The German Ministry of Agriculture BMEL expects the largest potato harvest in the country since 2004. The German potato crops have had a relatively good growing season. The area has also increased by more than 9% this season. However, large differences between crops and regions are noticeable.
At the end of September, the German Ministry of Agriculture published figures for the 2024 potato harvest per state. In their forecast, they arrive at 12,67 million tonnes of potatoes. That is 1,07 million tonnes more than was harvested last year, or 9,22% more. It is 14,4% more than the five-year average of over 11 million tonnes.
24.600 additional hectares
The potato area in our eastern neighbours has increased by 24.600 hectares this year, according to government figures, to 289.300 hectares. The area of consumption potatoes increased the most, to 217.900 hectares. The area of seed potatoes increased to 18.300 hectares and starch cultivation shrank to 53.100 hectares. This mix is very different from 2004. At that time, the area of starch potatoes was much larger. Many consumption potatoes were also grown, but it was more table potatoes and less chips potatoes.
With 6,34 million tonnes, Lower Saxony brings in the largest harvest. Not so strange, because with almost 140.000 hectares it is by far the largest potato state. North Rhine-Westphalia follows in second place with almost 46.000 hectares (2,25 million tonnes) and Bavaria is in third place with 36.000 hectares (1,52 million tonnes). Here too, the area has shrunk, by 2.800 hectares. A wet autumn and spring are to blame for this. Plots were also destroyed by flooding. In the other states, the area has remained fairly stable and not significantly more potatoes are being harvested. The exception is Saxony, where the expected volume is shrinking from 210.000 to 183.000 tonnes.
More than 50% from Lower Saxony
The northwest also had a wet harvest last autumn. This spring it was not always dry, but compared to other countries in the EU-4 the conditions were slightly more favourable. The chance that Lower Saxony will have its largest harvest ever is plausible. More than half of all potatoes grown in Germany come from there. In North Rhine-Westphalia the impact of a late planting moment is noticeable. The yields per hectare are slightly lower than they could theoretically have been.
What the figures do not take into account is the quality of the crops. Due to the weather extremes and sometimes late planting dates, these vary greatly. Especially the late plots are still largely green and these are not always the right size and their underwater weight. At the same time, there are problems with phytophthora, damage by nematodes, green tubers and a fine sorting or low underwater weights. Due to the seed potato shortage, more dual-purpose varieties have been planted and varieties of a B-choice for French fry potato growers. Nevertheless, the market for table and export potatoes can be called good. The price levels are considerably higher than for average French fry potatoes.
Potato supply
The German French fry producers, who are also clustered in the northwest, probably do not have to worry about the potato supply this season. That was different in recent years. Higher contract and market prices have caused growers to shift from starch potatoes to French fry potatoes.
The harvesting of potatoes is proceeding smoothly in large parts of Germany. In the drier east, this has largely been completed. In Bavaria, rain is spoiling the fun, while precipitation in the west and northwest was welcome. The large harvest is putting pressure on the harvest season. There are also batches with quality problems that are forced to be sold immediately. Crops that were planted late cannot yet be stored because they are simply still too green and do not meet the quality standards. Growers have to gamble between getting them in the shed on time or waiting for the kilos and the underwater weight.
Record harvest in France
The French Ministry of Agriculture, Agreste, has also adjusted its potato figures. They now assume 178.000 hectares of consumption potatoes, which is 24.000 hectares more than was planted last year. They assume 43 tonnes per hectare, which is almost the same as last year. This means that 7,65 million tonnes of potatoes can be harvested, which is 850.000 tonnes more than was harvested last year. It is also the largest consumption harvest ever in the country. In France, too, it is visible that starch potato cultivation has shrunk considerably – by 6.000 hectares – in favour of French fry potatoes in particular. This has almost halved the harvest of this potato variety.