The harvest of early chip potatoes has started cautiously in Belgium and Germany. However, it is difficult to determine a price level at the moment, because supply and demand are searching. Parties also try to get a good picture of the growing conditions and yields. You can read why this is not easy in this article.
Anyone who drives around the crops in the Netherlands can only conclude that the potatoes are often in reasonable to good condition. Exception on the line are areas that escaped the June rain. Particularly eastern and northeastern Netherlands. Here the situation in the field is comparable to last summer or even much worse due to the lack of soil moisture in the subsoil. Cosun reports that even the beet crops have already been irrigated 3 times and that the drought comparable is with 2018.
Surface very dry
In the clay areas in Flevoland and the south-west of the Netherlands and in the south-east, the potato crop is usually in good condition. Nevertheless, irrigation reelers are working overtime to get these crops going. Anyone who dives into the land with a shovel will quickly get a different picture. Both the top and subsurface are bone dry. While 2018 started with a precipitation surplus, 2019 started off very dry. Rain in March and May only provided temporary relief. Partly due to a beautiful structure, irrigation water has completely disappeared after a few days, insiders report.
The number of tubers is also very average to moderate for chip potatoes. The hot weather at the end of June has resulted in fewer tubers remaining per bush than usual after the initial good tuber formation. The Innovator variety has an average of 7 pieces. An advantage now is the moderate temperature and the occasional drop of precipitation. This does not yet produce kilo-toppers, but it does keep the crops going. If the temperature rises again to high summer values at the end of July or beginning of August, the question is how crops will survive. That is a crucial phase for the main harvest. This makes the market uncertain.
Effect of heat in Europe
What is the situation elsewhere in Europe? The market experts from DCA maden an analysis of this at the end of last week with a 'tour around the fields'. In Germany, France and Poland, potato growers have not escaped the extreme heat, which reached or even exceeded 40 degrees. This has an impact on the crops. Especially with the early potatoes that now have to put on a lot of kilos.
Belgium was largely spared from the worst heat. The second trial harvest figures from PCA show an above-average yield in the early Amora and Anosta potato plots. On average, 9 Amora plots have a gross gross weight of 38 tons per hectare after 90 growing days. The variation is large, ranging from 31 to 53 tons. The average over 8 years is 33 tons per hectare. The percentage of 50 millimeters upwards is approximately the same. The underwater weight lags somewhat behind previous years.
The non-irrigated plots slow down in growth. Irrigated plots grow twice as fast, up to 1 ton per day. It is a challenge to keep plots alive, because the foliage of the (semi) early varieties is already starting to wither. PCA describes the situation as urgent and the yield is disappointing. Due to the high temperatures at the end of June, flushing can also occur. For example in the sensitive Bintje breed.
Price under pressure
Despite the challenging growing conditions, the price of early potatoes is under pressure. PCA/Fiwap noted Tuesday, July 2, an initial quotation from €20 to €22,50, with €20 per 100 kilos as the most common price. A week later this price fell to a level of €18 to €20 per 100 kilos. This applies to early varieties such as Première and Amora with a minimum underwater weight of 340 and 60% 50 millimeters upwards.
Insiders on the potato market are still trying to get a good picture of the situation in the field and the associated price level. This means that the market is currently in one splits located. What doesn't help is that suppliers have to get rid of the early potatoes. Especially in Flanders, potatoes are usually followed by double cultivation, which means the field must be empty. Customers know that this is happening and can afford to wait and see. The last remnants of the old harvest are still being processed and early potatoes are also being supplied from Germany and France.
Market makes no choice
The market remains moderate, just like the weather. The persistently dry weather, in the absence of temperatures above 25 degrees, cannot force an outbreak upwards. Elsewhere in Europe it will be warmer and July will remain very dry. The decision moment, which normally falls in week 28, is thus postponed. For the early potatoes from the field, it will be quite a challenge to maintain a price around €20, despite the fact that the supply is relatively limited. Finally, it should be noted that the countries around us remain warm and dry.