News Harvest forecast CBS
Wiebes: 'Onion harvest estimate only after consultation with sector'
From now on, the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) will discuss the draft figures of the preliminary harvest estimate for onions with the sector before official publication. Minister Eric Wiebes (Economic Affairs and Climate) writes this in a letter to parliament.
At the initiative of Wiebes, LTO Nederland and CBS have made agreements about the harvest estimate of onions† Other crops were also discussed in those discussions, but there was no need for agreements on provisional harvest estimates in those sectors.
Testing reliability
Statistics Netherlands and LTO Nederland have now agreed that the draft figures must first be discussed with all relevant parties in the sector; they then check the reliability of the estimate. The comments of those parties are then also included in the figures to be published and the press release.
The publication of the provisional figures of the harvest estimate for onions can be postponed for a maximum of 2 weeks due to these extra consultations. In addition, CBS will also investigate whether uncertainty margins can be built into the preliminary harvest estimate.
'Estimates are needed'
Wiebes writes that he understands the wishes of the farmers. However, he argues that the estimates are necessary for the Agricultural Accounts, which are mandatory within the European Union (EU). Also writes Wiebes that collecting the data at a later date creates additional burdens for farmers and Statistics Netherlands. That is why the publication of the figures cannot be postponed until December, as the House of Representatives previously asked Wiebes.
Anne-Jan Doorn
© DCA Market Intelligence. This market information is subject to copyright. It is not permitted to reproduce, distribute, disseminate or make the content available to third parties for compensation, in any form, without the express written permission of DCA Market Intelligence.