The members of United Growers Akkerbouw (VTA) have recently carried out trial harvesting of the various consumption varieties spread across the Netherlands. The results show that the outcome is in line with expectations, with the other trial harvesting results done by trading houses and processors.
The average hectare yield is almost 46,5 tons in mid-August. That is 6,5 tons more than in the moderate season of the 2016 harvest year in terms of growth. The results of the 2017 harvest are close to the 2012 harvest, but reach the peak year of 2014 (when almost 50 tons per hectare were already sampled). not. Compared to the 5-year average, the trial harvest figures are almost 7% higher.
Many positives visible
Almost all varieties, except Agria (which shows a minus of 1,7%), show a plus compared to the 5-year average. The Innovator variety is doing particularly well. The 5-year average for Innovator is almost 45 tons per hectare, this season it is already almost 51 tons per hectare. In contrast, the growth of the Fontane variety is less spectacular, 46 tons this season compared to 43 tons per hectare over the 5-year average (30 tons per hectare in the 2016 harvest year).
VTA does not report the OWG, which often reflects the potential of the crops. VTA's comment is that members consider the potential of the crops to be diverse. A large number of growers are already seeing significant wear and tear on their crops, while other growers indicate that the crops are still fresh and green.