First trial harvesting figures lower than last year

Last week (week 31) the first trial harvesting was done on the potato plots of the Boerenbusiness Crop tour. In general, most plots have a lower yield than last year. In this article we discuss the 5 southernmost plots of the Crop Tour.

15% of the yield per hectare has been deducted from each plot for, among other things, spraying tracks.

Someren is participating in the Gewastour for the first time, so these figures cannot be compared with previous years. All plots have a lower yield than last year. Most growers indicate that the potatoes have had a lesser start compared to last year. On average, there is 7,2 tons less yield per hectare this year than in 2019, with Hank as the main peak: with 15,1 tons less yield per hectare compared to last year. 

Yield is disappointing
The yield is also disappointing in Someren. "Last year I achieved a yield of around 70 tons per hectare. I want to achieve this again. Hopefully, many more kilos will be added in August, so that we can get back to 70 tons," says the grower. Boerenbusiness. 

The yield in Fijnaart is higher than expected. "We are later than last year and due to difficult growing conditions I expected that the yield would be lower than what the figures now indicate. There is still quite some stretch, so we have to wait and see what the figures will tell in week 36," says the grower. This arable farmer started irrigating on 3 August to cool the potatoes. Heat is expected this week and the grower is concerned about this. "The potatoes have to be cooled, otherwise they will wear out too early."

Everything is below average
In the region around Hank, all crops this year are below average in terms of yield, including the potatoes. "I saw this coming. The potatoes are on heavier soil this year than last year. The figures correspond to my own findings."

More potential is seen in Scharendijke than last year. "I'm looking at the heat of next week. I can't irrigate, so hope the heat doesn't damage the potatoes too much," says the grower. The potatoes had already developed further at this time last year and had died off more than this year. If the heat is not too bad, it could ultimately yield more tons per hectare. "Due to the potential that I still see in my potatoes, I hope to reach about 50 tons per hectare."

Yield lower on average
In Cuijk they expected a lower yield than last year. "It doesn't surprise me that it is lower than last year. I don't mind either, because I hope that maybe this can be beneficial for the price. I don't wish anyone a bad yield, but if everyone has a slightly lower yield than last year that could be good for price formation," says the grower. The yield is probably less due to the poorer structure of the plot, a poorer start and fewer numbers.

Growers satisfied with underwater weight
For the first time, the underwater weight was also measured in the trial harvests. The ideal underwater weight for chips potatoes is 380 grams. It should be at least 360 grams to avoid soggy and greasy chips.

All growers are satisfied with the current underwater weight. "The OWG should not be too high. Hopefully we will end up with around 380 grams," says the grower from Scharendijke. The participant from Fijnaart says: "This is higher than what I expected. Normally when I deliver it, I have trouble reaching 360. I therefore expect that my underwater weight will continue to drop."

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