NEPG: Potato acreage in North-western Europe increases 1.8%

The NEPG (North-Western European Potato Growers) has calculated that the consumption potato area in the 5 NEPG countries has grown slightly (1.8%) compared to 2010. More potatoes were planted in France: +4%. In Great-Britain the area increased by 1.9%. The estimates are based on a investigation among growers and official figures from the 5 NEPG countries. The data concerns consumption potatoes, including the early ones.

Rain right on time

The recent rain was right on time, seeing as the harvest was suffering from the drought. In some NEPG countries, such as Holland and Belgium, it was the hottest and driest spring in history. Next week the first early processing potatoes will be harvested in Germany and Belgium and the rain was too late for this harvest. The surface, that can't catch rain is more than 50% and the early potatoes show a lower number of tubers with a very low yield per ha. In Belgium, where only 20% could catch rain, gave a yield of 15 to 35 tonnes per ha in a grubbing trail in week 25.

Main harvest

The main harvest is growing well after the recent rain fall, although a lower number of tubers are reported here too. This could lead to unusually large tubers. The differences in growth in the areas are mainly dependent on the type of soil and the rain fall that was very local. Although most catchment areas in France got rain, the local government doesn't always allow it. According to NEPG it's still too early to make harvest estimates. The largest growth takes places in the months July, August and September. But due to the dry start of the season and a lower harvest for the early potatoes, the 2011 harvest won't be more than average.