VTA: 'Large spread in onion yield visible'

According to VTA, the average yield is 59,2 tons per hectare. That is 1% lower than last season, then the yield was 59,6 tons per hectare. Compared to the 5-year average, a strong plus is visible, although this is mainly because the very bad year 2018 is also included and therefore lowers the average to 56 tons per hectare. If the 2018 season is not taken into account, the average is 59,5 tons. This means that the current yield is only 0,5% lower.

The percentage of onions in the 60 millimeter upwards category is also above the multi-year average this season. This year that percentage is 66,8%, while the long-term average does not exceed 53,8%. In the north, the percentage for yellow onions is clearly higher: 71% versus 61% in the south of the country. There is little visible difference in the size of red onions: 66,7% in the north and 65,2% in the south of the Netherlands.

Significant spread
The fact that there is a significant spread between the growing areas this season does not only apply to onions. Also in the potatoes is this the case. This trial harvest by VTA records a minimum of 15 tons of onions per hectare, while the maximum is now 98 tons. According to the organization, this enormous spread also makes it difficult to communicate an average. "For yellow onions, the yield in the northern regions is about 15 tons per hectare higher than in the south. For red onions, this difference is about 6,5 tons per hectare."

Also in the Boerenbusiness Dutch Crop tour the spread between the north and south of the Netherlands was clearly visible. The highest yield (80 tons per hectare) was achieved on a plot in the north of the country, while the lowest yield (48 tons per hectare) came from a plot in the south of the Netherlands. The average of the Crop Tour plots in week 35 was about 62 tonnes, which is slightly above the VTA test harvest.