Top 5 Boerenbusiness
Which crop is being grown less and less?
The cropping plan of arable farmers has changed considerably over the years. But what are the biggest changes in the acreage in recent years? That gives a new Top 5 of Boerenbusiness, compiled by CBS, answer to.
In 2011, the Netherlands still had 535.024 hectares of arable acreage. That number dropped to 2016 hectares in 503.660. This is a decrease of 31.383 hectares. What is immediately noticeable is that the acreage of cereals in particular has fallen considerably.
36
percent
Substantial drop for grains
As mentioned above, the acreage of cereals has fallen considerably. This crop is therefore number 1. In 2011, there was still 213.832 hectares of cereals in the Netherlands. That share fell to 2016 hectares in 181.103. This is therefore a significant decrease of 32.729 hectares.
Also in relation to the total acreage, the crop has decreased considerably. In 2011, 40% of the total arable acreage consisted of grains. In 2016 this dropped to 36%. However, the total area of grains is still by far the largest compared to the rest of the crops.
If we subdivide the grains, we see that spring wheat in particular has fallen sharply. The acreage of summer cereals has gone from 38.371 hectares to 11.051 hectares. That is a decrease of 27.320 hectares. In relation to the total area, this results in a decrease of 5%.
Opposite change for number 2
In second place come the potatoes. There has also been a significant change. However, this is a positive change. The acreage of potatoes has increased by 1,5% (in proportion to the total arable acreage). In 2011, 29,8% of the total arable acreage was intended for potatoes. In 2016, this number increased to 31,4%.
However, the total area of potatoes has decreased considerably. In 2011, it concerned 159.686 hectares. That fell to 2016 hectares in 157.900, down from 1.786 hectares.
1,1
percent
Seed potatoes show the largest increase. In 2011, 37.911 hectares were intended for seed potatoes. In 2016, that number increased to 41.405 hectares. This is therefore a significant increase of 3.494 hectares. In proportion to the total arable acreage, there has been an increase of 1,1%.
Vegetables are on the rise
The third largest increase is visible in vegetables. This number increased to 2016 hectares in 58.336. This was only 2011 hectares in 54.885. That is an increase of 3.452 hectares. There is also a significant increase in relation to the total arable acreage. In 2011, 10,3% of the arable acreage was intended for vegetables. In 2016, that percentage increased to 11,6%.
The vegetable that has shown the largest increase is the onions. In 2011, 29.842 hectares were intended for onions. In 2016, that number increased by 3.589 hectares to 33.431 hectares. The total increased to 6,6% compared to the total arable area.
Just outside the top 3
In fourth place, and therefore just outside the top 3, are the commercial crops. In 2011, 9.531 hectares were used for commercial crops. That increased to 2016 hectares in 12.297. Compared to the total arable acreage, the acreage of commercial crops increased from 1,8 to 2,4%.
2.262
hectare
Hemp scores the best of all commercial crops. The acreage there increased from 890 to 2.262 hectares. That is an increase of 1.372 hectares. Compared to the total arable acreage, hemp increases from 0,2 to 0,4%.
The closing of the top 5
In fifth, and therefore also last, place are sugar beets. In 2011, this area consisted of 73.329 hectares. In 2016 this decreased to 70.722 hectares, a minus of 2.607 hectares. Just like the potatoes, this crop also knows how to add a plus to the total mutation.
In relation to the total arable acreage, the sugar beet acreage increased by 0,3%. In 2011 it was 13,7% and in 2016 it rose to 14%.
Where are few changes?
A number of crops did not show any exciting changes. For example, grass seeds and legumes both remain at a mutation rate of 0%. However, both had a decrease in the number of hectares, namely 574 hectares and 147 hectares respectively.
For the other crops, a small plus can be seen in the total mutation, namely 0,1%. Its acreage increased from 3.695 in 2011 to 3.816 in 2016. That is a plus of 121 hectares. This increase is mainly due to fallow. That area grew by 122 hectares to a total of 7.365 hectares.
