Farmers switching to a too frugal mode can lead to crop failure

It was revealed at the professional event of Nyír-Chem Kft. that the domestic agricultural sector is facing serious market and economic pressure at the beginning of the 2026 season. World market crop prices are low, while production costs have remained high. This significantly narrows the scope for farmers to act, 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 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. This not only affected last year’s income, but also 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 is a plant specialist, agrochemist and agricultural engineer, and the managing director of Nyír-Chem Kft. According to the experts, 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 safety, while farmers use their available resources efficiently.

Digitalization and targeted technological decisions can significantly help farmers

The importance of digitalization in modern farming was highlighted at the Nyír-Chem Kft. customer conference. For example, with the help of AgroLYNX Zrt.’s platform, FarmLYNX, farmers can track their costs, the input materials used, and the expenditure 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, it can still result in tangible cost savings in the long term,” emphasized Dr. Gerda Anikó. Digital tools can support targeted, area-based decision-making. Farmers can more easily determine which parts of the field or plantation to apply which plant protection treatments. This way, the expenditure can be optimized more, and crop security also increases. According to experts, the “less of everything” approach is not a solution in itself, and in fact can even lead to crop failure in the long term. Therefore, farmers need to make conscious, more data-based 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 manoeuvre may further narrow

In addition to the domestic speakers at the conference, the international part of the event also received special attention. The representative of the Polish parent company of Vitafer, which produces foliar fertilizers, presented the European experiences of modern foliar fertilization and plant condition enhancement. 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 at the same time provides a more stable yield,” emphasized the managing director of the company organizing the professional event, who added that, in parallel with active ingredient extractions, solutions that support crop safety by improving the physiological state of plants are currently gaining value across Europe. According to experts, the key to competitiveness in the 2026 season does not only depend on technological innovations. Strengthening plant condition, applying biological and physiological solutions, and data-based decision-making can all together ensure more successful production results. “International experiences show that regional competition is intensifying. 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-driven planning and optimizing the physiological state of plants in order to more effectively address the challenges of the 2026 season.