Vollernte

Vollernte is a German agricultural term that denotes the period or state in which all crops on a farm are harvested. The word combines voll, meaning full, with Ernte, meaning harvest. In practice, Vollernte describes both the moment at which harvesting is completed and the planning and logistics that aim to bring the entire crop to storage or market in one wave.

In farm management, Vollernte marks the culmination of the harvest season. It requires coordinating machinery such as combine harvesters, loaders, and transport, as well as labor, storage facilities, and post-harvest handling. The term is used across crop groups but is most common in cereal-growing regions, where cereals, maize, roots, and fruits are brought in during a relatively short window.

Weather and crop ripeness drive the timing of Vollernte. Dry, sunny periods are preferred to reduce spoilage and prevent field losses. Farmers may adjust practices to ensure a uniform harvest across fields, optimizing quality and marketing opportunities. The concept also intersects with agricultural policy and farm economics, affecting quotas, subsidies, and insurance claims tied to harvest outcomes.

Vollernte reflects the shift to mechanization in farming, enabling larger areas to be harvested rapidly and reducing seasonal labor pressures. In contemporary usage, the term can appear in farm reports, agricultural journalism, and regional planning documents as a concise descriptor of the year's harvest activity.