A relatively warm and sunny September month has done the chicory well. The campaign has been underway for exactly one month and processor Sensus is still seeing returns increase. Both the carrot yields and the inulin levels create a positive mood.
That is a welcome development after the moderate yields from last year. Then the difficult start in the spring threw a spanner in the works. Drought, drift damage and poor soil structure led to low plant numbers and irregular emergence in many places. This year the starting situation was much better, agrees René Schunselaar, agricultural manager at processor Sensus. "It was a bit cold, but that did not result in poor emergence. On the contrary, we saw a much better and more uniform crop grow."
What followed was a fairly wet and dreary summer. Reason for Sensus to start the chicory campaign a little later than average this year. "We usually start around September 1," says Schunselaar. "That was now September 6, because we expected some slowdown in growth. The first yields were around 35 tons per hectare, which is usual for that time of the year. Now, a month later, the first 50 tons are also arriving. plus yields are over. Proof that the chicory has grown nicely in the past month."
Inulin levels creep up
And according to Schunselaar, that growth curve has not yet flattened out. "While growth stagnated in the first month last year, we are fortunately still seeing plenty of development. August, September and even October are important growth months for chicory." This is also reflected in the inulin levels. Sensus registered levels around 16,3% in the first weeks of the campaign. The inulin content is now creeping towards 17%. "A direct result of the many hours of sunshine last period in combination with not too much precipitation."
Sensus expects yields this year to be around the multi-year average. 2017 and 2018 were above-average years, 2019 and 2020 were disappointing. Schunselaar does note some differences between the regions, but they are not nearly as large as last year. "In the southwest it was disappointing last year, but the yields are now very good. In the southeast too, although we see some incidents of rot left and right. In the northeast the yield is reasonable and Wallonia is also doing well this year Good."
Ask about inulin booming
The good returns provide optimism at Sensus. "We can really use a good harvest," Schunselaar agrees. "The demand for inulin is booming. We see absolutely no leveling off. On the contrary, we are struggling to meet that rising demand."
A good perspective for the chicory grower, who will be busy with the harvest in the coming weeks. As it looks now, this can take place unhindered for the time being. Schunselaar: "Until the end of last week it was quite dry on the clay soil. A heavy shower was needed to soften the top layer. A few tens of millimeters of water have now fallen and drier weather is predicted, which means the water can flow well. sag. Ideal conditions for harvesting."