Pros and cons in arable acreage, 2011-2016
| 2011 | 2016 | Verschil | Percentage of arable farming | Mutation | ||
| 2011-2016 | 2011 | 2016 | part | |||
| Total | 535042 | 503660 | -31383 | 100% | 100% | |
| potatoes | 159686 | 157900 | -1786 | 29,8% | 31,4% | 1,5% |
| vegetables | 54885 | 58336 | 3452 | 10,3% | 11,6% | 1,3% |
| trade crops | 9531 | 12297 | 2766 | 1,8% | 2,4% | 0,7% |
| sugar beets | 73329 | 70722 | -2607 | 13,7% | 14,0% | 0,3% |
| other crops | 3695 | 3816 | 121 | 0,7% | 0,8% | 0,1% |
| grass seeds | 10548 | 9974 | -574 | 2,0% | 2,0% | 0,0% |
| legumes | 2293 | 2146 | -147 | 0,4% | 0,4% | 0,0% |
| cereals | 213832 | 181103 | -32729 | 40,0% | 36,0% | -4,0% |
| potatoes | 159686 | 157900 | -1786 | 29,8% | 31,4% | 1,5% |
| potato consumption | 72607 | 73321 | 714 | 13,6% | 14,6% | 1,0% |
| plant potatoes | 37911 | 41405 | 3494 | 7,1% | 8,2% | 1,1% |
| potato starch | 49168 | 43174 | -5994 | 9,2% | 8,6% | -0,6% |
| vegetables | 54885 | 58336 | 3452 | 10,3% | 11,6% | 1,3% |
| vegetables kale | 262 | 218 | -44 | 0,0% | 0,0% | 0,0% |
| vegetables pea vegetable harvesting | 3949 | 3312 | -637 | 0,7% | 0,7% | -0,1% |
| vegetables celeriac | 1650 | 1723 | 74 | 0,3% | 0,3% | 0,0% |
| vegetable beetroot | 496 | 737 | 241 | 0,1% | 0,1% | 0,1% |
| vegetable kohlrabi | 158 | 108 | -50 | 0,0% | 0,0% | 0,0% |
| salsify vegetables | 844 | 460 | -384 | 0,2% | 0,1% | -0,1% |
| vegetables spinach | 1529 | 1661 | 131 | 0,3% | 0,3% | 0,0% |
| vegetables green beans | 2280 | 2386 | 106 | 0,4% | 0,5% | 0,0% |
| vegetables sweet corn | 578 | 869 | 291 | 0,1% | 0,2% | 0,1% |
| vegetables broad beansvegetable harvests | 1393 | 1081 | -312 | 0,3% | 0,2% | 0,0% |
| vegetables onions | 29842 | 33431 | 3589 | 5,6% | 6,6% | 1,1% |
| vegetables onions leg plantincl shallots | 6128 | 7974 | 1847 | 1,1% | 1,6% | 0,4% |
| vegetable onions sow | 23295 | 25078 | 1783 | 4,4% | 5,0% | 0,6% |
| vegetables onions silver | 419 | 379 | -41 | 0,1% | 0,1% | 0,0% |
| vegetable carrots | 2531 | 2808 | 277 | 0,5% | 0,6% | 0,1% |
| vegetables winter carrots | 6101 | 6644 | 543 | 1,1% | 1,3% | 0,2% |
| vegetables chicory root | 3272 | 2898 | -374 | 0,6% | 0,6% | 0,0% |
| cereals | 213832 | 181103 | -32729 | 40,0% | 36,0% | -4,0% |
| grains barley | 34107 | 34798 | 691 | 6,4% | 6,9% | 0,5% |
| cereal barley winter | 4071 | 9818 | 5747 | 0,8% | 1,9% | 1,2% |
| cereal barley summer | 30036 | 24980 | -5056 | 5,6% | 5,0% | -0,7% |
| cereals grain sorghum | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,0% | 0,0% | 0,0% |
