Drought plays a serious role in Northwestern Europe

In Belgium it has remained mainly dry in the most important (potato) growing areas, which also means that the shortages are less well supplemented. Boerenbusiness spoke to a number of insiders and they all indicated that they were seriously concerned. The Flemish Environment Agency (VMM) also has these concerns. For example, the organization has already announced that the groundwater level in 33% of the areas in Flanders is very low for this time of year.

Irrigation bans in France
Drought is also already playing a serious role in France. For example, the condition of the soft wheat crop has been slightly reduced due to drought in various regions. It is striking that the country still had quite a bit of precipitation at the beginning of April. However, this has not prevented irrigation bans from being imposed in certain regions. One of those regions is the Hauts-de-France department. An irrigation ban is in effect there between 11 a.m. and 17 p.m. 

In Germany, the irrigation reels are already fully at work. A spokesperson for the state of Lower Saxony stated last week that water is urgently needed. According to the spokesperson, there was also far too little precipitation in the winter to make up for the shortages. The first irrigation ban is already a fact. In the Celle district should no longer be irrigated in the afternoon. A limit has also been set on the groundwater that can be used.

England also remains dry
It is also very dry across the Channel, in Great Britain, and will remain dry next week. Irrigation is already taking place in various areas, even in wheat. Typically, this country is irrigated from reservoirs, but these were only 25% replenished last winter. 

Low groundwater level
The situation in the Netherlands is clear. If we look at the KNMI drought monitor, we see that the precipitation deficit in the Netherlands is currently still among the 5% driest years. The line shows similarities with 1976. A maximum of 20 millimeters of rain has fallen so far in April, with the exception of the provinces of Groningen and North Brabant.

It is striking that the groundwater level was significantly replenished in various places in the months of February and March. However, irrigation is already being practiced in many places, but inquiries show that this is mainly to get the crops up and not so much out of concern for a shortage of water in the soil. On the other hand, the Netherlands already has one irrigation ban, even if this concerns purely grassland.

MARS report
It is also very dry in other areas in Europe, it appears MARS report of the European Commission. It also states that sowing wheat is going smoothly, but that concerns about drought are increasing. A lack of precipitation is already causing poor germination of summer grains in various areas. The European Commission sees a precipitation shortage developing, especially in Spain, Greece and the Balkan countries.