AgronomyCrop ProductionNEPG adjusts potato harvest estimation upwards

NEPG adjusts potato harvest estimation upwards

-

Although the full harvest is not in the stores yet, the North-Western European Potato Growers (NEPG) estimates the actual harvest at 28.9 million tons for the five countries. This is more than the estimate of last September.

The five countries that comprise the NEPG include Great Britain, France, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands.

The NEPG stresses that especially in Great Britain and the Netherlands, there is still at least 10-15 per cent to be harvested under wet conditions. The projected harvest is 17.7 per cent more than last year, 15.6 per cent compared to the five-year average and slightly more than the large harvest of 2014.

All countries, except Great Britain, where final yields are not yet known, larger yields per hectare are reported. In France and Belgium the yields vary enormously; some growers cannot even supply their minimum contracted volume. Next to the higher yields, also the total area increased in all NEPG countries with 5.9 per cent. Germany is on top, with 8.8 per cent more compared to last year.

The overall quality is good, however in all countries there are question marks about the storability of the crop, especially in the wet areas. There is bacterial rot, wet rot, blight and glassy potatoes, mostly in Bintje, reported in the storages. In the Benelux countries, the dry matter is often below the minimum level, especially with Bintje which is 30 per cent below this required level, but also 10 per cent in Fontane in Belgium. The NEPG is monitoring the quality in storage.

It also has to be noted that processing yields will be lower the upcoming months due to lower dry matter. These two elements could have an impact on the market.

As many growers cannot store all their potatoes, the oversupply will remain over the coming period, according to the NEPG.

Trending This Week

Potato harvest 2017 copy

What Ignoring Your Stored Spuds Until the End of Harvest Could Cost You

Do you have bin management plan to support your potatoes from load-in through suberization? I can’t tell you how many times I’ve asked various producers...
Under the Hill Farms harvest

Manitoba Storage Potato Harvest in Full Swing

0
The Manitoba potato harvest for storage is in full swing with about a third of potatoes having been harvested, the Sept. 15 provincial potato report...
Daikon Radish

North American Potato Research Bulletin: PAA Meeting Highlights

0
A highlight reel of the latest potato research projects presented at the 2023 PAA annual meeting. Potato researchers across North America are working every day...
Bayer CropScience Canada logo

New Bayer Fungicides Receive Canadian Registration

0
Emesto Complete fungicide and insecticide seed-piece treatment and Velum Rise fungicide/nematicide have received registration in Canada, a Sept. 19 news release from Bayer Crop Science...
Potato harvest 2017 copy

Ontario Storage Potato Harvest Well Underway

0
The harvest of the storage potato crop is in full swing near Alliston, Ont., a Sept. 21 email update from Eugenia Banks said. "The area was...