| cereal oats | 1493 | 1484 | -9 | 0,3% | 0,3% | 0,0% |
| cereal corncob mix | 6128 | 3930 | -2198 | 1,1% | 0,8% | -0,4% |
| grains grain corn | 16570 | 9123 | -7447 | 3,1% | 1,8% | -1,3% |
| cereals rye | 1650 | 1612 | -38 | 0,3% | 0,3% | 0,0% |
| grains wheat | 151524 | 128065 | -23460 | 28,3% | 25,4% | -2,9% |
| cereals wheat winter | 113153 | 117014 | 3860 | 21,1% | 23,2% | 2,1% |
| cereal wheat summer | 38371 | 11051 | -27320 | 7,2% | 2,2% | -5,0% |
| cereals triticale | 1828 | 1047 | -780 | 0,3% | 0,2% | -0,1% |
| grains other grains | 533 | 1045 | 512 | 0,1% | 0,2% | 0,1% |
| grass seeds | 10548 | 9974 | -574 | 2,0% | 2,0% | 0,0% |
| trade crops | 9531 | 12297 | 2766 | 1,8% | 2,4% | 0,7% |
| commercial crops blue poppy seed | 508 | 584 | 75 | 0,1% | 0,1% | 0,0% |
| commercial crop chicory | 3196 | 3884 | 689 | 0,6% | 0,8% | 0,2% |
| commercial crops hemp | 890 | 2262 | 1372 | 0,2% | 0,4% | 0,3% |
| commercial crops caraway seed | 129 | 30 | -99 | 0,0% | 0,0% | 0,0% |
| commercial crops rapeseed | 2026 | 1696 | -330 | 0,4% | 0,3% | 0,0% |
| commercial crops rapeseed rape winter | 1786 | 1582 | -204 | 0,3% | 0,3% | 0,0% |
| commercial crops rapeseed rapeseed summer | 220 | 114 | -106 | 0,0% | 0,0% | 0,0% |
| commercial crops rapeseed rapeseed | 20 | 0 | -20 | 0,0% | 0,0% | 0,0% |
| commercial crops linseed | 10 | 32 | 22 | 0,0% | 0,0% | 0,0% |
| commercial crops soybeans | 7 | 140 | 134 | 0,0% | 0,0% | 0,0% |
| commercial crop flax | 2156 | 2415 | 259 | 0,4% | 0,5% | 0,1% |
| commercial crops sunflowers | 351 | 639 | 289 | 0,1% | 0,1% | 0,1% |
| commercial crops other | 258 | 615 | 357 | 0,0% | 0,1% | 0,1% |
| legumes | 2293 | 2146 | -147 | 0,4% | 0,4% | 0,0% |
| legumes brown beans | 1335 | 822 | -513 | 0,2% | 0,2% | -0,1% |
| legumes green peas | 280 | 468 | 189 | 0,1% | 0,1% | 0,0% |
| legumes lupins | 30 | 35 | 5 | 0,0% | 0,0% | 0,0% |
| legumes broad beans dry | 185 | 193 | 7 | 0,0% | 0,0% | 0,0% |
| legumes field beans | 306 | 427 | 121 | 0,1% | 0,1% | 0,0% |
| legumes peas | 157 | 201 | 44 | 0,0% | 0,0% | 0,0% |
| sugar beets | 73329 | 70722 | -2607 | 13,7% | 14,0% | 0,3% |
| other crops | 3695 | 3816 | 121 | 0,7% | 0,8% | 0,1% |
| other crops sod | 2029 | 2136 | 108 | 0,4% | 0,4% | 0,0% |
| other crops miscanthus | 91 | 245 | 154 | 0,0% | 0,0% | 0,0% |
| other crops other arable farming neg | 1576 | 417 | -1159 | 0,3% | 0,1% | -0,2% |
| fallow | 7243 | 7365 | 122 | 1,4% | 1,5% | 0,1% |
| Total | 535042 | 503660 | -31383 | 100,0% | 100,0% | 0,0% |
Kimberly Baker
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