Dutch Crop tour Onions - week 17
Onions largely sown during persistently dry weather
April is traditionally the driest month of the year, and this year proves to be the case again. Precipitation has been scarce recently. For a long time, it did not look like the month would turn out so dry, but as the saying goes: April does what it wants.
In the weather forecast, our weatherman Robert de Vries also reflects on a possible record-dry month of AprilWith this drought, the conditions for sowing onions could hardly seem better. However, whether the onions will have a favorable start as a result is highly questionable.
It is estimated that between 85% and 90% of the onion acreage in the Netherlands has been sown, according to a response from Gewastour partner and seed supplier. The Great and SlotIn the north and center of the country, the largest portion still needs to be sown. Approximately a similar proportion is also in the ground in Belgium, according to De Groot and Slot. Onion growers who still need to sow are mostly waiting for better conditions or need water first now that it is still dry.
On predominantly heavier soils, the fact that there is sometimes no good connection with the subsoil also plays a role. Due to the dry weather forecast, irrigation systems are already running at full capacity throughout the country. Not every grower has this option, partly due to salt content. Irrigation is also being carried out on plots that were sown earlier, for example because parts have dried out or to maintain growth. For instance, Jan Berend Biesheuvel from Zeewolde (Flevoland), David de Wit from Lepelstraat (Brabant), and Jacky Dieleman from Philippine (Zeeland), among others, have all already irrigated their onions.
Onion acreage
Gaining insight into specific acreage figures remains difficult. Signals from the market indicate that the acreage of yellow onions is growing slightly, while the acreage of red onions is expected to decrease. Limited seed availability and the current market situation appear to be determining factors in this development. For yellow onions, the expectation of a slight acreage expansion is not yet causing major shifts, partly because seed availability was also the limiting factor. For red onions, in addition to more limited seed availability, growers are also being more cautious, influenced by a difficult market and disappointing quality of some varieties in Central Europe. The extent of the eventual shifts will only become clearer later in the season.
Almost all Gewastour onions sown
With the exception of Ruud Vossebeld from Beemte Broekland, every participant has sown their Gewastour plot. Last week, Hubert Linders from Nederweert in Limburg, Reinder Hogenhout from Kimswerd in Friesland, and Arjen Jakobs from Wezup in Drenthe also sowed their Gewastour plots. This brings the percentage of sown Gewastour plots to 90%, in line with the national level.
With these dry conditions, it is by no means guaranteed that all onions will get off to a flawless start. As De Groot and Slot already indicated, it is sometimes difficult for onion growers to maintain sufficient contact with the subsoil after sowing. Jan Berend Biesheuvel is experiencing this as well. He saw the first seeds starting to germinate and therefore decided to deploy the irrigation reel. "To get everything going, the onions need to be irrigated now. It is always difficult for us to sow in moist soil, because the soil here dries out very quickly after tillage."
InterraScan Syngenta
Syngenta visited a number of participating Crop Tour plots in early spring with the InterraScanIn this way, the plot belonging to Jacky Dieleman from Philippine was also scanned. Based on this, soil maps were created, which were subsequently used to draw up task maps that allow for variable herbicide application. Heavy clay soil often requires a different dosage than lighter soil. By working site-specifically, every part of the plot receives exactly what it needs.
Jacky Dieleman was pleased with the ease of use and service: "My first experience is positive and enthusiastic. The coming season will show what the ultimate difference is."
Jan Willem Veldman
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