Potato production EU-28 fraction lower

The potato harvest estimate in the European Commission's MARS bulletin shows a lower estimate than expected in July. Yet the average EU harvest expectation of 33.3 tonnes per hectare is 2.2% above the 5-year average. Compared to last year, this amounts to a loss of 2%. Only Austria collects significantly fewer kilos, reaching 30,1 tonnes per hectare. A consequence of 3 heat waves and drought.

France harvests more
The majority of the EU-28 countries are at or close to an average yield. This also includes the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany. The French harvest seems to be slightly higher. The latest showers have reduced the slight precipitation deficit. The disease pressure is low. France has an increase in production compared to last year of 13%: an average of 44.2 tons per hectare. Germany is slightly worse off than in recent years.

The Netherlands and Belgium
The Netherlands is expected to achieve a hectare average of 43.7 tons: that is 0.6% more than the five-year average and almost 2% more than the 2016 harvest. The western part of Belgium had to make do with a below-average amount of precipitation.

Although this improved as the season progressed and yield expectations for potatoes increased slightly, soil moisture levels are still quite critical in some parts of Belgium. Ultimately, there is now an estimate of 45 tons per hectare: 2% less than the multi-year average.

Above average harvests
Only for the United Kingdom, some countries in the Balkan region and Latvia do the estimates point to above-average harvests. Cool temperatures in Latvia in July were followed by average to above average temperatures in August. There was quite a bit of rain in the first half of July.

In the UK the potatoes are in good condition. Although the cultivation area experienced above-average temperatures during the first 20 days of July, they subsequently dropped and it rained frequently. 

Forecast for the harvest of potatoes.