There is clearly more interest in the cultivation of seed onions now that the onion market has reached unprecedented heights. This does not translate directly into more hectares of onions, according to a tour of the various seed companies. They expect that the area may show a small expansion. Again, there is shrinkage in Zeeland.
Not all seed suppliers had the desired quantities of seed available this season. This varies per company and per breed. The seed harvest in France was sometimes disappointing due to drought and high disease pressure. This largely determines how companies currently experience the market. It is clear that the commotion on the onion market also affects the sale of seed to a lesser extent.
Briefly
Press ground
Things are certainly not going well for the seed companies. Apart from the occasional late decision maker, small quantities are ordered when an additional plot becomes available. Almost all cases involve growers from the east of the Netherlands, especially the northeast. The availability of rental land is a limiting factor that slows growth. More so than a possible shortage of soil herbicides.
In the traditional clay growing areas, the area remains approximately stable. In intensive cultivation regions - with the Noordoostpolder being cited as an example - cultivation may even shrink slightly. Growers often opt for quality and less for quantity. The last few seasons have not all been easy in terms of weed and disease pressure. Where onions have been grown intensively in the past, problems are more likely to come to light. Arable farmers will still have access to Vydate this year, but from 2024 this will require a different approach. More extensive cultivation with more rest in the rotation is a frequently chosen route.
Shrinkage in Zeeland
In Zeeland, cultivation is shrinking again. The representatives unanimously agree on this. "That does depend on the region within that province," outlines De Groot and Slot sales manager Bart Schriever. "In Zeeuws-Vlaanderen we see a 15% to 20% shrinkage. This is also the picture in Walcheren, while elsewhere in Zeeland you talk about a stable situation or a small shrinkage. The financial risks have simply become too great to take the gamble. to take."
Since 2017, the onion area in Zeeland has been in free fall. In that year, seed onions were still grown on more than 6.000 hectares. Three years later, 4.000 hectares remained. A stabilization was visible in 2021, before dipping again last year to 3.500 hectares. There is a good chance that 3.000 hectares will be in sight this year. This means that for the first time, more onions are grown in Groningen and North Brabant than in Zeeland.
Not a new record
Last year, a shrinkage of 2.800 hectares was visible in the national area. With a maximum of 3% to 4% growth this season, you are talking about 28.000 to 28.500 hectares of onions. The level of 30.000 hectares has therefore not been reached again. "The current onion prices are very nice, but you have to have yield and quality," says Arjan Bos of Hazera. "There are relatively many late decision makers, which may still influence the total area."
Seed was ordered remarkably early from Syngenta. "What contributes to this is that primed seed has been chosen more often," explains onion specialist Kees Jacobs. "50% of the seed has now been primed. As a result, orders are also placed earlier, because of the priming process." Schriever and Bos also see the popularity of primed seed increasing. "It ensures a smooth emergence and an even stand, which means you get through the critical growth phase earlier in which onion fly infestation can be a problem," says Bos. "This year, more than half of all our onion seed has been primed, making it the standard," Schriever notes.
Horticultural cultivation
Another trend that companies see is that quality is being closely monitored. Skin firmness, hardness, but also the moment of ripening play a role. Anyone who has access to good quality onions this season will be a lucky winner. This encourages growers to focus on that. Bos: "An additional advantage is that the variety package with storage varieties for sandy soils is increasing. Onion cultivation is again being approached more horticulturally, which benefits quality," Jacobs notes. "There is more focus on all cultivation operations such as fertilization, crop protection and soil. Drip irrigation and fertigation are also becoming more common. The results achieved are positive. A smaller and better managed area also pays off better for such a cultivation approach."
There remain plenty of challenges for onion cultivation in the Netherlands. Not only the availability and quality of the soil, also in the field of crop protection. According to authorization holder BASF, the herbicides Stomp and Wing P are available in reduced quantities this year. The effect of this on onions is still unknown, partly due to the dampening effect of the intermediary trade. Hoeing and harrowing is more commonplace anyway. Not only on clay, also on sandy soil. As soon as the onions are slightly larger, the risk of spraying is lower.
Waiting for temperature
A few plots of onions have now been sown sporadically last week. The seed suppliers strongly recommend not sowing too early. Due to the low temperatures, it takes a long time for the onions to reach the top, which makes weed control difficult and makes them susceptible to diseases and pests. Sowing at the correct soil and air temperature is recommended to ensure the best possible start. It is a perfect moment for the second-year onion sets, which also went into the ground at the beginning of February. The conditions are good. The area of onion sets is stable and is largely under contract. It is very likely that the market will start clean. Anyone who has onions available early may be able to get a share this summer. But despite the current price level, everything is possible again next season. The market starts at zero, and it remains onions, as the well-known saying goes.