Arable farmers who are reducing their ware potato acreage are a narrow majority this year. A similar group is keeping their production volume stable. Despite the poor market sentiment, a small group of growers even expects to expand their acreage.
This can be concluded from a survey by Boerenbusiness among arable farmers. While it's a limited group of growers who completed the survey, the responses suggest that not everyone automatically accepts a reduction in production after a very difficult marketing season.
's survey Boerenbusiness The survey was completed by nearly one hundred arable farmers. A large proportion of growers say they are growing fewer potatoes due to pressure on crop yields. Other growers want to reduce the risks of open cultivation or have less (rented) land available. Fewer contracting options or lower prices are less frequently cited as reasons.
Despite the more challenging conditions this season, a significant group of growers expects to maintain their acreage. A few are seeing more rental land become available and are therefore expanding their hectares. Based on these results, the overall crop size will still be smaller.
According to the survey results, the reduction in acreage will remain limited. A significant group of growers who anticipate a smaller acreage will reduce cultivation by 5% to 10%. However, a significant number also anticipate reducing their acreage by more than 20% by 2026.
Seed potato cultivation is less affected. Most seed potato growers are keeping their acreage stable or expanding their production. Barely 12% of growers are reducing their seed potato production. Expansion in seed potato production often occurs due to a shift from consumption to seed potatoes or the acquisition of land.
Most beet growers are planning their sugar beet acreage as accurately as possible based on the allocation, which has been reduced to 90% in 2026. One in five growers says they are sowing slightly less than the allocation. This indicates that the beet acreage in 2026 will be more or less in line with the allocation, and therefore fewer beets will be grown than this season.
Half of arable farmers are replacing some of their potatoes and/or beets with winter wheat. The picture for onions is mixed; some are growing more onions, others fewer. There does seem to be a shift: less red and slightly more yellow. Some growers are hoping for a good return on their onions, while those who are shrinking point to low prices and increasing disease pressure.