EUROPLANT presented new and high performing varieties at potato field days in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. EUROPLANT was able to welcome more than a thousand potato enthusiasts in the months of June, July and August in the Czech Republic and Slovakia at the various field days from the early potato area of the Elbe region (Polabí) to the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands (Vysocina) , South Moravia, Western Slovakia and the Tatra region.
Together with the field technology and crop protection industry, new varieties, new technology and cultivation strategies were presented. In the same way, there was information on the current national and international market development and concrete variety presentations of new registrations and varieties currently being launched on the market. The visitors were very pleased with this comprehensive information and praised the organizers for their organization and presentations.
The managing directors of the two EUROPLANT Group companies in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, Jiri Prochazka and Stanislav Tremko, are certain: "This type of customer information will continue to bear fruit in the future and we will expand and continue this!"
In particular, the new varieties FLORENTINA, FILIPA, MARLIE and TAORMINA made a name for themselves and will enter another stage of trial cultivation next year. Among the varieties currently being launched, CORINNA, LARISSA, MONTANA, OTOLIA, SANIBEL and SIMONETTA were in outstanding condition. Customers have already placed extensive advance orders for seed potatoes of these varieties, as availability will be very limited due to strong demand in other European growing regions as well.
Importing planting stock from Germany
"Our local products are practically sold out for these varieties!" announced seed potato division manager of EUROPLANT Czech Republic, Ing. Zdenek Becka. Ing. Miro Stacho added for EUROPLANT Slovakia: "It is gratifying that the new varieties had such a good debut and are in strong demand- but if EUROPLANT Czech Republic is sold out, we are left with imports from Germany. We are sure that customers will also buy the high-quality seedlings from Germany, even at slightly higher prices!"
More expansion is experienced by ANTONIA, ANUSCHKA, BERNINA, LAURA and JELLY . "Likewise, we are making good progress in the chips and starch varieties. Both segments have captured further market shares and will continue to develop positively," regional managers Ing. Vaclav Macek (Vysocina) and Ing. Jiri Jarosik (Sumava) claim.
In the Czech Republic, a total of 2,457 ha of seedlings are propagated, which is the historically lowest level. Of these, approx. 915 ha of EUROPLANT varieties are in the field. The largest variety in Czech propagation is starch variety EUROSTARCH with 216.45 ha , followed by ANTONIA with 145.64 ha . In Slovakia there are only 321.18 ha of seed propagation, of which 229.24 ha are cultivated with EUROPLANT varieties. The largest variety is LAURA, followed by MARABEL, ELFE and ANUSCHKA.
Declining propagation areas
"It is regrettable that the areas of seedling propagation are declining overall in the countries, we will need the healthy areas in the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands and in the Tatra region for the production of basic seedlings in the future, as more and more possibilities of healthy basic seedling production are taken away from us due to the cancellation of approved plant treatment products!"
Managing Director Jörg Eggers is convinced that the path taken in the Czech Republic and Slovakia 25 years ago was the right one and adds:. "In addition to their own production, both companies still import planting material from Germany to a large extent and contribute positive results to the Group's earnings. This alone is an obligation for us to promote this work in both countries accordingly!".
EUROPLANT Czech Republic will celebrate its 25th anniversary in October around the international potato days in Havlicku Brod with multipliers, customers and other guests from Germany and abroad. EUROPLANT Slovakia will celebrate its 25th anniversary in the summer of 2023 with an "open day" and present its performance in the field and warehouse, as well as in the assortment.
For more information: europlant.biz