Dutch Crop tour potatoes - week 35
Good regrowth of potatoes does not catch up
In recent weeks, a lot of kilos have grown on the potato plots that participate in the Boerenbusiness Crop tour. The regrowth is not disappointing, but this does not mean that the growth retardation that has occurred will be made up. The potato growers agree that an average yield will not be achieved this year.
The fact that planting took place several weeks later than in other years is also visible in the crop. Plots wear out, but in general Innovator slides less quickly than in other years. Several growers on different soil types indicate that the potato crop is greener than normal for this time of the season. They assume that they will start grubbing up later. The recent precipitation helps with that. But it seems unlikely that these extra growing days at the end of the season will make up for the backlog in growth.
Below average yield
In Zeewolde (Flevoland) the Innovator clearly wears less hard compared to other years, says grower Thomas Zandee. "The crop is still vital for the time of the growing season. Last year it was done at the beginning of September, but as I look at it now, it will be the third week of September. The regrowth is there." But good regrowth does not mean that average yields are now just being achieved. This is partly due to the number of tubers, says Zandee. "The number of tubers differs, but on average you end up with five tubers per plant. In other years we just count more potatoes and that makes a difference in yield. The potatoes on them do grow evenly and well, but we're going to end up below average."
Kees Trouw from Hellevoetsluis (South Holland) also thinks that he will not get the yield of his long-term average. During the trial harvesting just over two weeks ago, his gross yield amounted to 39 tonnes. "I think my final yield is close to the trial harvest. Then 15% was deducted from that and I think another 20% or a little more has grown and will grow. Then you end up with a yield that is below average for me."
Lucky with rain shower
In Elst (Gelderland) the crop is still green. Grower Daan Tap says that the foliage is wearing off, but that the growth is good. This means that the plot is on its way to achieving a good yield. Tap explains that this is partly due to the many millimeters of rain in the dry June month, which mainly fell in the east of the Netherlands. "In June, when it was dry, we got more than fifty millimeters in two days. First a downpour and the next day it drizzled all day long. We were lucky with that, because that ensured that the crop was well could continue to grow."
Tap is not so negative about the kilo yield. but it will be a bit lower than other years. "The number varies, but it is now growing fast and there is still potential. It will be harvested later than other years, but luckily we don't have too many hectares."
In Fieldscout of the data program Cinema the crop tour plots are followed from the air, whereby, among other things, the growth and biomass of the plot are visible on a weekly basis. In this, the wear and tear of Innovator is confirmed in the decrease in biomass. The data from the Gewastour plot in Hellevoetsluis provide a good representation of this picture. It can also be seen that the precipitation caused the crop to grow again in biomass on August 14 to an index of 0,49. In total, the biomass index fell from 0,56 on July 30 to 0,43 on August 23 with a small increase due to precipitation on August 14.
Jesse Torringa
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