Onion exports have gone exceptionally well, especially in the first half of the season. Although exports are quieter in the second half of the season, prices remain at a reasonable level. Will the good prices of the past season translate into an expansion of onion cultivation this year?
The first onions have already been sown. We can make a careful inventory of the onion production this season. Seed companies indicate that the vast majority of onion seed has now been ordered and delivered. The overall trend is that more seed has been delivered this season. Based on seed deliveries, the area is growing by approximately 4% to 5%. There are significant differences between the different regions.
Suppliers expect to supply 2% to 5% of the onion seed in the tail of the season. Growers in the southwest in particular still have to order. It is not unusual there to wait until the last minute. Various seed companies also expect some subsequent deliveries from farmers who only have clarity about the availability of a rental plot, for example.
Shift in cultivation area continues
As in previous years, the growth in the area is in the east of the Netherlands. Onion cultivation has taken off there and growth is continuing this season. An onion grown on sand is certainly not inferior to a clay onion in the first half of the season. Because it is a relatively new area for onions, there is also room for the area to grow. Weed control has traditionally been a problem in this area. This has been overcome in recent years by good crop protection products. The increasingly limited package of resources is certainly a threat to this region.
In the traditional southwest, the cultivation is losing popularity. In areas where irrigation is not available, cultivation has been difficult in recent years. Growers have had to deal with low yields and wonder whether the risk of an expensive crop such as onions is not too great. In the Flevopolders the area is reasonably close to the maximum. Many growers there no longer have room for extra onions in the crop plan. The seed companies expect the area there to be comparable to last year.
Other requirements
Due to the shift in the cultivation area, the wishes in varietal properties of the onions are changing. Early varieties are the most popular in this area. Good skin strength is also extra important for these growers. In clay, several seed suppliers notice that more attention is paid to varieties with a strong root system. Arable farmers there are still thinking about the drought of recent years. Many growers on sandy soil deliver onions from the field or store them briefly in a potato storage facility before the potatoes are harvested. Because the onions are not stored for long, hardness plays less of a role.
Keep patience
Most seed suppliers recommend waiting until mid-March before sowing. But as one of the traders said: "To sow is to reap." On heavy soil that is skilled and falls beautifully, it is easy to see that a farmer does not want to wait. The past year made it clear that you should definitely take advantage of the good moments there.
With the cold nights that are predicted, the seed is not yet doing anything in the ground. By waiting a little longer until the soil has warmed up sufficiently, the onion will develop faster. Because the onion then emerges more quickly, the chance of crust formation is reduced and rapid, uniform emergence helps with weed control. There are often no differences in yield between sowing in early or mid-March.