Dutch Crop tour potatoes - week 29
How far along are the potatoes compared to other years?
The crop status and tuber growth differ widely this season in the different potato plots of the Crop Tour. This is often the result of the difference in planting time, but the large amount of water and the poor structure also leave deep marks in the growing season. The typical Dutch summer ensures that the weather is growing. This can be seen during a round in the field. Some plots are in line with other years in terms of crop levels, as shown by a comparison between different Crop Tour plots.
In this comparison, the current crop status of various Crop Tour plots with the Innovator variety is compared with other years. Some companies have been participating for several years, allowing a good comparison of crop status to be made. Others participate for a shorter period of time, sometimes using images from previous years of plots from the same region. This is to provide the best and most reliable picture possible of the crop status of the Innovator variety compared to other growing seasons.
Huge differences
The current season is characterized by a lot of (excess) precipitation, which makes it difficult to get a clear picture of crop status and growth. There are areas where potato planting was completed in May, while elsewhere there was still quite a bit of work to be done at the end of June, mainly in the south. But the differences within the same region are equally enormous. In addition, the large amount of water has caused flooded areas everywhere in the Netherlands, resulting in the loss of the first hectares. Although in some places the crop is also affected by the heavy rainfall, it is a fact that crop growth is far from standing still with the typical potato weather of recent weeks.
The images of the different plots do not always show a single plant, but in some cases two or even three. The number of tubers there may therefore be from several plants.
Starting with the Gewastour plot in IJzendijke (Zeeland), where part of the plot was replanted this year due to water damage. As a result, there is diversity in the plot. The contrast is great with last year, because after a late spring it became bone dry in May and June. The fact that last growing season started very slowly with an average late planting date and poor weather that followed is good to keep in mind when drawing conclusions and seeing the comparisons. The tuber number was on average in 2023 significantly lower than this season and growth at the beginning was difficult for many plots due to the poor weather. Some growers had already irrigated three (!) times last growing season since planting until July.
Potato grower Salomé is participating in the Crop Tour for the second season, so there is no comparison with previous years. However, a comparison can be made with the plot in Driebergen (Zeeland), where cultivation is carried out under similar conditions and which is close in terms of distance. Just like in IJzendijke, there is no irrigation here either.
A little further north on the Gewastour plot in Hellevoetsluis (South Holland), there is a lag in tuber size this year compared to two previous seasons.
The Gewastour plot in Dronten (Flevoland) was planted this season at the end of March by potato grower Adriaan Wortman. As a result, the tubers are already well developed and thanks to the plenty of moisture, there are more than ten tubers on a plant, according to the grower. In the image you can even count 26 tubers from two plants. The comparison includes other plots from the Dronten area, such as the Van Liere plot in Dronten in 2022 on July 7.
The Crop Tour plot in the North Brabant Wouw was planted on May 18 this season, which is slightly later than most other plots of the Crop Tour. The image below shows that there is a lag in tuber size this season compared to 2023. It is still far too early to talk about tons per hectare, because the growing season started later and anything can still happen this season, especially with today's typical potato weather. But last season the net yield from this plot was 65,5 tons per hectare, to give an idea of the yield from potatoes of that size last year. That yield of 65,5 tons was the second highest yield. On average, the trial grubbing in 2023 amounted to 49,9 tonnes per hectare.
The plot in Fijnaart (North Brabant) last participated in the year 2022. In terms of location, this is close to Wouw. Although the soil type differs somewhat, a comparison has been made with the year 2022 between the plots of Wouw and Fijnaart due to their proximity.
In Elst, Gelderland, tuber formation has actually developed further compared to the previous season. Potato grower Daan Tap also indicated that his crop is in better shape than last season.
There is no image of the past two growing seasons around the current period of the tubers on the Gewastour plot in Eethen (North Brabant), but there is from 2021. In addition, the Innovators of this plot are a lot larger than last growing season, when it was later planted again due to significant fusarium infestation.
The current season and also the 2023 growing season are quite unique compared to previous years with the wet spring. As previously written in this article, the 2023 growing season also started wet, but poor weather followed, which also caused the growing season to lag considerably behind. This is also the case on average this season, as you can conclude from the images. Although you cannot fully estimate the height of the crop in the images, several growers indicate that the crop this season is on average smaller than in other years. The plants are smaller and a plot is sometimes barely closed.
Growers often compare the growing season with the previous growing season, such as in this case with 2023. Compared to that year, the growth delay is relatively minor. But when you look at images in the Crop Tour archive from other years, you see that the potatoes were on average already much more developed around July 10. In the following overview, an image has been chosen per growing season with the average tuber size of that year around July 10.
The fact remains that a late start also extends the growing season. And with plenty of moisture and moderate temperatures, the weather is also good for growth. Of course there is also a lot of water damage, but what is there still has potential. The rest of July, and especially August, are crucial for the potato yield. With drought and tropical temperatures, the crop can wear out quickly and the growing season becomes shorter, which results in a lower hectare yield. On the other hand, given the current circumstances, a lot of additional growth can occur. Finally, the potatoes must also arrive (well) and that was not possible everywhere last year.
Jesse Torringa
© 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.
