The potato harvest in the Netherlands, and in neighboring countries, is not progressing very well. Normally 40% of the main harvest has already been received on 1 October, this year that number is a lot lower, according to a call round.
The crops will continue to grow for a long time this year and remain green. The Netherlands and Northern Germany also received a lot of rain. That has caused delays. "Innovator in particular remained green for a long time," says Dick Zelhorst of Aviko. He estimates that in the Netherlands between 10% and 20% of the potatoes are grown indoors. "That is lower than last year."
Belgians and French are really going wild this week
In Belgium, the harvest is still in its infancy, says Jan Van Luchene of Bruwier. "The harvest has not progressed far. It remained green and continued to grow, but I expect growers to really start this week. We have not had as much rain as in the Netherlands. The conditions were actually almost ideal."
Van Luchene expects a similar picture for the north of France. "The harvesting was supposed to have started last week, but at 22 degrees it was actually too hot. So work has stopped again."
Northern Germany lags behind the most
There is also a delay in Germany. Mainly in the north. "Most of the table potatoes in the west and south have been delivered, but in the east, Lower Saxony, that is still only half. The heavy rain, including this weekend, has led to major delays. These potatoes should actually be in the store already. lie," said Christoph Hambloch of the German agricultural markets agency AMI.
The delay is less with fries potatoes. "But here too there is a certain backlog, partly due to the wet weather. The south is making good progress with harvesting. Not everything has been harvested yet, but they are well on schedule. The problems really exist in the north."
Trial harvests
Due to the long growth period, the yield has increased further, they point out trial harvesting figures from Bruwier. Fontane reached a net 39 tonnes per hectare in week 62. With 91% above 50 millimeters, the potatoes are particularly large. 2 seasons ago in the same week it was 80%. Bintje amounts to 48,8 tons. Of that, 68% is in 50 millimeters upwards.
It's part of a day of recovery #pommesdeterre chez l'entreprise Sabbe en Belgique qui possède une belle #ROLLSPEED ! 😠🥔 pic.twitter.com/uQpORD24Tw
— ROLLAND (@RemorqueROLLAND) October 2, 2017
One from the heart. #Cartoffelernte with a view. #friends&Family in Einsatz. Schöner as Urlaub, who spoke to Grandpa Peter. #Volcanic Eifel pic.twitter.com/rNMjihtaeH
— Mec. Becker (@wdagrar) October 1, 2017
To the #innovator #potatoes grub at my fellow neighbor's house. #field pic.twitter.com/jShesuYNcL
— Harrysfarm (@harrysfarm) September 28, 2017
And started again in a new cell with Challengers @LambWestonNL #field #kmwp @Martgmg pic.twitter.com/hdU92IFmYd
— Vincent Coolbergen (@VCoolbergen) October 1, 2017