Many problems in seed potatoes

In the third week of the NAK field inspections, a considerable area of ​​seed potatoes was again reduced in class. In Belgium the situation is even worse. The seed potatoes are also affected by the drought, and sometimes the plants on the first plots are already killed.

The reduction percentage increased from almost 6% to about 9%. As a result, about 4.000 hectares have been reduced in class. These numbers were reached in total last year, while the NAK has only recently started judging. Last year the reduction percentage in week 26 was just under 4%.

Also, 1,5% has already been rejected, compared to only 0,5% in the same period last year. According to the NAK the results are particularly disappointing in the south and center of the country. There, respectively, 12,7% and 9,7% were rejected. Only a few plots have not yet been inspected due to the late planting time. In the meantime, plants have already been killed on the first plots.

Bacterial disease
The vast majority of plots are reduced or rejected because of bacterial disease (87%). Varietal purity is a problem in only 8% of the plots. The fact that there is a lot of bacterial pressure is due to the wet spring, according to Van Olaf Campen, crop advisor at Adama. The NAK also reported this earlier.

Van Campen estimates that there will be even more viral illness. "In the Netherlands there was a lot of aphid pressure in the seed potatoes early on. Many aphids were found with a high vector pressure. The aphid pressure is only increasing, now that the first crops are also leaving the country."

Belgium
Van Campen noticed that there is a lot of virus and bacteria in Belgian potatoes. "That's because the quality of the starting material is disappointing. In Belgium, a lot of seed potatoes are multiplied themselves. That is now cutting their fingers. In some plots there was a virus in as much as 40% to 50% of the plot."

Van Campen notices that the Dutch are more or less blamed (as the largest seed potato supplier) for the problems with seed potatoes abroad. However, according to him, what he has seen cannot come through Dutch seed potatoes. "It is important, however, to maintain the quality in order to safeguard our position."

Drought 
The seed potatoes also suffer from the dryness† In the Wieringermeer, where a lot of seed potatoes are grown, the seed potatoes are having a hard time. "Irrigation is not allowed. However, it seems the number quite nice so far," says Marco van Soesbergen, product manager at Crop solutions.

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

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