Hectare yields did not remain in 2023

According to Statistics Netherlands, the gross yield of seed onions will amount to 45,7 tons in 2023. That is an increase of 2,7% compared to a year earlier. The yield was only lower in 2022 and 2018. Due to a growth in the area of ​​6,9%, the total harvest for 2023 is 1,34 million tons. That is 9% more than last year.

There are major differences within the Netherlands. In the Northern Netherlands, an average of 50,4 tonnes per hectare was harvested, compared to 38,1 tonnes per hectare in the Western Netherlands. According to Statistics Netherlands, this is mainly due to the limited availability of freshwater in Zeeland, which means that irrigation cannot take place.

CBS also makes a breakdown of yellow and red seed onions. 1,2 million tons of yellow seed onions were harvested with a yield of 46,2 tons per hectare. The harvest of red seed onions is 157.000 tons. That is 20% less than in 2022, mainly due to a 25% reduction in the area.

2,6% of the potato area is not harvested
3,38 million tons of potatoes have been harvested in the Netherlands. That is 5% less than in 2022. The cultivated area shrank by 1,2% to 75.000 hectares. Due to the wet autumn, not all potatoes were harvested and, according to Statistics Netherlands, it is likely that not all of them will be harvested due to the frost. CBS estimates the unharvested area at 2,6%. The yield per hectare will be 2023 tons in 45,8. That is 2,8% lower than last year.

Grain yields are at their lowest level since 2000. The share of winter grains was high at 93% winter wheat and 42% winter barley. The gross hectare yield of winter wheat was 8,7 tonnes, 13% lower than last season. For winter barley, the yield of 9 tons per hectare was comparable to 2022. In total, 7,4% less wheat and 20,3% less barley were harvested compared to 2022. The 2023 wheat harvest therefore amounts to 1,12 million tons and the barley harvest at 230.000 tons.