Inside Potatoes
Belgium potato area continues to amaze
Now that definitive acreage figures for Flanders have been published, potato testing center PCA expects the potato acreage to reach the 100.000 hectare limit in 2019. However, for the time being the exact figures for Wallonia are lacking.
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Choose the subscription that suits youThe Flemish Ministry of Agriculture has announced the area figures for 2019, based on the declaration by farmers. These figures confirm the impression that PCA previously had outlined. The area of consumption potatoes is growing by 8%. The current figure for Flanders is just over 54.000 hectares. After a small decline in 2018, last year it was just below 50.000. This concerns 4.228 hectares of additional potatoes.
Walloon figures
Preliminary figures are known for Wallonia, but the sector strongly doubts them. This is because no increase is expected for the Walloons. That is special, given that fewer sugar beets and corn are grown there. This picture is the case in Flanders. On many farms, the potato is a good substitute for beets. The construction plans are more extensive, which means there is much more growth ambition. This is shown in the graph below.
If the area of consumption potatoes in Wallonia does not increase, our southern neighbors will grow 97.400 hectares of potatoes this year. Including seed potatoes, the area is indeed approximately 100.000 hectares.
100.000 hectares
PCA's Walloon counterpart: Fiwap, also conducted a survey among its members. This forecasts a slight increase. The 'Flemish 8%' is expected to be too high for this region. In this extreme situation, the consumption area alone would break 100.000 hectares. In 2018, the Walloon area for consumption potatoes amounted to 43.500 hectares. Final figures regarding the area in Wallonia are expected in the coming month.
After a delayed start, planting in Wallonia will be completed one of these days. Due to last week's rain, growers were forced to stop. Ultimately, 10 to 15 millimeters fell in the southern part of Belgium. This means it remains very dry for this time of year. After a dry 2018, soil reserves are far from replenished. Irrigation is hardly possible, which certainly makes the situation worrying for growers.
Persistent drought
The plots that were planted early are now emerging. The mercury dropped to 0 degrees Celsius in recent days, although no reports of frost damage have been made. On the other hand, the low temperatures, in combination with a lot of wind and no precipitation, do not promote growing conditions. Long-term expectations also indicate little rain.