CBS adjusts potato harvest firmly downwards

Today (Monday 30 January), Statistics Netherlands has published the final crop estimate for 2022. Perhaps the most striking change is the significant reduction in the potato harvest compared to the provisional estimate.

According to the final estimate of Statistics Netherlands, the gross potato harvest in the Netherlands for 2022 is 3,6 million tonnes. This is a reduction of 300.000 tonnes compared to the provisional estimate published by Statistics Netherlands in October. The final yield estimate is now around the five-year average and is comparable to the harvests in 2019 and 2020. The yield per hectare is 47,1 tonnes in the final estimate.

Seed onions
At 1,2 million tonnes, the harvest of seed onions in the final harvest estimate of Statistics Netherlands has remained virtually the same as the provisional harvest estimate. The total onion harvest is therefore 17,2% behind last season's harvest. With a yield of 44,5 tons per hectare, it is the lowest onion yield per hectare since 2018. The total sugar beet harvest has increased from 7,1 million tons in the preliminary estimate to 7,3 million tons in the final estimate.

Largest growth in grain
The wheat crop has been lowered in the final crop estimate. From just under 1,3 million tons in October's estimate to 1,2 million tons of wheat in today's final crop estimate. This means that the total wheat harvest is 22,7% higher than last season.

The biggest increase compared to last season is the barley harvest. In 2022, it will be 44,1% higher than last season. With a total yield of 300.000 tons, barley is a relatively small crop.

Statistics Netherlands' provisional harvest estimate for October is based on expert estimates. The final crop estimate published today was based on a survey in which just under 5.000 growers participated.

Jurphaas Lugtenburg

He is a market specialist in grains and other agricultural commodities at DCA Market Intelligence. He also focuses on onions, potatoes, and roughage. Jurphaas also runs an arable farm in Voorne-Putten (South Holland).

j.lugtenburg @boerenbusiness. Nl

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