Brussels (The Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Farming associations in Wallonia and Flanders have cautioned that grain yields could be anywhere from 30% to 50% more down this year, as the wheat harvesting season is approaching its end.
How has record rainfall affected Belgium’s grain yields?
Belgium has witnessed an almost year-long streak of record rainfall, which has been wreaking devastation for farmers. Weather information from the Royal Meteorological Institute shows that July brought the tenth consecutive month of extreme rainfall in Belgium – the wettest streak in 119 years.
In June, farmers lagged their concerns about food deficiencies and price hikes, as rain-soaked fields left a reserved window for crops to be planted. Figures for spring crops publicised this week by Statbel show that there was a significant 42.6% drop in the area of crops planted compared to last year. The demure footprint of crops planted in spring was more prominent in Flanders, which saw a reduction of 55%, while in Wallonia the cultivation area decreased by 36.2%.
How has the wet spring impacted Belgian Farmers’ planting seasons?
The “exceptionally wet spring” suggested that farmers in Flanders began work several weeks later than usual, and crops like maize and beets had less time to develop this summer, according to Flemish farming organisation Boerenbond. It adds that wetter circumstances led to a more increased incidence of plant diseases this year.
The organisation says that a variety of different crop types are anticipated to have lower yields this year, although yields can vary relying on crop type and region. “The grain harvest is presently in full swing,” says François Huyghe, an economic expert at Boerenbond’s research department. “According to my information, depending on the area, yields could be 30 to 40% lower than normal. For other crops, there is currently little data available,” he stated.
Huyghe stated that harvests of early potatoes in Flanders are “quite reasonable”, but for late potatoes and sugar beets it is “still far too early to make any predictions.” He said that it is also “premature” to indicate how this year’s harvest will affect supermarket prices.
What are the concerns regarding wheat supply agreements in Belgium?
In Wallonia, wheat farmers are also encountering a drop in yields, and are concerned about how they will execute contracts with wholesalers. Benoît Thomassen, who performs for the analytics department of the Walloon Federation of Agriculture (FWA), states wheat yields in Wallonia will be down by about 30%, falling by as much as 50% in some areas, according to initial estimates.
“There are two issues. We have yields which are less tonnes per hectare, and there is also a major problem with quality. The grains are really small, they are almost empty. This is due to the lack of sun we had in late spring and the beginning of summer. The crops couldn’t photosynthesise to fill the grains with starch,” he stated.
Thomassen stated that FWA is waiting till the end of August and a discussion between the wheat wholesalers to discuss the circumstances. Although less of a concern for potato farmers, some of the organisations’ wheat farmers have supply agreements with wholesalers and could face financial damages if they cannot deliver agreed volumes.
