It is the new cultivation areas in the north-east and south-east of the Netherlands that excel in the yield and quality of seed onions this year. Seed companies report that. The traditional growing areas in Flevoland and the southwest all face problems, although the differences per grower are huge.
Never before has it been so difficult to get a clear picture of the onion harvest as this autumn. Even between neighboring growers, major differences can arise. Sown early or late, irrigated before or after sowing and high or low rainfall in mid-August. All factors that weigh heavily in the final settlement.
Heavy soil is disappointing
It can be said that the heavier the soil, the worse the onion crops. A positive exception to this rule is Oldambt in Groningen, where growers take home 60 to 65 tons per hectare. In Flevoland the heaviness of the soil plays a major role. The crops in the Noordoostpolder are in much better shape than in Eastern and Southern Flevoland. This last area in particular is very disappointing. With only 35 to 40 plants per meter, the yield sometimes remains at 35 tons, with many plants having barely made a bulb.
However, differences are also visible in the Noordoostpolder. The light soil along the IJsselmeer is doing well, but further inland there are more problems. In mid-August, an enormous amount of water fell in Eastern Flevoland, causing local damage. The infestation by fusarium is sometimes very high (20% to 40%) and bacterial rot (sour onions) is also found more often than usual. Onions that have stood still for a long time - sometimes 2 months or more - have not started to bulb. Thick necks or 'bolts' are therefore more common. As a result, the tare percentages are often higher than average.
Warm conditions
While harvesting and loading are in full swing in Flevoland, arable farmers in the southwest are sometimes forced to wait. The clay soil is too hard to dig, which can lead to too much damage. There is also a fear that the product temperature will be too high, which will cause damage more quickly. After all, the onions are softer and therefore more sensitive. According to the seed companies, sunburn is not a major risk, because the radiation is now much less than in June or July. It is advised not to dig or charge in the middle of the day, although large companies cannot always afford this. An advantage of leaving it alone for a while on these hot days is that any bacterial contamination can dry up.
In the northeast and southeast, the light soil did not cause any problems this spring and could be sown in a moist seedbed. This resulted in an even stand of the crop, although these plots also lack plants due to the drought that followed. There is a lot of irrigation, especially in East Brabant and North Limburg. This way, growers still come home with a reasonable yield that is also of good quality. Many of the onions here are now from the field. The harvest is still ongoing in the northeast. Processors sometimes prefer to see these onions coming than those from the southwest or Flevoland at the moment.
Early onion performs well
The heat makes it quiet in André Boot's work area (Hazera). This also applies to Belgium. The harvesting conditions are often too harsh and the (product) temperature during the day too high to allow loading without damage. "Early varieties stand out this year because they started bulbing early," says Boot. "With Hazera you talk about a Centro, for example. The early varieties perform better than the late ones because there was already a large crop under them when it became really dry in August. Plots came to a standstill and no longer grew. Late varieties then had to are still producing and that has not happened. Early blocks achieve a yield of 50 to 55 tons, which the late blocks do not nearly achieve."
In the East of the Netherlands, Boot sees yields of up to 70 tons and plots are sometimes still noticeably green. "Growers must be careful not to get the most out of it. If they are in the field for a long time, you will have problems with discoloration and skin firmness." What is also striking this year is that not all plots want to be planted. "If they don't do that now, it won't happen again," Boot knows. "You can then help them better to let the crop ripen.
Differences per farmer
Jaap Jonker (De Groot & Slot) sees extremely variable onion plots, especially in Flevoland. However, Southern Flevoland is the most disappointing. Jonker: "What is striking is that growers who prepare the land or have sown with irrigation have a better stand. Regional differences are not visible this year. It is about grower differences, the diversity is so great. Good plots reach 60-65 tons, but where If there are not enough plants, the figure remains at 35 tonnes. If the plants are there, it is sometimes still leek."
Kees Jacobs (Syngenta) also notes that national differences are not present this year. Harvesting and loading takes place throughout the country wherever possible. "A lower plant number has resulted in large onions on average," he notes. "You also see problems with clods during harvesting in all areas. Some plots are left until it rains, because otherwise they cannot be charged. Plots that have stood still for a long time do not want to ripen. Growers have therefore sometimes taken action early, which certainly works out well. Those who have paid a lot of attention to their plots are now reaping the benefits. Crops that have been irrigated often and frequently are more likely to suffer from fusarium."