Potato harvest is stealing between the showers

This week Aviko Potato publishes the first figures on the main harvest of consumption potatoes in the Netherlands and the EU-5. What is striking in our country is that relatively much has already been harvested, especially in the East of the Netherlands. Most other areas have cleared about the same to slightly less than what is typical. A quarter has been cleared in Gelderland and 20% in the Noordoostpolder. This is less so in other Aviko regions.

Underwater weight
There are roughly 2 reasons for this. The weather conditions were unfavorable or the potato quality now allows harvesting. For example, growers in Flevoland, among other places, sometimes struggle with underwater weights that are too low, which means that the potatoes are still green. Due to rainfall, the tubers started growing late, which reduced the underwater weight. In the southwest, growers are more likely to struggle with underwater weights that are too high, which means harvest damage is likely.

Especially in combination with dry weather, damage was a topic to take into account until the end of last week. What is extra important this season is the idea that there is no market at all for inferior quality. At the same time, the 2019 harvest season has not yet been forgotten. It is noticeable that timely action is taken during all (harvest) activities. With an ailing October ahead, this is not surprising. There will be heavy rainfall between showers for the next 2 weeks, although there will be no real heavy rainfall.

Heavy precipitation
At the end of last week, quite a lot of local precipitation fell, especially in the southwest. In Zeeland and South Holland, but also in Belgium, for example. In places, between 75 and more than 100 millimeters fell in a short time. The differences are again large. Precisely in these areas, a lot of rain was previously used to enable harvesting at all. Another obstacle was the relatively high temperatures, which resulted in a high tuber temperature. This results in an undesirable start to the storage season, which will be extra exciting this year because it is not possible to fall back on CIPC and not everyone has had experiences with 1,4Sight.

The persistent drought has ensured that - according to Aviko figures - hardly any plots have been cleared in Belgium so far. There was also heavy rainfall locally at the end of last week. "It also rained quite a bit in Northern France," says Aviko's purchasing and sales manager Willem van Tilburg. "Less than in Belgium, about 40 to 50 millimeters. It was also dry there, which makes it favorable for harvesting conditions. As far as we can now estimate, there is no evidence of water damage yet. This also applies to the southwest, where the soil could thrive."

no worries yet
Jan van Luchene, from the Flemish potato trade brewer from Waregem, can give another reason for the fact that hardly any harvesting has taken place: "The new foliage killing agents work more slowly, which means that about 3 weeks of time are needed between killing spraying and harvesting. Many plots have only been sprayed 2 weeks ago and are therefore not yet sufficiently hardened. The precipitation in Belgium has fallen in scattered places. In the west about 50 millimeters, but south of Brussels locally as much as 100 millimeters. This is more than expected. We hope that only a little rain at the end of this week falls and not such a heavy shower again. If that happens, we will again end up in a scenario that is similar to 2019. It is still early, anything can still happen."

In Germany the potato harvest is further advanced. Aviko estimates that 35% of the main harvest has been harvested. "Here, relatively much is delivered from land, which means the percentage is higher," says Van Tilburg. "This is also the reason why more has already been cleared in the eastern Netherlands." Despite drier conditions, the light soils in the east can be harvested well. Van Tilburg expects the clearing work to restart today, Tuesday September 29. Many arable farmers then start harvesting.

Yield ends average
Large-scale grubbing up will begin in Belgium at the beginning of October. An occasional shower is not a bad thing for nice, moist soil. Bruwier published the latest trial harvest figures for this season this week. For Fontane, this amounts to 50,9 tonnes per hectare net, with 83% in the size 50 millimeters upwards. This is virtually the same as the 5-year average. However, the potatoes are coarser than average. Challenger comes in at just under 49 tons per hectare. With 67% in the size 50 millimeters upwards, these are considerably finer.

The long-term forecast for the weather is uncertain. According to Weerplaza, the Netherlands lies on the dividing line between cold and warm air. The expectation is therefore that October will be average. However, if this line shifts, it can become colder or warmer. The precipitation forecast is wetter than normal, especially for the first days of October. The warm sea water may cause heavy showers, especially in the coastal areas. Warmer weather is mainly expected for the second half of October. Weerplaza does not dare to say whether this will result in less precipitation.