Under the constitution, Germany's states are responsible for disbursing aid to farmers, but "the federal government could not sit back in the face of such problems" if they get out of control, Kuenast told ZDF public television.

She said that once data from the latest harvests was in, the federal government and the states "would decide whether there will be a special programme."

The first estimations on the harvest from German crops is due by August 28.

Kuenast also said there were "some possiblities" that Berlin would seek help from the European Union. The issue was expected to be discussed at a meeting of EU farm ministers in Brussels on Tuesday.

Some German farmers could lose up to 80 percent of their crops this year, if the mercury does not tumble soon and rain starts to fall, the head of the German agriculture association has said.

Farmers are most severely affected in the eastern states of Saxony and Brandenburg, where the summer dry spell has caused more than 225 million euros (200 million dollars) in damage.

TERRA.WIRE