As of June 8, 2022, there are a total of 16,451 hectares of potato cultivation in the territory of Castile and Leon, according to data from the CAP collected by that region's Potato Interbranch organization, which represents a 5% drop compared to 2021.
In March, producers were not sure if they should sow this crop so the sector forecast a strong decrease in planting. However, in April and May producers opted for the potato so there was no strong decrease in sowing.
Images obtained from three orbits (R037, R137, R094) of the Sentinel-2 A/B satellite have been used to obtain data on the vegetative development of the crop.
After the analysis of these images, the vegetative state of the potato crop in the 12,531 declared plots has been determined. 27% of the area corresponds to bare soil, that is, an area that hasn't been sowing or that has been sown but still doesn't have any shoots high enough to be differentiated. On 50% of the surface, the crops have already sprouted and are distinguishable from small herbs, but not sufficiently vigorous to cover the surface completely or in a dense way.
18% of the area has a developing crop, meaning that there is a high vegetative development in 8,008 hectares of the Community of Castile and Leon.
The crop under development in relation to the total area in Salamanca, Valladolid, and Zamora is superior to the rest of the provinces.
This year, producers carried out staggered sowing, unlike in the past campaign.
Most of the early planting took place between the end of February and March. Starting the second week of this month there was a pause in planting due to the significant increase in costs (farmers waited to have energy contracts on record), which created a lot of uncertainty and there was even a forecast for sowing other crops, something that hadn't happened so far in Castile and Leon.
Then came rainy days, which meant that, even if they wanted, producers couldn't sow anymore. From April to the beginning of June, producers carried out staggered sowing of the product.
As a result, producers expect to have a staggered harvest, which is a very positive thing for the sector.
This harvest will begin in July with the early varieties, coinciding with those of Albacete.
Source: agronewscastillayleon.com