Belgian Potatoes Lagging Behind – Potato News

Belgian potato organisations, including Viaverda, Fiwap and Inagro, sampled 36 plots in the Fontane region of Flanders and Wallonia for the second time between 19 and 22 August. This resulted in an average net yield of 28 tonnes per hectare for all sizes of potato. This is 9 tonnes below the five-year average, or 24%.

Planting dates
This makes the yield the lowest in at least twelve years. For comparison: in 2018, the yield was 32 tonnes per hectare at the end of August. This was after 116 days of growth, while now crops average only 86 days. Of the 36 plots, 19 were planted in June, thirteen in May and only four in April. Planting dates are distributed between 13 April and 19 June with an average of 25 May.

The effect of planting dates on yield is enormous. This ranges from an average of 55 tonnes to just 15 tonnes for June potatoes. The minimum is 7 tonnes and the maximum is 67 tonnes. Underwater weights also vary greatly. This ranges from 411 grams for earlier cuttings to 312 grams for June cuttings.

Flemish potatoes are better
In Flanders, potatoes perform better than in Wallonia, with 33 tonnes versus 23 tonnes. Flemish potatoes are also 60% coarser at 35 mm and above, compared to 40% in the French-speaking part. Tuber composition is similar. The multi-year average is 64% at 35 mm and above.

Compared to the previous measurement at week 32, an average of 510kg/ha was added per day. This is slightly above the multi-year average of 440kg, although the weather has been hot and dry recently. If you look at the number of growing days, the growth is disappointing. You can usually expect a daily production of 750kg in 80 to 90 days. Last year it was slightly more.

Fresh crops
When the foliage is visible in early planted areas, the late crops look fresh. So there is potential, but the main question is whether it can be exploited. On the one hand you have to deal with the growing conditions. Current weather models indicate that we will have dry and warm weather in the first half of September.

On the other hand, there is the number of growing days. Crops need at least seventy more days to get an average yield. This takes you to mid-October, after which the crops still need to be sprayed and harvested. It is more realistic to calculate within four to six weeks of growth (28 to 42 days). If you calculate that in the graph, you will reach a maximum of 45 tonnes per hectare after 114 to 128 days of growth, according to the five-year average. If the crops are to achieve this, a lot has to be done and conditions have to be almost perfect. Things are not going that way now. Sunny weather is positive for underwater weight.

Brewer’s Characters
Potato company Bruwier also announced new trial harvest figures for Fontane and Challenger. The first-ever variety reached 40.6 tonnes net per hectare in week 34, with 64% at 50mm and above. Challenger reached 29.3 tonnes with 39% at 50mm. For Fontane, this is 5% below the five-year average and for Challenger 29%.

These potatoes were also planted late on average, between May 10 and June 12 (Fontaine). The company reports that the crops are still fresh and therefore have potential. This is also reflected in the underwater weight of 392 grams (Fontaine) and 324 grams (Challenger).