 season as effectively as possible.