With or without rain, the red train thunders through

A storm over the Atlantic Ocean brought precipitation last Saturday. This brought significant rain to the south for the first time in a long time, although the maximum rainfall was limited to 20 to 25 millimeters. Further north, more rain fell, and continued on Sunday, bringing the total locally to over 50 millimeters.

Limited precipitation
In Belgium and northern France, potato growers were also desperate for rain. In Belgium, the rain fell mainly in the central part of the country. The northern French coastal areas received a fair amount of precipitation, but further inland, there was hardly any rain. Therefore, irrigation remains essential for harvesting without damage.

Nevertheless, growers there haven't been sitting idle, judging by Aviko's figures. In France, 65% of their potatoes have now been harvested, compared to 30% a week earlier. Belgium is almost at 60%, compared to 25% a week earlier. In the Netherlands, Aviko growers have also harvested approximately 65%, and Germany has reached 50%. There, considerable rain fell, especially in the far north, but hardly any in the south.

Processing is stuttering
As more and more batches disappear into storage, potato growers are also gaining a better understanding of yield and quality. These are generally good, although there are some varietal differences, and it's also becoming clear that the dry and warm weather in August did cost the crop. A deliberate decision was made to stop irrigation at that time, as contracts are easily filled everywhere and the market for free kilos remains very poor. Processors would prefer the potatoes to be used for animal feed or the digester, especially with the current lower processing capacity. Several Dutch factories are shut down for periods of several days to a week, or certain lines are being shut down, according to insiders. This is in addition to the strike at Clarebout, which has shut down all factories since Thursday.

Last week, Viaverda published yield figures for Innovator, Challenger, and Bintje. The former amounts to 42,9 tons per hectare net (five plots sampled in Wallonia). This is slightly lower than the five-year average of 44 tons. The quality is generally excellent, with the exception of one lot. In practice, some quality issues, particularly internal quality, are reported for this variety.

The fifteen Challenger plots yielded 57,1 tons per hectare, significantly higher than the 51 tons for the five-year average. Fourteen Bintje plots averaged 49 tons net per hectare, compared to 42 tons for the five-year average. All varieties had exceptionally high underwater weights, a characteristic of this year. This makes the risk of bruising particularly high for Bintje.

Dry again
The weather forecast for the next two weeks is surprisingly stable and precipitation-free. This week, temperatures will rise slightly during the day and night, with a further drop expected next week. These forecasts are actually perfect for the potato harvest, provided the soil is sufficiently moist. This remains a concern, especially on the clay soils in the southwest. The topsoil is often moist, but the rain hasn't reached the bottom. 

70 hectares cleared in 10 days! Now waiting for the onions, which will be loaded next week, if all goes well. Then the remaining 30 hectares still need to be cleared! #fontane #ivoryrusset #leonata #Sydney pic.twitter.com/p9VJhBGMLZ

— Rob Meeuwissen (@erepelke) October 3, 2025

Growers, particularly in Zeeland, have already been forced to take drastic measures, such as irrigating with saltwater. Water extraction, for example, often leads to disputes with the water boards, especially when using a neighbor's well. This hampers harvesting progress, which last week was only at a good 20%. For French and Belgian arable farmers, the weather is also quickly becoming too dry to harvest.

Don't give away
The current harvest is progressing (considerably) ahead of previous years in most countries. However, the final stages could be delayed. This is not only due to drought, but also to a lack of buyers. Growers on sandy soils sometimes deliberately choose to leave the free portion of their potatoes in the ground, waiting for a buyer. At prices of €15 per ton, harvesting costs aren't even covered. "You can always give them away," they say. If the soil allows, harvesting can still take place in December, or otherwise next spring.