With a considerable delay, acreage figures for 2023 have finally been published. In collaboration with Boer&Bunder Boerenbusiness an analysis has been made of the shifts in the main crops for 2023. This shows that the potato area is decreasing and that growers are once again investing more in onions.
The major delay in completing the Combined Statement also has consequences for the publication of the acreage figures for 2023. These are directly derived from what growers fill in to qualify for funds from the CAP. Dacom's Boer&Bunder also uses these so-called 'BRP limits'. By analyzing the most recent figures, we now finally know where the shifts are.
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The major delay has everything to do with the new CAP. This year, farmers must provide considerably more information in the 'May census' about buffer strips, for example. This results in the number of plots having exploded. "We have 2,5 million plots this year," says Ivor Bosloper of Dacom. "There are also many ditches, buffer strips and forests." For comparison: last year the file numbered over 1,5 million plots. "The majority of these extra plots are ditches, which we filtered out. We also left 50.000 plots of 30 square meters or less out of the analysis."
The figures from the BRP boundaries may deviate from the data communicated by Statistics Netherlands, although they are also based on this data. Because the plots registered ultimately determine how many hectares an entrepreneur will receive a subsidy from, the registration is generous. That can slightly distort the image.
Potato cultivation is shrinking
What stands out in the area figures? To start with, potato cultivation. This year, 75.764 hectares of ware potatoes will be grown. That is a decrease of 2% by 2022 and 1% below the five-year average. In absolute numbers it means 1.540 hectares fewer potatoes. Seed potato cultivation is declining by 8% and for starch potatoes the shrinkage is less than 1%. The largest decline in consumption potatoes is in Drenthe, where cultivation has decreased by more than 1.000 hectares. Growth is especially visible in North Brabant. More about this in a later analysis at province level.
The North grows more onions
What about sowing onions? They are increasing in popularity this season. Not surprising given the extremely high market prices last season. An area of 29.123 hectares means 6% growth in sowing onions, which amounts to 1.610 hectares. This means that cultivation has grown by 6% in five years. Here too, Drenthe is at the top of the list, but as the biggest climber. An additional 733 hectares of seed onions are being grown in the province. Groningen follows with 600 hectares in 2nd place and North Brabant with 563 hectares in 3rd place. The cultivation of second-year onion onions has shrunk by 6% this year.
The fact that the conditions for sowing winter grains were favorable is reflected in the growth of both crops. That for wheat is 12% (121.356 hectares) and for barley even 42% (15.000 hectares). It is therefore not surprising that the area of spring wheat has been halved and that a third less spring barley has been sown. What is also striking is that flax cultivation has increased by almost a fifth to 4.350 hectares.
Sugar beets are shrinking by 2% slightly, to well over 80.000 hectares. That is a comparable area to 2021. Cosun subsidiary Sensus has not been able to make a difference in chicory cultivation. 33% less has been sown, good for 2.700 hectares. That was 3.517 hectares (-807 hectares) last year.
Carrot cultivation has been under pressure in recent years due to various factors. It is perhaps striking that the area will grow 7% in 2023 to more than 2.700 hectares. Comparable to 2015 and 2017. In North Brabant and Limburg, carrot cultivation has grown slightly, although it concerns several dozen hectares.
Significantly less corn
Finally, livestock crops, starting with grassland. That area has shrunk slightly to 975.635 hectares. 1% less than last year. For the fifth year in a row, the area of grassland is now below one million hectares. Corn shows a significant decrease of 9.350 hectares. This represents a 5% decrease compared to 2022. The area of (silage) maize has not been as small in decades as it was in 2023. This is due to a decline in livestock farming and an increase in wheat and barley.