Result of trial harvesting Innovator: appearances can be deceiving

The average yield of the French fries potato Innovator is considerably higher than in previous years. This is apparent from the trial harvesting of the Boerenbusiness Crop tour taken in week 31. Does this mean that we are getting a good yield despite the drought or is the growing season already coming to an end?

The average yield is higher and the underwater weight is also considerably higher than normal at this time of the year. A number of growers said they were pleasantly surprised by the results of the trial harvesting. Others indicate that this is also necessary because their crop is rapidly declining and the growth is still minimal. Irrigation also seems to pay off.

Trial harvesting of the Innovator variety was carried out in week 9 on 31 plots spread throughout the Netherlands. At each grower, 2 times 3 meters of a potato ridge was dug up, weighed and the underwater weight determined.

_{*Yield in tons of kilograms per hectare. 15% of the proceeds has been deducted due to spray marks, head packers, higher (dry) spots, etc.}

Appearances can be deceiving in the numbers
At 46,6 tons per hectare, the average yield is considerably higher than in other years. It is even the highest average yield measured during a first trial harvest. These test harvests are done almost every year at the same time. The difference with last season is 13,3 tons per hectare, this is mainly because the Mesken plot had a low yield in 2021, which pushed the average down hard. 

But appearances are deceiving as far as the numbers of the trial harvesting are concerned. The potato crop is wearing out fast for almost everyone and working on its last stretch. In previous seasons, the potato plots were much fresher and the growth was still in full swing. Several growers see that the crop has already died so far that they only expect a minimal growth of a few tons. The plot at Van Liere in Dronten is an example of this. It is clear to see that most of the growth is gone. 

Innovators of Jacco van Liere from Dronten (FL). Innovators by Daan Goense from Driewegen (Z).

In 2021 the final yield was 52,8 tons per hectare. Between the 2 trial harvests, an additional 19,5 tons per hectare has thus been added. In 2020, an additional 23,6 tons per hectare was also grown between the 2 trial harvestings and the average yield even came to 60,1 tons per hectare. With the current crop, it is certain that that enormous growth will certainly not be there this year. 

Irrigation and early planting top 3
Daan Janssen has the highest yield in the trial harvests, followed by Mark de Beer and Jacco van Liere. Knowing this, the deciding factor seems to be planting early or watering a lot. For example, Jansen irrigated his crop tour plot six times and De Beer and Van Liere both had their innovators in the ground before the rain shower at the beginning of April and they both watered "only" twice. 

After all potatoes have been weighed, the underwater weight was measured (owg). This is also compared with the values ​​of previous years. 

In many plots the underwater weight is already high and the average weight is 383 grams. That is 20 grams higher than the 2021 average and 24 grams higher than in 2020. The high underwater weight confirms that the potatoes have developed considerably further than normal for this time of the growing season. In view of the crop status, this is not unusual either.

As soon as the crop has completely died, another trial harvesting will take place. Then it will become clear whether the innovators were able to make the last growth spurt or whether the drought and heat had too much of an impact. The expectation among some of the growers is that the last kilos will be disappointing. Some also have concerns about the deteriorated structure due to the irrigation.

Robin Winter

Intern at the Boerenbusiness Crop tour

r.dewinter@boerenbusiness. Nl

© DCA Market Intelligence. This market information is subject to copyright. It is not permitted to reproduce, distribute, disseminate or make the content available to third parties for compensation, in any form, without the express written permission of DCA Market Intelligence.