Low potato yield in the Netherlands, according to VTA yield trials

Yield trials of the Dutch Farmers Union VTA indicate a yield mid August 19 percent below the 5-year average.

The Dutch Farmers Union VTA (Verenigde Telers Akkerbouw) has reported on the annual potato yield trials among its members. a test potato harvest of a plot of 2 by 3 m.

These annual yield trials, a test potato harvest of a plot of 2 by 3 m using a standard protocol have been going on since 2001 and are carried out every year at the same time mid August.

A range of potato varieties for consumption are included in the trials. Seed potatoes and potatoes destined for starch production are excluded. A considerable number of samples in different regions of the Netherlands by a representative group of VTA members is measured.

This year, the average yield of the plots was 38.459 kg/ha. This is 19% below the 5-year average. In August 2012 the yield was 46.536 kg/ha.

The average number of tubers in the testplot of 2 by 3 m was 188, which is rather low, with only 45% of the tubers larger than 50 mm.

The low tuber count, the low yield and the low number of tubers over 50 mm overall result in a 17% lower yield compared to last year.

Since these samples are taken several weeks before the actual harvest, speculation whether there is any chance that yield will recover to some extent in the remaining weeks is hot topic of discussion in the Dutch potato sector and beyond.