The chances that it will be a really early spring are as good as gone and there is no question of much precipitation. It is mainly the very low temperature that prevents arable farmers from going out onto the land.
After the first frost period, a few ventured onto the land to sow sugar beets and onions. A bold move, as it turned out. Especially now that it is again light to moderate freezing. The chances of a really early spring are therefore lost.
polar vortex
Boerenbusiness wrote at the end of January already mentioned a late spring as a market instrument. The potato market in particular could use an impulse, according to arable farmers. In that article the weather phenomenon La Niña was explained, but it has almost completely disappeared. Instead, we are now dealing with the polar vortex for the second time. Meteorologists speak of a 'remodeling of the atmosphere'. This causes low temperatures in Europe. This winter comes to place 75 in the ranking of coldest winters (since 1901).
The spring equinox will take place on Tuesday afternoon, March 20. At that time, the sun is perpendicular to the equator, and day and night are exactly the same length. Still, it remains cold even after the astronomical start of spring. DCA Agroweer mentions windchill temperatures as low as -12 degrees Celsius, as a result of a strong wind.
Structure rare beautiful
The temperature plume peaks in the days leading up to Easter, especially during the day, thanks to the warm sun. At night it can still freeze a few degrees. The temperatures then drop slightly again. Due to the lack of much precipitation and a good sun, farmers may be a bit nervous. The structure of the clay soils is exceptionally beautiful and therefore extremely fragile. If you start too early and ruin things, you will reap the bitter fruits for the rest of the season.
The average sowing date for sugar beet has been released 2010 times in March since 3. Spring was very early, especially in 2011 and 2014. In the last week of March, all beets were in the ground. In contrast, 2013 and 2016 were relatively late, with an average sowing date of April 8 and 10.
National differences
No sowing dates are recorded for onions, but they will generally not differ much from the sugar beets. If the land is competent, the seed drills will run. However, the differences between them should be noted. This was especially evident in 2016, when the north of the Netherlands was 2 weeks behind the south. There was also a significant difference in 2015.
This spring it may just be different. The southwest of the Netherlands has recently had to deal with more precipitation, which was followed by snow. In Flevoland and the northern clay area, spring is more likely to be considered. The seed drills are now driving there in a single location.
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Onion seed suppliers are still cautious. They recommend being patient and waiting for higher temperatures. Then the crop continues to grow quickly and there is no risk of dual-veterity. You reap the benefits of this all year round.
early potatoes
After the frost period, the planting of early potatoes has started. Plots have been planted sparsely on the island of Tholen, the cradle of early table potato cultivation. In the early German cultivation areas (Pfalz, Lower Saxony), planting took place under good conditions, after the frost had disappeared at the end of February. However, the cold nights do not really ensure a smooth start.
In the United Kingdom and France, the rain has ensured that fewer potatoes have been planted here than the growers would like. In Poland it was spring for a while at the beginning of last week, but King Winter is also present there. This week the mercury will go to -11 degrees Celsius. After the extreme drought in Southern Europe (such as Italy, Spain and Portugal), the potato and vegetable growing areas there are preparing for extreme precipitation, which can replenish the moisture reserves.
Off land potatoes
It is still too early to talk about the possible consequences for the French fries potato segment. However, a fact is that a smaller area has to be taken into account; the factories also aim for this. The largest contract price reductions were implemented in the ex-land period. In addition, the harvest is started on average 2 to 3 weeks later. The contracting takes place approximately from week 30.
If the persistently low temperatures (it can freeze until the end of April) cause growth retardation in the early and mid-early harvest, the importance of the old harvest increases. Are potatoes still available between week 30 and week 33, or are factories responding to this by stockpiling? External factors also play a role, such as the question from other countries. In any case, it promises to be an interesting week.