Belgian potato farmers have been forced to plant later than usual this year due to adverse weather conditions, thus placing the crop in jeopardy.
Cold temperatures following heavy rainfall have created challenging farming conditions, possibly affecting the harvest period, warns Pierre Lebrun, an agronomist at the Wallonia potato federation, Fiwap. As of now, two-thirds of Belgium’s 100,000 hectares of potato fields have been planted.
“Farmers have been working around the clock for 10 days. There has been quick progress and we hope to finish by next week if it doesn’t rain,” Lebrun said.
Potato seeds are usually sown between 10 April and 15 May. However, by 1 June, only half the usual amount had been planted, marking a two-month delay. This delay was caused by persistent rain and low temperatures, offering “very difficult conditions” that have disrupted crops’ initial growth stages. These circumstances will likely affect the 2024 harvest, according to Lebrun.
“Due to varieties that require between 120 and 140 days of cultivation, we will reach early autumn with barely mature crops, so the harvest likely won’t begin at the usual date,” says Lebrun. This means potato producers will have to “take risks in Autumn, if there are frosts or continuous rain.”
This situation could compromise part of the yield. Moreover, delayed planting could lead to reduced seed quality, which could lead, in turn, to reduced or suboptimal growth. This has compounded problems for producers, including early starters, as low temperatures and excess water have had adverse effects on plants.
The situation is not unique to Belgium. Western Europe is experiencing similar issues. However, Belgium and the Netherlands are the worst affected, whereas planting started slightly earlier in France and Germany.
“If we want a decent harvest, we can not afford any more mistakes. It must not be too hot, too cold, too dry, or too wet, within the remaining four-month period,” says Fiwap's Lebrun.
Belgium’s 100,000 hectares of potato fields include 45,000 cultivated in Wallonia by a thousand producers. The country usually produces 3.5 to 4 million tonnes of potatoes annually, averaging 40 tonnes of tubers per hectare, adds Pierre Lebrun.
