Significantly more seed potatoes reduced by the NAK

The NAK has reduced considerably more seed potatoes in class than last year. This season it is a reduction of 2,6%. This is apparent from the first field inspection, in which 60% of the plots were inspected by the NAK.

In total, 1.082 hectares have been reduced in class, which is therefore 2,6% of the total acreage. Last year this percentage was 1%, and the percentage was also lower in previous years. Ton Stolte, operations manager at NAK, mentions the wet autumn of 2017 as the reason. 

The South region has by far the most reductions, because there is 4,2% in class reduced and 0,9% rejected. The fact that the percentage is high may be due to the fact that it was wetter in that region, says Stolte. 

Lots of bacterial disease
The reductions mainly take place on bacterial disease. About 87% was rejected on this basis, a much higher percentage than in previous years (60%). "Growers cannot do much about bacterial disease, but will have to work hard to select bacterial disease where possible," says Stolte. 

Stolte says that there is currently no reduction based on a virus. That will be done from now on. This can lead to further reductions. 

Anne-Jan Doorn

Anne Jan Doorn is an arable expert at Boerenbusiness. He writes about the various arable farming markets and also focuses on the land and energy market.

aj.doorn@boerenbusiness. Nl

© DCA Market Intelligence. This market information is subject to copyright. It is not permitted to reproduce, distribute, disseminate or make the content available to third parties for compensation, in any form, without the express written permission of DCA Market Intelligence.