Significant decrease in potato area in the Netherlands

This emerges from the provisional results of the CBS Agricultural Census that were published today (Wednesday, June 30). The area of ​​consumption potatoes has shrunk by 6,5% this year compared to 2020. The area of ​​consumption potatoes therefore amounts to 72.000 hectares, almost 5.000 fewer than last year.

The Dutch shrinkage of the area is therefore comparable to that in Flanders and sturdier than the one in France. Seed and starch potatoes have been planted slightly more, the acreage of both has grown by almost 1%. This season there are a total of 45.600 hectares of starch potatoes and 44.200 hectares of seed potatoes.

Since 2000, the area of ​​seed potatoes has increased by 5,4%, while the area of ​​consumption potatoes fell by 17,9% in the same period and the area of ​​starch potatoes shrank by 10,9%. This year, ware potatoes again cover the largest part of the Dutch potato area with 44,5%. Starch potatoes and seed potatoes account for 28,2% and 27,3% of the acreage respectively this year.

More onions
Instead of potatoes, arable farmers are increasingly opting for onions in their cropping plan. This year the area of ​​sowing onions has grown by no less than 11,3%. That is more than 3.000 hectares more than last year. The total area for seed onions therefore amounts to 30.400 hectares. Compared to the year 2000, the area of ​​sowing onions has even doubled.

The wheat area has grown by 9,8% compared to last year and amounts to more than 120.000 hectares. Almost 15.000 additional hectares of winter wheat have been sown, or an expansion of 15,9%. On the other hand, almost 25% less spring wheat has been sown. The area of ​​barley has also shrunk considerably by almost 22%.

The total arable area this year amounts to 529.000 hectares, a growth of 0,3% compared to last year. The arable area has remained stable over the last 3 years, but since 2000 the area has shrunk by more than 100.000 hectares, or a decrease of 16,7%.