by PressThe Netherlands’ farmers harvest low winter wheat crop
The Netherland’s low winter wheat harvest is due to weather conditions
The Netherlands recorded a low winter wheat harvest in 2024. At 574 thousand tonnes, it was the worst in 25 years. This is almost 46% below the previous season’s result. Total cereal production was 39% lower than in 2023, at 683 thousand tonnes.
Wheat production
According to official statistics, unfavourable weather conditions were the main reason for the decrease in harvests. In the autumn of 2023, the Netherlands experienced heavy rainfall, which affected sprout formation. As a result, the harvest fell significantly. A reduction in the area under cultivation and lower yields per hectare exacerbated the situation. Low indicators were evident throughout the country, with the most critical situation in the southern regions.
At the same time, spring wheat production almost doubled to 108 thousand tonnes. This was possible due to the expansion of sown areas, which doubled compared to the previous season. However, the good spring wheat harvest could not compensate for the poor winter wheat harvest.
Overview of other crops
Wheat is not the only crop whose production declined in 2024. According to published statistics, the results for other crops are as follows:
— the potato harvest was down 1.5%;
— the gross sugar beet harvest was 3% below the previous season’s figures;
— onions increased by more than 13%;
— barley production was up by almost 4%.
Farmers managed to harvest 242 thousand tonnes of barley. At the same time, the yield of spring varieties was higher than that of winter varieties. Spring barley production was 151 thousand tonnes, while winter barley production was 91 thousand tonnes. Yields of other crops, including oats, triticale and rye, were also down.
The onion seed harvest was 1.5 million tonnes, achieved by expanding the area sown by 12%. The yield per hectare was around 47 tonnes, higher than in the previous season.
Growers harvested just over 43 tonnes of ware potatoes per hectare. This was 6% lower than in the previous period. The decrease in production was due to heavy rainfall throughout the spring. As a result, planting had to be postponed until June in some regions. The summer was also quite wet in the Netherlands, which had a negative impact on tuber growth and firmness. Even an increase in sown area could not offset the decline in production.
Bast crops such as flax and industrial hemp performed well, with yields rising by 88%. The yield of spinning crops has also risen almost threefold since 2010.