Flevoland farmers had a relatively strong year despite the extreme drought in 2026, according to farm economist Bert Smit of Wageningen University & Research. Irrigation and the region’s fertile clay soil helped produce relatively good yields of sugar beet and onions, while prices were favourable. Onions were somewhat smaller than in previous years, but sugar prices reached their highest level in two and a half years after poor harvests in several sugar-producing regions and lower yields in Asia and Europe.

Potato yields were also good in Flevoland, although the picture was more mixed. Farmers with contracts received fixed prices for much of their crop, while high daily prices for surplus potatoes benefited those selling part of their harvest on the free market. Plant-protection costs were lower because the dry conditions caused little phytophthora. Carrot quality was good, although sizes were not uniformly high. Wageningen University & Research is due to present income estimates at its annual press conference at the end of December.