Rain chaos in Lower Saxony: potato harvest is in danger of falling into the water!

Rain chaos in Lower Saxony: potato harvest is in danger of falling into the water!

The current weather conditions in Lower Saxony represent a real challenge for the potato harvest. Persistent rains make it difficult for farmers to harvest the crop on time. Thorsten Riggert, chairman of the plant committee in the rural population of Lower Saxony, warns that time is of the essence. The official harvest deadlines for processing and starch potatoes end at the end of November. After all, over 13 million tons of potatoes were harvested in Germany, while only 10 million would have been needed. This could become a problem as many farmers need to act quickly to secure their harvest and accommodate the large volumes.

In Lower Saxony there was an increase in cultivated area by an impressive 7.5 percent this year. This expanded space could be a sign of the high demand in recent years. However, the current market situation is clouding the mood: Due to falling prices, many farmers are deciding to deliver their potatoes to biogas plants or feed them to cattle. This reflects the uncertainty, which is further exacerbated by the persistently low grain prices.

Harvest and sales difficulties

The situation in Neustädter Land is particularly tense. The Lower Saxony Chamber of Agriculture estimates that up to 2.5 million tons of potatoes cannot be marketed nationwide. Lars Ording from the potato center of the Raiffeisen-Warengenossenschaft Niedersachsen Mitte in Steimbke explains that an alternative recycling method must be found for up to 40,000 tons. These sales difficulties are a result of various factors: a decline in demand from large buyers, the serious weather-related harvest surpluses and the effects of the corona pandemic. Added to this were the previous drought summers, which expanded the cultivated areas when potatoes were rare and in demand.

This year's harvest has some positive aspects, with an average amount of up to 70 tonnes per hectare compared to previous years. But these very high yields could prove to be a curse if prices continue to fall. Markus Heumann from Raiffeisen-Volksbank Neustadt reports a significant drop in prices, which is having a negative impact on farmers' profits.

Additional challenges from pests

A fall risk remains the reed leafhopper, which poses a serious threat to potatoes and sugar beets. Riggert therefore appeals to the responsible authorities to approve agents in Europe to combat this pest that have already been approved in the USA. At the same time, he considers the Ministry of Agriculture's proposals, which involve, for example, protective nets or fallow land devoid of vegetation, unrealistic.

Overall, agriculture in Lower Saxony has to deal with a mix of challenges and opportunities. While the potato crop is suffering from difficult conditions, a new market with potential is also emerging - and farmers are required to steer wisely and make quick decisions in order to be successful in this tense situation.

The current report from n-tv as well as additional information from Country and forest provide a deeper insight into the complex situation of the potato harvest in our region.