Implementing spring crops this year is a difficult puzzle

In wet autumns, when conditions for sowing winter barley and winter wheat are sparse, the area of ​​summer grains increases significantly. The opposite is also the case. 2023 had a particularly small area of ​​summer grains. That will certainly increase in 2024. For example, the area of ​​spring wheat increased by 2011% in 2010 (after the wet autumn of 50), to more than 38.000 hectares. The largest area in the past thirteen years. In 2023, the area of ​​spring wheat was 8.800 hectares. Summer barley reached 20.600 hectares.

Derogation for seed
What puts the brakes on increasing the area is the availability of seed. The reason for this is the heavy rainfall in August, which has seriously affected seed production. Many batches did not reach the required quality standards. A derogation request has been submitted in Brussels from the Netherlands, among others, to allow consumption of wheat and barley consignments to be used as seed. Approval has not yet been obtained, but seed suppliers are hopeful. Several European countries have requested such a derogation.

"We saw the situation coming early on and participated by purchasing maximum seed," says Jurriaan Visser. He is manager of grains and legumes at CZAV. "We can serve all our regular customers, but we know that more demand arises in such years." Aart den Bakker of Agrifirm also thinks that the company has sufficient seed, both for wheat and barley. "Maybe not every breed is available anymore, but we are hopeful that the derogation will be granted."

Winter wheat period is over
Arable farmers and contractors have tried to sow winter wheat in recent weeks. "That is fine until mid-January, after which we advise switching to spring wheat," says Visser. At Agrifirm they set that limit on February 1. "Afterwards, spring barley is more attractive in terms of balance," says Den Bakker. "Growers may want to sow, but they must first wait until the soil is suitable. In recent weeks, wheat has been sown, especially in Flevoland, the southwest and North Holland. This was not possible everywhere. We now hope for a new frost period. , which makes sowing possible.”

The barley price came down from a high price level and showed a stable picture in 2023. The trend is slightly downwards. At the Goes stock exchange, the feed barley price fell from €183 at the end of December to €174 per tonne in week 4. The northern stock exchanges are keeping malting barley prices in check. In Groningen, for example, €195 per tonne is paid. "It is expected that more barley will be sown throughout Europe. This will undoubtedly have consequences for the market," Visser thinks. "The barley market and brewing premiums were good, but don't forget that yields were disappointing last summer. The balances of spring grains for 2023 are significantly lower compared to winter grain." Den Bakker also sees a malting barley market that is under pressure. "European shortages have been supplemented with barley from other continents. Last autumn we expected a 50% increase in the area of ​​winter barley - both on clay and sandy soil - but this has often not been sown. We will see more summer barley there."

Protein cultivation suffers from sales
At seed supplier Limagrain they also notice the high demand for summer grain, especially wheat. Can protein crops offer an alternative with a comparable or better balance? "It is true that field beans are interesting in the CAP eco scheme, but growers have less confidence in this after the significant reduction for 2023," notes Jos Groot Koerkamp. He is agricultural manager at Limagrain in the Netherlands. "2023 was not a field bean year. The yield was not that bad." Things are also slow in terms of sales, Visser notes. "There are local sales opportunities, but the volume is limited. We do want to expand cultivation, but then there must be sales. Other contract crops such as brown beans are full. We have limited growth opportunities for white and red beans. We have to follow the European compete in the market and have to deal with a world market price."

At Limagrain they notice that demand is also arising from dairy farming. "Forage prices are quite high and livestock farmers are looking for silage maize," notes Groot Koerkamp. This can offer opportunities for arable farmers. Especially if they cannot sow early after the heavy harvest this spring. Groot Koerkamp: "Maize has a bad reputation among some arable farmers because of its harvest, but I think that is unjustified. By choosing an early variety, you can harvest under good conditions. Depending on where you are, you will have to sow a catch crop next season." after maize on clay soil. This has to do with the 'nutrient-contaminated areas' that LNV has designated."

An alternative to silage maize can also be short-term grassland. "Almost every livestock farmer faces the problem of manure sales," notes Groot Koerkamp. "Because of the loss of the derogation, significantly more must be removed. This space is partly sought in arable farming. If you choose grassland, you can spread liquid manure on it several times."

Interest in flax is high, area is increasing
The cultivation of fiber flax in Northwest Europe has been on the rise for years. For 2024, Eugènie van de Bilt, from the company of the same name from Sluiskil, expects another increase of 15% to 20%. "In 2012, the European fiber flax area was approximately 100.000 hectares. This is now 150.000 hectares," she says. "We are also noticing great interest in the Netherlands. Not only among existing customers, but also new growers. Organic arable farmers are also interested in flax cultivation. 20% to 25% of the flax area is now grown organically. The good sales are partly due to with awareness among consumers, who more often buy clothing made from natural fibers and are critical of production. On the other hand, natural fiber is attracting interest in bio-based construction."

Van de Bilt Zaden & Vlas has almost completed the area for this year. Here too it is difficult to obtain sufficient seed. "We have been given a derogation across Europe to be able to use batches with lower germination capacity," Van de Bilt explains. "Due to the good demand for flax fiber, the balances for the grower have increased considerably. In addition, flax is a different type of plant than grain, does not reproduce nematodes and leaves a nice structure. All fiber is running out this season, leaving us with an empty market. starting, which is good for sales and pricing."

Winter flax situation still unknown
The cultivation of winter flax has been on the rise in recent years. According to Van de Bilt, this is not new, but she acknowledges that growers like to sow it. "We have been propagating winter flax for fifteen years. It is mainly sown in the French Calvados region, where the climate is mild. In the Netherlands it is wintered out once every four years. In recent years it has gone well, but the recent frost period has had an impact. How It remains to be seen whether it will work out exactly." Van de Bilt has an alternative for growers who want to grow flax, but are missing the net: blue poppy seed. "A speculative crop that you can grow at low costs and harvest yourself. Due to pressure from Eastern Europe, the market price is currently low, but the product can be stored for a long time so that you can sell it at the right time."