‘The drought has left its mark’: Slovenia’s potato lovers lament low yields

Lipovci, a small village in Slovenia's northeastern Prekmurje region, hosted the country's 26th International Festival of Roasted Potatoes, drawing hundreds of visitors and more than 50 societies who brought their own takes on the national favourite. Attendees, including long-time festival-goers and farmers, gathered to roast and sample potatoes amid music and debate over recipes and cooking fats. Local growers reported sharply reduced harvests after a summer of extreme heat and dry conditions. The Chamber of Agriculture and Forestry of Slovenia estimates yield losses this year ranging from 30% up to 90% in some areas. Small-scale farmers described smaller tubers and, in some cases, half or near-total losses: one farmer from Velike La
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0de said he lost around half his crop, while others said corn and wine grapes were also badly affected. The drought that peaked in the first half of August hit later-maturing potato varieties particularly hard, and farmers noted that timing and field location influenced outcomes. Some attendees at the festival said they sourced potatoes from friends or dug them earlier to avoid the worst of the drought when storing for winter. Beyond Slovenia, the UK-based Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU) released analysis estimating the summer drought could reduce potato harvests by about 3.1 million tonnes across major European exporters such as Germany, France, Belgium and the Netherlands, with some industry yield estimates down around 20%. Despite the losses, festival organisers and participants emphasised cultural continuity: roasted potatoes remain a common daily dish on many farms, and the event's organisers aim to promote the dish as a main course. The festival, which began in the early 2000s and moves location annually, combined culinary competitions, traditional music and community camaraderie even as growers tally the economic and practical impacts of a difficult harvest season.