EU adjusts potato harvest forecast again

This is reflected in the October edition of the European Commission's JRC Mars bulletin. On average, the potato yield in the EU is 33,4 tons per hectare. That is 2% less than the five-year average and 8% lower compared to the potato yield last season. Now that the potato harvest is well advanced, there are small shifts per country compared to last month's report.

In France, the average yield has been reduced to 38,0 tonnes, compared to 39,2 tonnes per hectare last month. The French harvest 9% fewer potatoes than last season. The German potato yield remains unchanged, but our eastern neighbors are harvesting 13% fewer potatoes than last season. In Poland, the yield has actually increased by 1 tonne to 28,1 tonnes per hectare. According to the European Commission, the Netherlands averages 41,3 tonnes per hectare, which is only 1% below the five-year average.

Now that the harvest is almost over, it is becoming clear what impact the dry and hot summer has had on the summer crops. As a result, yields have been reduced even further and are well below the five-year average, such as in corn (-19%), sunflowers (-16%) and soybeans (-18%). According to the report, sugar beets are only 2% below the five-year average, but the sugar percentages are above average.

Summer temperatures
The sowing of winter grain has gotten off to a good start in Europe due to precipitation at the right times and slightly higher temperatures than average. Parts of Germany and Belgium received an above-average amount of precipitation, as did Eastern Europe and Russia. The sowing of rapeseed went very smoothly in France, but in other countries sowing was only done later in September, partly due to drought followed by rainfall. However, that does not seem to be a disaster given the weather forecast until early November. Almost all of Europe can count on higher temperatures than normal for this time of year. In Central Europe this can rise to temperatures that are 6 to 8 degrees above average.