Growers in Belgium have more potatoes in their storage sheds this harvest year than in 2018 harvest. This is the result of an increased acreage and better production. Processors have already processed 300.000 tons more product than average this season.
The production forecast is based on a telephone survey among potato growers. A total of 213 Belgian potato growers were surveyed by Fiwap, PCA, Inagro and Carah in Wallonia and Flanders. In Wallonia they represented almost 18% of the acreage, in Flanders almost 9%.
More hectares, more potatoes
The growers were asked about their potato area, choice of varieties, yield and stock. With all figures combined, the 4 organizations arrive at a provisional gross potato yield of 4,4 million tons for Belgium, including early potatoes. This is an increase of 26% from last year and 3,5% more than the 5-year average. The estimated hectare yield is 44,8 tons. This is 8% less than the average. The main harvest is estimated at 4,04 million tons.
The acreage is estimated at 98.257 hectares. A plus of 4% (4.000 hectares) compared to last year. The Belgian statistical service reported 2 weeks ago a similar area, but came to 4,058 million tons in total. Their hectare average is 41,2 tons per hectare. The 5-year average at Statbel stands at 36,5 tons per hectare, compared to a realistic 48,8 tons at the joint potato organizations.
Much more processed
On November 10, the Belgian potato stock, based on the survey, was 3,25 million net tons in the size 35 millimeters upwards. This is 600.000 tons more than last year and 140.000 tons more than the 3-year average. This means that 1,15 million tons of potatoes have already been processed from the 2019 harvest. This is considerably more than the last 3 years, when an average of 850.000 tons was processed.
Potato growers have more freely available products. Especially because the production is higher, which means that there are more excess kilos. In Wallonia, 69% of the volume is under contract (5-year average is 65%). In Flanders this is 60%, compared to 72% last year. On average, 36% is free for the whole of Belgium, compared to 30% last year and 40% in 2017. The organizations comment on the differences between gross and net tons in storage. Especially wet and late harvested crops can cause storage losses.
Significantly more Fontane
Fontane is by far the largest variety in storage with an estimated 1,55 million tons. Not surprising, because in 4 years' time, 16.000 hectares of Fontane were added. Of this, 940.000 tons have been contracted and 610.000 tons are available. Significantly more than the 370.000 free tons of last autumn. Factories have already collected 270.000 tons, up from 150.000 tons last year. Other processing varieties such as Innovator, Challenger and Lady Anna are at 1,39 million tons, 420.000 tons more than last year.
The Fontane trend is also visible in the acreage. The top 3 is composed by Fontane, Challenger and Innovator, with Bintje knocking off the podium for the first time and standing at 4. The ancient variety still accounts for 14% of the total area, with Fontane taking up 37%. Challenger and Innovator account for 17% and 14,5%.
Loss of Bintje
Only 1 tons of Van Bintje were in storage on 300.000 November, compared to 450.000 tons last year and even 2017 million tons in 1. The 3-year average is 770.000 tons, which is a good example of how quickly the variety is declining in popularity. 100.000 tons have already been processed.