An important shift is taking place on the Dutch onion scene. The siepel is increasingly beating the juun. It is likely that this trend will continue. What role does the Northern Netherlands onion fulfill in the Netherlands?
Last year we took the Zeeland one onion cultivation a closer look. Time to look at the northeastern provinces (Overijssel, Drenthe and Groningen). The so-called 'new cultivation areas' where the onion has quickly acquired a permanent place within the cultivation plan. What is the secret and what is the importance of cultivation in these areas?
Historic low point
Until roughly 2016, the Zeeland onion held an important position in the Netherlands. Until 2005, a quarter of all onions came from this province. As cultivation grew, Zeeland's share decreased. The 2018 harvest year will go down as a historic low. The share of Zeeland onions was only 8%. Last year this rose again to 13,4%.
The northern onion shows solid growth year after year. This has been especially evident in recent years. When Zeeland controlled a quarter of the onion volume, northern soil accounted for only 1% to 2% of Dutch production. It is striking that the Groningen onion growers only started using clay at a late stage. An increase was only noticeable after 2010.
Cover
The year 2017 shows a change. The share suddenly grows from more than 8% to almost 13%. That year, the Netherlands harvested a record production of 1,32 million tons, of which the 3 northeastern provinces had a large share. Zeeland accounts for 17% of production in that year. In 2018, the northern provinces surpassed Zeeland for the first time after an extreme year. Nearly 14% of onions come from the Northeast. Last year that percentage was 16%, compared to 13,4% in Zeeland.
It is difficult to make predictions for 2020 and the further future. Especially since 2018 is clouding the numbers. Still, it is likely that the growth spurt in the Northeast will continue, given the position that growers are taking. The onion has a permanent place in the construction plan, professionalizes and grows. Investments are being made in this. In the southwest there is a puzzle about the best way to keep cultivation in the cultivation plan.
Groningen is growing
After Flevoland, Zeeland has the largest onion area of the 12 provinces. Groningen is hot on the heels of North Brabant and has left South and North Holland behind. In 2019, the area in Groningen was 2.444 hectares. In North Brabant this was 2.718 hectares. While cultivation in Drenthe (1.307 hectares in 2019) is mainly growing among pioneers, the onion is more widespread among their northern neighbors. The surface area has increased on the Peat Colonial sand and valley soils as well as on the clay in the Oldambt and the sandy soils on the Hogeland. The area in Overijssel is several hundred hectares.
Higher Yields
In addition to the area (4.178 hectares for the 3 northeastern provinces in 2019), these areas have more advantages. The fact that they supply a significant part of the Dutch harvest (2019: 204.568 tons) is partly due to the hectare yield. Zeeland has failed there in the last 2 years. A late and wet spring was followed by a hot summer in 2018. 2019 was also dry. The extreme weather made the crops more susceptible to diseases. Thrips in particular cause a lot of damage. Last year, the average yield in Zeeland was 37 tons, compared to 51,6 tons in the north. In 2018, the Zeeland yield was only 14 tons, while the level in the north was still 41 tons.
In concrete terms, it comes down to this: if you take the average yield of the last 3 years, the Zeelanders need almost 5.200 hectares for their average production level. The northerners can make do with 3.100 hectares. In other words: the potential in the northeast is great when the area increases. The comparison is not completely fair, because 2018 has a significant influence on the figures. However, it is reality that extreme weather is increasingly affecting the harvest.
Favorable climate
How is this possible? To start with, the virgin soil, where little or no onions have been grown. Perhaps it is the important advantage that these areas still have. In addition, there is the climate. If we look at the KNMI weather data, it is visible that the northeast almost always has more precipitation compared to the southwest. The average maximum temperature is slightly higher.
If we look at the growth curve in the area, the area for the northern provinces this year amounts to 4.910 hectares (+732 ha). If this becomes true, the three provinces will come in 3nd place, after Flevoland. Zeeland is defeated for the first time on acreage. If we look at the Zeeland trend, the area for 2 will be 2020 hectares (-4.400 ha). Here too it is difficult to make a firm statement, given the influence of 300 on the figures. In 2018, Zeeland had its largest onion area ever, while in 2017 it fell to the smallest area since 2019.
Differences in price
It is also interesting to consider the financial difference between north and south. For this purpose, we compare the price of the Goes fair, in the period from January 1 to the end of the season, with that of Emmeloord between the start of the fair and December 31. Assuming that the Zeeland clay onions are stored for the second half of the season, and that the northeast has relatively many land-based suppliers or short-term storage companies, for the first half of the season.
This price comparison over 5 years shows that Zeeland growers have had an advantage in 4 out of 5 years. The difference is sometimes small, sometimes big. For the time being, storing longer this season has a small advantage. Until January 1, the price was €12,10 compared to €13,30 after January 1 (until the end of February). Saving the 2018 harvest provided significant benefits. After January 1, an average price of €41,86 was made compared to €29,13 before the new year. If you include the hectare yields, the Zeeland balance for the 2018 harvest was €5.860 compared to €11.943 in the north. The average yield is just as significant as the price.
The 2017 harvest is characterized by low prices. Before the new year, Emmeloord recorded higher than Goes, after the new year. This was the other way around for the 2016 harvest. Delivery after January 1 yielded better returns (+€1,98). In all cases the price for 30-60% coarse yellow seed onions has been taken into account. If you deduct the higher storage costs from the price advantage, the bottom line is who ultimately achieved a better balance. It underlines one of the most significant reasons why cultivation in the Northeast Netherlands is increasing so quickly in popularity.
How does it go on?
It remains a piece of cake, but it is a fact that the northeastern provinces are strengthening their grip on Dutch onion production. There are younger lands available, the climate is slightly more favorable and the financial results have been good in recent years. In the last 3 years, the volume of Zeeland onions, in the Dutch total, has decreased. It is difficult to say what this will be like in 2020 and the coming years. The fact is that cultivation is not getting any easier. Statistics Netherlands does not keep track of the size of the onion onion area per province. Boer&Bunder also does not recognize this distinction. The surface area for sowing onions may shrink, but it will be partly filled by onion sets. The high point is behind us, while we cannot yet say that about the north.