Potato ridges that are under water. After heavy thunderstorms in the night of 10 to 11 April in the southwest of the Netherlands, this is the picture for a single arable farmer. The islands of South Holland in particular had to deal with heavy showers and local precipitation of 30 to 60 millimeters.
Heavy showers fell locally in the provinces of Limburg, North Brabant, Zeeland and South Holland. While arable farmers in the center and north of the Netherlands will resume spring work on April 11, work in the southern provinces has come to a standstill for the time being.
The thunderstorms scattered the rain; sometimes with enormous intensity. Especially on the South Holland island of Hoeksche Waard, showers have wreaked havoc. There also fell hail and 30 to 60 millimeters of rain.
Water damage
Although spring work on the clay soils in the southwest had only just begun, arable farmers fear damage from flooding. The first sugar beets, onions and potatoes are already in the ground, albeit very sparingly. The biggest disadvantage now is that the sowing and planting work cannot start.
The cover photo shows a plot of early potatoes of the Solist variety. At this arable farmer in 's-Gravendeel (South Holland), 38 millimeters fell in a short time, causing the ridges to flood or even wash away. In a village further down even 57 millimeters fell. The potatoes at these arable farmers were already planted 6 weeks ago and the company expects problems with a hefty rind for its newly sown beets.
Meanwhile, spring work elsewhere is in full swing. The weather forecast indicates that more showers are coming and they may also fall in the north.
In Piershil (South Holland) a big bucket of hail fell last night.
Also in the Hoeksche Waard, in Oud-Beijerland, 35 millimeters fell.
There was also a lot of precipitation in places in North Brabant.
In the north of the Netherlands, people are working on the land again today.
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