Dutch summer rescue for arable crops?

Thanks to the frequent showers in the recent period, there is no longer a threat of a national water shortage, according to the National Water Distribution Coordination Committee (LCW). The drought monitor of July 8 shows that the LCW has been scaled down from level 1 (imminent water shortage) to level 0 (normal water management). The measures taken remain in force where necessary, such as setting water levels, retaining water and regional irrigation bans.

The drought is not yet over. The current national average rainfall deficit is still approximately 183 millimeters. The precipitation deficit has stabilized due to the rain of the past period, but will increase slightly again after the weekend. The LCW also emphasizes that there are regional differences. For example, the precipitation deficit is greatest in Zeeland, the head of North Holland, parts of Friesland and Flevoland, and the southeast of the Netherlands.

Beets and potatoes restored
Yet even in Zeeland, where the supply of fresh water is a major problem, the world looks very different now that it has rained heavily. "A lot of crops have improved enormously from this Dutch summer," says Eelco Boot of Rusthoeve Pilot Farm. "The sugar beets in particular have recovered considerably. Even the latecomers seem to be growing into a beet. The potatoes have also generally recovered well."

On the other hand, fine-seeded crops, such as chicory and seed onions, are still in very poor shape, according to Boot. The start of the season for these crops was poor with very poor emergence. "And once a hole appears, nothing grows anymore," says Boot. "You see that the crop stands are thin and the growth retardation is enormous. Growers are simply missing a number of pipes." It certainly will for the sowing onions no top harvest be, Boot agrees. "But will it be nothing or will it be 40 tons per hectare? There is still a lot in between and it is difficult to predict which way it will go."

Soil type determines
According to Boot, it could generally still be an excellent harvest for sugar beets and potatoes. "But," he emphasizes, "the differences are large. And that can be related 1 to 1 to the soil type. The crops on the lighter soils do relatively well, while the picture on the heavier soils is sometimes sad. Every farmer does have a plot where it is disappointing."

Nevertheless, job satisfaction among Zeeland growers is somewhat greater than in May many crops were drying up. "Now the worst pressure is on. And once the crop has started to grow here on the clay soils, it will happen quickly. However, we are now entering the insect period. In recent years, thrips in the onions were a problem, as were yellowing disease in sugar beets. If it becomes dry in the coming weeks, these problems will arise again. As long as it continues to rain regularly, the crop will be better able to withstand it." The coming period will therefore largely determine the yield.