Early potatoes are well behind this season

The potato company sampled a total of 94 plots in week 26 in Germany and the Netherlands. Samples were taken in both the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia and Lower Saxony. In addition, sampling was carried out in Limburg and the south-west of the Netherlands. It is very wet everywhere now. Water damage is also noted in some plots. The figures regarding yield and quality often show a comparable picture between the different varieties.

27% less yield
A total of 17 plots with Première were sampled. This results in an average yield of 24 gross tons per hectare in the size 40 millimeters upwards. The 5-year average at Weuthen is 33 tonnes. A difference of 27%. The cold weather this spring has a clear effect on crop development. The Premieres went into the ground 2 weeks later. The average tuber number of 16 is very good. The potatoes are not very coarse. A quarter of the tubers are still in the size 0-40 mm.

The foliage development has been very good. "Whereas in recent years the potatoes did not ripen due to drought, this is not the case now," says Ferdinand Buffen, the director of Weuthen. "The potential for a good yield is certainly there, because the tuber number is good." A point of attention is the underwater weight. Buffen calls this 'historically low'. Première comes to an average of 321 grams, with the multi-year average being 350 grams. Because changeable weather is expected over the next 2 weeks, the question is how this will develop. Buffen: "What we need now is sun. Otherwise, the underwater weight will be a bigger problem than the kilos. Especially because the crops have now filled up with water, the OWG is now low."

All races are behind
The early variety Amora has a gross yield of 26 tons for week 26, compared to an average of 36 tons per hectare. Sinora - a medium-early variety - is only 6 tons in the latest yield measurement, compared to an average of 18 tons. All varieties are significantly less developed compared to the 5-year average. This also applies to early planted plots with Fontane, Agria and Innovator that were sampled in the Netherlands. Hansa performs slightly better.

The first potato processors will switch to the new harvest in week 29. Most Dutch, Belgian and German factories often in week 30. Until then, they certainly have access to old potatoes, notes the Weuthen director. Some even plan with old harvest until early August. "Growers with mechanical cooling who still have good potatoes can always find a buyer. These lots all have a destination. This is more difficult for growers with air cooling because the quality deteriorates."

Processors bridge the old and new harvest by taking longer summer breaks for maintenance and holidays. Thanks to their positions with the contracts, they can have enough old harvest to cover a few more weeks. A smaller area of ​​early potatoes in the EU-4 is offset by the late start date.

Sun required
The early plots still have 3 to 4 weeks to develop, but "then we need a period of warm and sunny weather," Buffen knows. "We now have enough moisture. Potato growers do not have to worry that the early potatoes will put pressure on the market, the figures show that."

Water damage as a result of heavy rain showers is very localized. It remains to be seen whether there will be any damage from heavy rainfall. In most cases, it concerns the main harvest that may be affected by this. A new estimate of this must be made next week.