De Boerenbusiness potato survey for the 2024 crop year has come up with a striking conclusion. It is not the shortage of seed potatoes, but the lack of land that is causing cultivation to reach its limits. Both large and small growers have to deal with this.
The survey – which was conducted among people with a potato subscription – was mainly completed by potato growers. Almost three quarters are growers, followed by traders and a few seed potato growers. Almost 80% of the growers are Dutch. The rest come from Belgium and a few from Germany. Some arable farmers grow on both sides of the border. The participants mainly come from Flevoland (20%), Zeeland (19%) and South Holland (15%). The Belgian respondents (14%) are spread throughout the country, both in Flanders and Wallonia.
In brief:
Especially large growers want to expand
The number of participants is a nice cross-section of the potato sector. 30% have 26 to 50 hectares, followed by the group with 5 to 15 hectares (almost a quarter). A fifth has 16 to 26 hectares. It is mainly the larger potato growers, with more than 50 hectares of ware potatoes, who are expanding their acreage this year. In that group, a quarter increases the area, while in the group up to 15 hectares, three quarters keep the area the same. For medium-sized growers this is 65%.
Once again, it is the smaller potato growers who say they have sufficient seed potatoes this season. This concerns three quarters of the respondents. For medium-sized growers this is half of the participants and 37,5% for large growers. Many potato growers indicate that they can fill the area with other varieties.
The main reason given for expanding potato cultivation is the availability of more (rental) land. Only a few mention good market prices or expectations as a basis for this decision. The expansion is usually about 10%. Whether it concerns large or small growers.
Less land available
More than 60% of growers who are reducing their potato area say this is due to reduced availability of land. This can be private land but also rental and leased plots. That is striking to say the least. A third of the shrinkers will reduce their area by 11% to 15% and a fifth will shrink a maximum of 10%. It is also striking that more than half say they carry out the main tillage under good conditions or that they did so last autumn. Only 7% did so under poor circumstances. When asked whether a poor structure is affecting cultivation this year, the answer is fifty-fifty between yes and no.
A shortage of labor or disappointing sales are hardly seen by chip potato growers as bottlenecks on their company. It is mainly crop protection (62,5%) that is identified as a challenge. Even more striking is that 70% of the participants do not consider seed potatoes as a bottleneck. In other words: 30% do. A fifth does not immediately say no when offered non-certified seed potatoes. The participating traders are also not unanimously against this.
Focus on stabilization
Growing potatoes is not a goal in itself for most fillers. Of those surveyed, 83% say they will keep the area stable. Just under 10% are aiming for growth. A striking number of free potatoes are grown by arable farmers. Almost 40% say they sell their potatoes on the open market. The same percentage uses a fixed price contract. A third (also) uses a pool and 10% uses a click contract. Please note: multiple sales options are possible per company. During the completion period (early March), a third party had already signed a contract. More than half of those surveyed are members of at least one interest group in the potato sector. The VTA and POC are especially popular, NAV a lot less so.
The number of potato trading companies and processors that completed the survey is much smaller. Half of these companies say that the area will shrink this year. The other half keeps him stable. Seed potatoes are the cause of shrinkage in cultivation here. This can partly be filled with other varieties. Companies also expect to face seed potato shortages after this year. More ATR cultivation among growers or trying to make better agreements with trading houses are suggested as solutions. The group of seed potato growers who completed the questionnaire is also small. The line here is that they keep their acreage stable. Just like chip potato growers, they also see crop protection as the biggest challenge this year.
Contradictory results
On the one hand, the potato survey for 2024 shows a special picture. It is not the shortage of seed potatoes but a lack of land that is causing the area to decrease. It is also striking that the good market expectations and improved contract prices do not create a positive mood. In any case, they do not make a difference in the area. After a high disease pressure last season, potato growers now see crop protection as the biggest challenge. That starts this spring, with the loss of Vydate.