It is becoming increasingly clear that chip potatoes still have a lot of catching up to do in Europe. In particular, the plots planted later - and there are many this year - are missing a month of growth. This is becoming increasingly clear in the trial harvest figures.
The Belgian potato organisations, including Viaverda, Fiwap and Inagro, sampled 19 Fontane plots in Flanders and Wallonia for the second time between 22 and 36 August. This results in an average net yield of 28 tons per hectare of rolls across all sizes. That is 9 tons below the five-year average, or 24%.
paw dates
This makes the yield by far the lowest in at least twelve years. For comparison: in 2018 the yield was 32 tons per hectare at the end of August. That was after 116 growing days, while the crops are now only at an average of 86 days. Of the 36 plots, nineteen were planted in June, thirteen in May and only four in April. The planting dates are spread between April 13 and June 19, giving an average of May 25.
The impact of planting dates on yield is enormous. This goes from an average of 55 tons to only 15 tons for the June potatoes. The lower limit is 7 tons, with an upper limit of 67 tons. The underwater weights also differ considerably. This ranges from 411 grams for the former plots to 312 grams for the June plots.
Flemish potatoes better
In Flanders the potatoes perform better than in Wallonia, with 33 tons versus 23 tons. The Flemish potatoes are also coarser at 60% in the size 35 mm upwards, compared to 40% in the French-speaking part. The tuber formation is similar. The multi-year average is 64% 35 mm upwards.
Compared to the previous measurement in week 32, an average of 510 kilos per hectare per day has been added. That is slightly more than the multi-year average of 440 kilos, despite the fact that it has been hot and dry recently. If you look at the number of growing days, the growth is disappointing. Normally you can expect a daily production of 750 kilos in eighty to ninety days. Last year it was even slightly more.
Fresh crops
Where the foliage is visible in the early planted plots, the late crops look fresh. So there is potential, but the key question is whether it can be utilized. On the one hand you have to deal with the growing conditions. Current weather models indicate that we will have dry and warm weather in the first half of September.
On the other hand, there is the number of growing days. The crops need at least seventy more growing days for an average yield. This brings you to mid-October, after which the crops still have to be sprayed and harvested. It is more realistic to calculate with four to six weeks of growth (28 to 42 days). If you calculate that in the graph, you arrive at a maximum of 114 tons per hectare after 128 to 45 growing days, according to the five-year average. If the crops want to achieve this, a lot has to be done and the conditions have to be almost perfect. Things are not going that way now. The sunny weather is positive for the underwater weight.
Figures Bruwier
Potato company Bruwier has also announced new trial harvest figures for Fontane and Challenger. The first mentioned variety was at 34 tonnes per hectare net in week 40,6, with 64% in the size 50 mm upwards. Challenger comes in at 29,3 tonnes with 39% 50mm uplift. For Fontane this is 5% below the five-year average and for Challenger 29%.
These potatoes were also planted on average late, between May 10 and June 12 (Fontane). The company reports that the crops are still fresh and therefore have potential. This is also reflected in the underwater weight of 392 grams (Fontane) and 324 grams (Challenger).