At Agrifirm Plant
2017: good year for soybean cultivation
Soybean cultivation expanded relatively sharply at Agrifirm Plant in 2017. The yield is also at a high level. The best since the start of cultivation in 2013. There are large differences in quality and quantity.
According to Numbers Agrifirm's average yield this year is 3.000 kilos per hectare. In 2016 that was an average of 2.700 kilos. In 2014, the average yield came close at 2.900 kilos. The difference between the highest and lowest yield is large; 687 kilos was the lowest net yield, at 15% moisture, compared to more than 4.200 kilos from the best grower.
3.800
kilo
Season not without problems
Whatever is looked at is the result of the 25% best growers. Their yield averaged 3.800 kilos; last year this was 3.600 kilos. The difference between the average and the best group has shrunk in 2017.
Despite the good result, last season also had problems. For example, frost damage occurred, there was infection from sclerotinia and the wet autumn caused problems for the harvest. High moisture percentages and alloy made threshing difficult. This has resulted in major differences in color and condition of the beans.
A lot more acreage
Agrifirm supervised 400 hectares last season, a significant increase for cultivation. In 2015, the total area was 170 hectares, after which it fell sharply in 2016 to 80 hectares. Logically, the number of growers also increased: from 50 in 2015 to 70 this year.
The protein percentages of the soy fluctuated between 36,6% and 45%. On average, this percentage is 41,6%, which is the best result since the start of cultivation. After the financial peak year 2013, the pool price has always fluctuated around €500 per tonne. Agrifirm has not yet announced how much will be paid to growers this year.
Focus on the South of the Netherlands
In September 2016, Agrifirm concluded the Green Deal for homegrown soya cultivation in Groningen, Friesland and Drenthe. In 2018, new incentive schemes will be set up with more provinces, says Agrifirm. The focus is on expansion in the south of the Netherlands. Work is being done on a concept that should appeal to dairy farmers and contractors.
Agrifirm is not the only company promoting soybean cultivation. For example, CZAV supports the Zeeland Soy project. Statistics Netherlands has not yet published definitive figures for 2017. Provisional figures come to 3.000 hectares of legumes, of which 600 hectares are capuchins and gray peas. On 2 are field beans with 570 hectares.
Soy is not included in these CBS figures, but will probably come in 3rd place. For the 2017/2018 season, protein cultivation has to deal with a major hurdle. In order for cultivation to count for the CAP (Ecological Focus Area), chemical crop protection may no longer be used.
Niels van der Boom
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