Surface of summer sown onions has decreased slightly
(AMI) - Like in previous years the German onion association "Fachverband Deutsche Speisezwiebel e.V." and AMI analyzed the sales of onion seed for the spring sown varieties. In previous years the connection between sales of seeds and sown surface was very close. Since seed sales decreased about 3 % in 2018, acreage of summer sown onions will probably decline in the same range. The inquiry does not include winter sown onions and set onions.
According to data of the German Statistical Office, in 2017 about 1,609 farms cultivated onions, the surface reached 11,781 ha of onions (excl. bunching onions, incl. shallots). The surface of winter sown onions is estimated at 250 ha in 2017. Acreage of sets is unchanged and estimated at 360 ha. This leaves a surface of spring sown onions 2017 of about 11,100 ha. Consequently, a decrease of 3 % would lead to a surface of about 10,750 ha spring sown onions in 2018.
For many years the production of red onions was relatively insignificant in Germany. But already last year the surface increased, 2018 this tendency carries on. Seed sales of red varieties have increased by 27 % compared to last year. Meanwhile the share of red onions has reached 8 % of the whole area of summer sown onions. Compared to our neighboring countries this share is not extraordinary, but in Germany a high level like this has never occurred before.
Sales of organic seed have increased by 8 %, the share of organic onions has reached 5 % of whole surface of summer sown onions. But more important than the change of acreage will be the change of yield. Up to now it is not possible to estimate the yield, we are expecting in general usual amounts. There have been very dry periods in some regions, but also heavy rain recently. Especially unpredictable extreme weather conditions could lead to losses. The weather of the next three months will have an important influence on yield and net amounts available for the market. (Fachverband Deutsche Speisezwiebel e.V., AMI). (June 26, 2018)