News Weather
'Drought often turns out financially beneficial'
Jaap van Wenum, chairman of LTO Akkerbouw, estimates that the potato harvest this year will be 20% to 25% lower, compared to the 2017 harvest. The situation is sometimes dire for individual companies, he understands; especially where it is not possible to irrigate. "Yet dry years are usually the best financially," he responds soberly.
LTO Akkerbouw held a department meeting last week. Of course, the drought was also discussed. "It emerged that the potato yield is estimated to be about 20% to 25% lower than last year," said chairman Jaap van Wenum. "We have to add that the yields of the 2017 harvest were very good."
No regrowth expected
According to Van Wenum, a repeat of last year, in which the dried out crop resumed growth, is no longer possible. The crops have been hit too hard. "Last year the potatoes were still vigorous, which resulted in recovery growth. That is not expected this year."
Yet the chairman, himself a farmer in Kootwijkerbroek, is sober about the consequences. "The dry years are generally the better years for arable farmers from a financial point of view. Of course there are individual cases where the situation is dire, usually when it is not possible to irrigate. Dairy farmers who are short on roughage also have a serious problem."
Belgian agricultural disaster
In Belgium, the representative of the General Farmers Syndicate (ABS) is making no bones about it. She iron of the Flemish agriculture minister Joke Schauvliege that this dry summer is recognized as an official agricultural disaster. The drought from April to July 2017 was also described as a disaster titled† If the damage exceeds €1,24 million, the Agricultural Disaster Fund will come into effect. To be eligible, the average damage per file must be higher than €5.580 per company. Often a long process.
In Belgium, it is mainly the yields of potatoes and industrial vegetables that are expected to be lower. These grow in the west of the country, where the least rain has fallen. The delivery of early chips potatoes is being postponed due to a lack of kilos. A second crop such as spinach, green beans and cauliflower will not work if it is not possible to irrigate.
Mixed feelings
The other Belgian representative, farmers unionthe alarm bell has not yet sounded. They want to wait for the harvest to properly estimate the damage. It does ask buyers to take drought into account in the quality assessment and delivery obligation.
There is no disaster fund in the Netherlands. Companies must have it from their Broad Weather Insurance. The government is making €13 million available for this this year. The companies are reimbursed a maximum of 65% of the premium. The damage threshold is a loss of revenue of at least 30%. "I'm not going to use the word disaster," said Van Wenum. "Everyone will feel the consequences, but there will be no exceptional measures."
Niels van der Boom
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