Challenges and rewards 2021 – Vegetable Yearbook
A look at challenges and opportunities across the vegetable sector, writes Heather Briggs ...
Increasing input costs hit profitability of onion crops
Reflecting on the bulb onion sector, Andy Richardson of the Allium and Brassica Centre reports that grower profitability remains difficult. “Whilst every sector of horticulture has seen significantly increasing costs, those sectors with a high labour or energy requirement have been particularly badly hit,” says Andy. “Our gas and electric costs for drying and storing onions have increased by nearly 50% over the past 18 months. Energy costs for long term stored crops will account for 30% of our total variable growing costs this season.”
In 2021, the area used for growing overwinter onions was 375ha, slightly up on the previous three seasons. 9,394ha was used for spring sown onions, of which 72% were grown from seed with the remaining 28% from sets. “Weather-wise, in late February/early March we had good soil conditions as there had been little rain from the second week of February. Drilling started at the end of February, but rain from 2nd March and subsequent showers stopped progress until 23rd March. Those crops drilled on light and medium soils between 23rd -28th March produced some of the best overall crops of the year” says Andy.
April was cold and dry; Andy reports that it was the second coldest April since 1884, noting that in Peterborough, only 5mm of rain was recorded for the whole month. “This meant that seedling emergence was slow and variable, and establishment of many late-drilled crops on heavier soil types was poor. As we went forward into May, rain helped establishment but it came too late for many fields, and it remained cold-with average temperatures about 1.3°C below average for the month. The result was that at the end of May crops were around two weeks behind normal development.”
Things looked up and crop progress improved in June, thanks to a warm spell with an overall temperature that was 1.3°℃ above average. However, notes Andy, by the longest day (21st June) just 35% of the crop was at the five true leaf stage, whereas this would normally have been 60%.
Moving into July, the month started off cool and showery, with heavy rain followed by high temperatures. “Harvesting of overwintered onions started in early July and yielded above average at 42t/ha, and spring sets started on 12th July but showed disappointing yields at just 40t/ha” says Andy. He goes on to say that any advantages gained from the June and July temperatures were lost in August, with temperatures 1.5°C below average, and just 60% of normal sunshine for the time of year. “Despite high levels of Fusarium being found in maincrop fields, yields were above average at around 50t/ha.”
September and October were warm and dry, providing good harvesting conditions, and yields were pleasing and slightly above average at 47t/ha. However, Andy reported that those poorly established crops which were harvested in the second half of October, had a high percentage of thick-necks and skin staining which did take the edge off overall yield and quality.
Onion production statistics
The UK total 2021 bulb onion production is estimated at 465,000 tonnes, with red onions accounting for nearly 28% of the production area, reveals Andy. Over the past twenty years figures show the proportion of onion growing area dedicated to red onions has increased, although the last five years have been fairly stable. He notes that total UK onion consumption is around 750-800,000 tonnes/year, with around 300-350,000 tonnes imported. Of the total production, 35% is destined for processing, 10% goes to wholesale markets and 55% is for the supermarkets.
2021 generally good for brassicas
In the brassica sector, 2021 was generally a good year for yields and quality, reports vegetable specialist agronomist Simon Jackson of the Allium and Brassica Centre (part of the Farmacy group).
However, labour is undoubtedly now a major challenge for growers, and a combination of factors as seen issues with the availability of labour, he reveals.
Simon says: “Crops have been left uncut, distribution has also been affected. Growers have struggled with skilled workers, leading to a rise in costs for field work, and at times have struggled to meet orders. The solution to the labour issue is difficult, mechanisation is already a reality for some processes such as planting, but harvesting of crops such as cauliflower is complex and seems a long way from mechanisation currently. Growers are however asking increasingly for mechanical or autonomous solutions, an increase in demand should help promote innovation.”
Moving on to speak about agronomy and the growing year, he notes that soil conditions were generally good, except for early plantings and for July plantings where soils were very dry. This resulted in slower establishment and to some plant losses due to dehydration. Simon says, “The climate is always a challenge and 2021 was very different to 2020.”
Spring 2021 was cold and because of a wet February, planting was delayed for early crops which go under plastic for the start of season harvest and resulted in a late start to the UK season for flowerhead brassicas. Some crops were planted when the soil was too wet, leading to compaction and some poor yielding early crops. “This was not helped by a May that was wet and dull, so although the rain was welcome after a drier than average March and April, open planted crops were slow and fell victim to pigeons. This created lumpy availability for the early summer of most crops” says Simon.
Moving forward into early summer, he reports that although June, July and August were dry, the calm conditions with low wind and dull summer reduced drought stress. As a result, in general, crops yielded well although again continuity was less predictable. “Dry weather is always good for insects and aphids, although late to emerge and in lower numbers than in previous years, they were an issue all through the summer.”
Simon explained that one of the challenges is that flowerhead brassica crops have very limited options and growers are heavily reliant on systemic products. “Cabbage aphid was always present and resulted in almost all of the summer crops requiring treatment but systemic insecticides are less effective in the dry, this certainly did not help at times.”
