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Rain did not come everywhere in time for potatoes
The rain that fell in August had a mixed effect on crops such as potatoes. In Germany, the precipitation fell just in time for crops to recover. This is not the case in France. In the latest Mars Bulletin, the JRC continues to estimate a good harvest for the Benelux.
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Choose the subscription that suits youThe sunny and dry summer weather has been favorable for grains, according to European figures. The effect on summer crops, such as potatoes, is mixed. For France, the JRC has revised the yield downwards by 2% compared to the previous forecast, bringing the average yield to 41 tons per hectare. This is slightly lower than the 41,9 tons estimated last year, but still equal to the five-year average.
In Germany, many potato crops benefited from the rainfall this month. Yield expectations are slightly up, to 41,7 tons per hectare. This is 7% less than harvested last year and 3% less than the five-year average.
Benelux harvest above average
For the Netherlands, the JRC now estimates a 2% higher yield per hectare compared to the July forecast. The estimate now stands at 43,2 tons per hectare, which is 3% higher than the five-year average. Belgium presents a similar picture, with a yield increase of 42,3% there, but the estimate remains unchanged in August. This is, on the one hand, remarkable. There are places in the Netherlands and Belgium where the crop grew well, particularly where rainfall occurred, but there are also large areas where it was and remains far too dry.
Across the EU, the potato yield is estimated to be just above the five-year average, at 36,8 tons per hectare. Last year, 36,5 tons per hectare were harvested. The greatest problems with drought and heat are seen in Southern Europe, including parts of France, Spain, and Portugal, as well as Italy. Scandinavia is experiencing a precipitation surplus, which is actually beneficial for crops like potatoes. Northern Poland also received considerable rainfall recently.
Sugar beets
The picture for sugar beets is similar to that for potatoes. The EU yield for August remains unchanged. In France, a slight decrease is again visible. For the Netherlands, the forecast remains unchanged at 86 tons per hectare, which is 14% more than last year. Belgium even shows a 16% increase. Germany, on the other hand, records a decrease of 11%.