Potato survey season 2021: what is the result?

The majority of potato growers have indicated that they will grow fewer potatoes in 2021, according to a survey by Boerenbusiness among more than 300 growers. This concerns a percentage of 48,65%. In addition, 35,6% indicate that they will keep the potato area the same next season. Only 4% of respondents plan to expand the area. Many potato growers seem to be responding to the call made by the North-Western European Potato Growers (NEPG). the end of October did. It is striking that both growers who grow potatoes for the free market (about 40%) and growers who grow under contract (about 32%) do not expect any changes in the sales strategy in the coming year.

Influence of corona crisis
One of the reasons for the reduction in potato acreage is the global corona pandemic. Of all respondents, more than 43% indicate that the construction plan for the coming year has changed since the start of the corona crisis. For approximately 33% of respondents, the virus and all its associated consequences have had no effect on the construction plan for the coming year. It is striking that a possible decrease in the contract price is not a reason for many growers to reduce the area. More than 44% indicate this has no effect, while 28% of respondents will reduce the area as a result of a lower contract price.

Although the majority of respondents indicate that a lower contract price has no influence on the acreage, it is clear to many that this price will decrease. More than 56% indicate that they expect a lower contract price next season and approximately 20% expect this to remain unchanged. The decrease is estimated at €25 by 1% of all respondents, while almost 12% expect a decrease of €1,50. A higher contract price is not seen as a losing option by everyone, because more than 6,5% think that the price will rise next season. However, the majority of respondents do not yet dare to predict the price.

Germination inhibition during growing season
Another point that is playing an increasingly important role is the cost of sprout inhibitors. Although the majority of respondents in the survey indicate that the sales strategy (despite these higher costs) remains the same (52%), there is also a significant proportion who report that they will store for shorter periods as a result of the more expensive sprout inhibitors. This amounts to more than 14%. About 13% of potato growers indicate that they have not yet made a decision.

What is striking is that the focus of germination inhibition is during the growing season. Nearly 53% of potato growers indicate that they prefer Royal MH. Argos oil is preferred for storage. Nearly 33% of respondents use this method. 1,4Sight (23%) and Ethylene (11%) follow. Finally, more than 36% of potato growers indicate that they can make sufficient use of these resources.

Briefly
In short, the potato survey shows 7 important trends for the 2021 season:

1. Almost half of the growers anticipate a change in the area.
2. The sales strategy hardly changes, if at all.
3. Most respondents expect the contract price to drop by €1 on average. 
4. The decrease in area is partly determined by the contract price (28,65%).
5. The corona crisis also caused a reasonable shift in the construction plan (more than 43%).
6. Quite a few potato growers indicate that they will store for a shorter period (14%).
7. The focus with regard to germination inhibition is in the growing season (Royal MH), where Argus oil is the most important in storage.