The potato area in Flanders has grown this season compared to the previous season. This is reported by PCA based on the provisional figures of the Flemish collective demand (comparable with the Dutch May census). In terms of area growth, grain maize stands out. Grain corn even surpasses the potato.
The potato area in Flanders this year amounts to 51.708 hectares. That is a growth of 4% compared to last year. The area of early potatoes has even increased by 7%. Higher prices for free potatoes this season and a higher contract price probably played a role in this. In addition, some of the growers have already concluded (part of) the contracts in January and February. Even before the outbreak of the war in Ukraine and the sharply increased prices that accompanied it.
Grain maize surpasses potatoes
The largest area increase this season is for grain maize. Flemish growers have sown almost a third more of this. The area of grain maize has grown 32% to 56.046 hectares. In the chip country par excellence, more grain maize is now grown than potatoes. The area of winter barley has increased by 9% and the area of winter wheat has lost 4%. Carrots, sprouts and onions have lost popularity. The areas of these crops have shrunk by 30%, 25% and 22% respectively. These are relatively small crops, with areas of around 2.000 hectares this season. Industrial vegetables such as peas and green beans have also lost 20% and 19% of the acreage. A notable climber in the list is chicory. The area grew by 9%.