Obtaining a decent seedbed for onions, among other things, is a major task for farmers on clay soil this year. With the calendar one month further on, many growers have decided to start anyway because, what are you waiting for?
It is a challenge to create a good seedbed this spring on all clay soils. The seedbed preparer can stay in the shed. A power harrow or cultivator is the best weapon. You end up with dust and clods. Especially on the land that was plowed at the end of last year after a heavy harvest. Clay soil that has sometimes been plowed in the spring out of necessity now has a small advantage. It can be worked on before it dries.
No rain expected
Especially in Southern Flevoland and parts of Zeeland, sowing causes headaches. It is impossible to make a decent seedbed. The land was often prepared at the end of March, waiting for rain. It is now clear that no significant rainfall is expected in the next 14 days. Partly with the turning of the calendar, this pushes onion growers over a psychological boundary, which means that they are now being sown in full swing. In Eastern Flevoland, for example, it is estimated that 40% is in the ground. Sowing is now also in full swing in the Noordoostpolder. The Southwest is further. André Boot from Hazera estimates that between 65% and 70% have now been sown in Zeeland.
The motto of the seed suppliers is also to start sowing now because, what are you waiting for? Postponing is not seen as desirable, although the stable weather does offer more certainty. The advice is to irrigate two days after sowing, in order to fix the seed. If necessary, also before tilling, to soften the soil. Rolling is not seen as an option, because it does not press the seed and does not ensure a connection with the substrate. Many days with strong winds make irrigation difficult. Fortunately, this wind does not blow from the east, which means that the drying out is not too bad.
Area expected to be stable
The onion area this year is a matter of pluses and minuses, as a tour of the seed companies shows. Calculations are based on an approximately stable surface, with a fluctuation of 1% to 2% possible up or down. This means a maximum of 500 growth or shrinkage. The sowing onion area could break 28.000 hectares for the first time, but certainly not everyone expects this. For example, Boot sees a significant drop of 10% to 12% in sowing onions in the southwest. Kees Jacobs from Syngenta confirms this image. Onion sets partly compensate for this, the estimate is based on a sold out stock. The question is whether new cultivation areas will absorb this decline.
Area development for seed and onion sets
In North Holland, sowing onions have also been exchanged for onion sets more often, in order to be less dependent on a wet autumn and to quickly have a more robust crop in the spring. Something that has been going on in Zeeland for some time. The area of onion sets can increase to 2018 level, or above. There is therefore fear about the price level from the market, with the past season still fresh in the memory. Jacobs notes: "Some growers spray their onion sets with MH for short storage, so as not to be dependent on the short field season."
Onion doesn't trade in potato
The companies do not see a shift from chip potatoes to onions. It mainly remains with questions. Initially this was expected, but so far it has not materialized. Moreover, not everyone believes in a reduction of the potato area. Jacobs sees more interest in onions among long potato keepers. "The shed is still full there, while they have to plant a new harvest. If the construction plan allows this, more onions can be sown."
"In a year with good onion prices, the area never decreases, as a rule of thumb," says Jaap Jonker of De Groot & Slot. "The prices for yellow and certainly red onions have been profitable. I do not expect any expansion for red onions, because the availability of the seed was a limitation." The company's area of IC-coated seed is only 1.500 hectares. Most growers have exchanged their ordered IC seed for BC seed after it turned out that processors indicated that they did not want to receive these lots. This saddles De Groot & Slot with significant costs.
Area shifts
Of the traditional growing areas, only Flevoland can still achieve some growth. An expansion is in the north and southeast, although the seed companies note that stoppers can be found here. In Groningen, growth is mainly noticeable on the sandy soils, just like in Drenthe. This sometimes involves large surfaces. In Limburg a shift from the south to the north is noticeable. "Growers around Maastricht have had a lot of trouble due to the late harvest and drought," says Jonker. "You see more interest in North Limburg and East Brabant. Irrigation is possible here." Boot also hears interest from Gelderland and Overijssel, where potato growers are making the switch.