Analysis Potatoes
Large differences in progress of potato harvest
Where one rarely had such a smooth potato harvest, some growers are still struggling. Warm and dry weather provide many days suitable for harvesting. Especially in Belgium and Northern France, arable farmers are struggling with wet harvesting conditions.
Especially in Belgium, growers - you could say finally - have made significant progress with the harvesting. Rain plagued the harvest there and it is still quite wet. In Aviko's chart, progress has increased from 60% to almost 80% of the area that has been harvested. This even surpasses France.
In the Netherlands, just under 10% still had to be stored in the shed by Aviko growers before the weekend. Germany was well ahead of the other countries, but is now lagging a bit, with 15% still to be harvested. In the United Kingdom, 20% is still in the ground as well.
Progress slightly slower
The harvest progress in the Netherlands and Belgium is ahead of last year. That is not surprising, given the dramatic situation back then. Looking at the two years before that, harvesting is less advanced. This is of course due to the sometimes very late planting dates of the potatoes. Crops are sometimes forced to be harvested green.
In the north of France, especially in the coastal areas, it is quite wet. 30% of the potatoes are still in the ground there. Despite starting harvesting on time, persistent rainfall makes it difficult to bring in the last hectares. Meanwhile, in some places, water stands between the ridges. Harvesting, when possible, is difficult and growers struggle with the quality and getting the product dry.
No panic
In our country too, it is still very wet locally. This is the case in East Netherlands, Brabant, and Limburg. This complicates a smooth progress of harvesting and affects the quality. Growers want to have the potatoes inside, but there is certainly no panic. The weather forecasts also continue to indicate stable, dry weather into early November. This will allow all fields to be harvested.
The yields are very heterogeneous and vary per field and variety. Some potatoes planted later show good yields on sandy soil. What was planted in June or even later often results in disappointment, although there are exceptions. Even on the clay soils in the (south)west of the country, the yields are sometimes very poor.
