Past experiences offer no guarantee for the future, but onion growers are happy to take the gamble. Seed companies expect to supply considerably more starting material. Yellow grows, red explodes. Seed onion cultivation is a clear 'winner' in the arable farming plan. Not only in the Netherlands.
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Suppliers of onion seeds have not yet sold out, so a final score will have to wait. Not everyone mentions hard figures. "Especially when the sun shines, we notice that the number of orders increases," notes Kees Jacobs of Syngenta. All companies agree that the area of seed onions is increasing again in the Netherlands. Mentioned percentages vary from 7% to 10% for yellow. With red this is considerably more. "Based on the orders, we expect about 30% more area," says sales manager Bart Schriever of De Groot en Slot. "Last year the area shrank by 20%, so in reality we achieved a maximum growth of 10%."
"It is logical and clearly visible that additional area will be added. But how much exactly? That remains to be seen," says Arjan Bos of Hazera. "Fewer onion onions may be grown - due to a shortage of planting material - which will be filled with sowing onions. Onion seed is also being shipped across the border. It is difficult to make a good estimate."
Onion area benefits from seed potato shortage
Arable farmers have diverse reasons for choosing onions, but the most important background remains good market expectations. In terms of returns, consumption potatoes offer opportunities, but the shortage of seed potato growers is a major problem. Several seed suppliers note that growers are sowing extra onions. Another factor is that onions are harvested earlier, which may better fit within the rules of the 7th Action Program. "I have also spoken to growers who have canceled seed orders because the land is not suitable after a difficult harvest," says Jacobs. This is less of an issue on sandy soil, Bos notes. "In practice, we also see excellent onion crops with lilies as precursor, while you would expect structural damage there." Not being able to sow winter grain or spring wheat is another reason why onions are now being chosen more often.
The picture outlined of developments within the Dutch onion area is no different than in other years. Growth in the northeast and southeast, shrinkage in Zeeland and stability in the polders. Expansion is simply not an option in intensive cultivation areas. Arable farmers in Groningen, Drenthe, Overijssel, Gelderland, East Brabant and Limburg do have that space. "We still see new growers joining in," say Schriever, Jacobs and Bos, but there are also existing arable farmers who are expanding their acreage. "In the northeast, these are large companies, with considerable acreage, which means things can go fast," says Jacobs.
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2024 will be a learning year for companies on sandy soil, because Vydate is no longer available this season. "Growers are reverting to organic products – based on garlic extract – or sowed marigolds last season," says Schriever. "For many onion growers, they first have to face the new reality," thinks Jim Hoogzand of Hoza Zaden. Schriever: "The fact is that growers have to be more conscious about their choice of plot and sample more often. Then you know the starting point and you can anticipate it." Bos also sees that this approach is already being used by more growers.
Fewer seed onions are being grown in Zeeland again, according to all seed suppliers. "It is a very expensive cultivation with risks," Hoogzand explains. "This area is partly filled with second-year onion sets." In Flevoland, it is particularly high disease pressure from fusarium, among other things, that means that growers are forced to cut back on onions, but these are isolated cases. The damage also varies from year to year. This started late in 2023 and only really became apparent in storage. Last growing season was not easy for many growers - especially on clay soil. "We have seen that you can also sow onions after May 1, but that it is essential to have a good foliage apparatus for the longest day. If you miss that, it will cost production." Bos: "Later in the spring it is better to sow a late variety that will bolt later. It is important that there is sufficient foliage. Last year we saw that onions sown in early May also yielded between 50 and 70 tons. Then it has to be everything goes well in the season."
The first sowing onions are now in the ground in the south and north of the Netherlands. These are high and dry plots. The seed companies expect more plots to follow later this week. Especially in the north, where it has rained less. "Growers may postpone the time of sowing until the soil has warmed up sufficiently," Jacobs thinks. "Smooth initial development gives soil-borne diseases and pests less of a chance." In this light, De Groot en Slot and Hazera see the interest in primed onion seed continuing to increase, and they are also focusing on that. Other seed companies do not do this and point out the difference in costs. "How many plants you have ultimately determines your yield," says Bos. "If you have the time, it certainly pays to be patient. Especially on clay soil. Five more or fewer plants per meter makes a significant difference in yield."
New record possible
According to Statistics Netherlands, the area of sowing onions in 2023 was 29.200 hectares. An increase of 6,7% compared to 2022, when the area was still shrinking. The area under red onions amounted to 3.700 hectares, although the sector doubts the accuracy of that figure. Calculated with 10% growth, this season you will reach an area of 32.120 hectares. A plus of more than 2.900 hectares. That's a record. The current record dates from 2021, when 30.126 hectares of seed onions were grown.
Not only Dutch arable farmers are interested in cultivation. Suppliers are also selling (considerably) more seed in Belgium and especially in Germany. This is particularly the case in the border region with Germany - from Roermond to Delfzijl. Last year, the European onion area shrank overall.