Growers are also seeing issues with emerging pests, he observes, noting that swede midge and cabbage stem flea beetle are increasing in frequency. “We also observed much more late cabbage root damage in crops such as broccoli and cabbage than we have seen for a few years. This is very worrying given the limited number of options available.” However, it was not all bad news as the dry summer helped keep clubroot infection low, so losses to this disease were lower than in previous years.
Autumn was mild and although he reports there was a wet October, this was useful for bulking cabbage and building brussels sprout yields. However, he adds that it also resulted in a rapid increase in disease and slug activity. “Disease was low through to the autumn, when high rainfall and mild temperatures resulted in a sudden increase in disease. Thankfully, although some crops had high leaf infection, the marketable product was clean and it did not create too many problems for growers.”
Summing up, he remarks “Despite all the challenges, brassica growers managed to produce high yields and good quality. An additional challenge for the 2022 season will be increasing input costs.”
Following a slow start from a cold spell in April and early May, 2021 provided exceptionally good conditions for carrot growers in areas including the East and West Midlands, Lincolnshire, Yorkshire and Scotland, according to Root Crop Consultancy carrot specialist agronomist Howard Hinds.
Crops bounced back thanks to constant rain, which led to more foliage, more vigorous canopies and drove higher yields than 2020. In addition, the mild autumn provided conditions for crops to continue bulking in October, November and December.
The two together have resulted in an oversupply of carrots, with some big yields in open ground crops. Yields above 150/ha have been seen where crops have been allowed to keep bulking. This is likely to continue as in mid-January un-strawed crops, particularly new varieties capable of holding foliage into the winter, were also looking well, with few prolonged freezing periods to date. However, in 2021 the cold snap did not arrive until February, so there is time yet for frost damage to hit. “The biggest challenge of the 2021 season has been moving crop, so we will probably see fewer carrot crops sown in 2022,” says Howard.
Pest and disease pressure was generally lower than seen during the last few seasons, and while cavity spot was lower than usual, Howard did see more incidence of sclerotinia in the field. “This was a result of the frequent rain we had but it was not disastrous, as thanks to a good range of fungicides it did not cause crop losses.”
“Weed control was not as much of a struggle as in previous years, although dry spells in late May and early June impacted on the efficacy of pre-emergence herbicides for later drilled crops,” he said.
Moving on to talk about pathogenic nematodes, Howard notes that although the industry had been concerned about the loss of Vydate, nematode damage remained about average during the first year since its withdrawal. “Dry weather in May and June is likely to have helped suppress nematode activity this year; but we will need to maintain our vigilance. We are now reliant on just two products, NemGuard and Vellum Prime, for nematode control.”
Data collected on aphid numbers showed variation across the country, and while they were a little higher in the West Midlands than north-eastern areas, numbers were generally down on 2020. Howard continues, “The colder winter of 2019-2020 could have meant that fewer aphids were able to over-winter, and although the Willow Carrot aphid appears to be quite hardy, its numbers were still probably suppressed. Despite this it’s migration into carrots happened as usual in mid-May and lasted until the end of June. In addition, most growers followed a strategically timed aphicide programme, which will have helped to keep a lid on the pest, but we need to remain vigilant.”
Lower yields, staffing, transport and increased input costs were just some of the challenges leek growers had to address in 2020-2021,but most weathered the storm, reports Tim Casey of Bomber County Produce.
The year had started poorly for the crops, with testing spring weather conditions leading to a fall in yields of 20-30% across the country. Not everything was negative, he adds, as crop quality was good and retail demand strong, compensating for falling demand in the wholesale and processing sectors.
Tim says: “It was a tough year, but despite some predictions, it was not a disastrous one for our industry.” Nonetheless, he points out, input costs increased, and are likely to increase further in the current season, while farmgate prices are being held or even reduced. “Many growers are selling their produce close to cost-price, and with little security from contracts, there is little money available to invest.”
The rise in input costs is partly because withdrawals of plant protection products have made life more difficult for growers; they are no longer allowed to use neonicotinoid seed treatment, or the fungicide chlorothalonil, while the herbicide linuron went a couple of years ago. “Over the last season we have seen very few new crop protection products trickling through, so we had to resort to using more of some of the less effective chemicals, or, in the case of weeds, hand weeding, which is more expensive” says Tim.
Tim also mentions that staffing problems were an issue for most growers in the fruit and vegetable industry, noting that not only are there challenges in recruiting staff due to Brexit, but also absences due to the need for isolation because of COVID19. “As an industry we are finding it difficult to find the quality of labour that we used to enjoy three or four years ago.”
Tim points out that transport has been another challenge; leek seed is normally imported from the Netherlands, but since the withdrawal from the European Union, the sector is having to cope with hold-ups at the border and absorb extra administration costs. “In the past we used to order seed in January for transplanting in March, April or May. But with the difficulties we now have we have had to place our orders in October for plants that will not be harvested for another 18 months. This puts more pressure on cash flow” he says. “Our sector really needs a break. Improved and longer term contracts with our customers would help us to invest in our industry.”
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