Sowing backwards
Sowing sugar beets shows a special picture
Despite a changeable week, about 14 hectares of sugar beet were sown in the Netherlands in week 3.700. Suiker Unie's figures show a special picture. Zeeland, traditionally frontrunner, will not go further than 1% this spring.
Recent figures from the Beet Statistics, kept by Suiker Unie, show that 15% of the Dutch beet acreage was in the ground at the start of week 12,5. That's the lowest percentage since 2010 (and the numbers don't go back any further).
late spring
The last late year was 2013, however, in the first week of April a considerable amount of catching up could be made. This year, arable farmers in the northeast of the country were able to sow in week 14. As a result, about 3.700 hectares have been sown. This brings the total to almost 11.000 of the 86.000 hectares.
Most striking is the situation in the southwest of the Netherlands. Only less than 1% has been sown in Zeeuws-Vlaanderen. The other Zeeland islands also do not go further than 1%. North and South Holland account for 5% and West Brabant for 7%. Less than 10% has also been sown in Limburg.
10
procent
Gelderland leader
Initially, most beets could be sown in the province of Flevoland. Arable farmers had already started working there at the end of March, but rain threw a spanner in the works. This while the northeastern grounds were spared. On the northern clay 1/3 is in the ground and on the sandy soil it is 13%, compared to 2% the week before. With 40%, Gelderland remains the leader in percentage terms.
encrusting
Severe thunderstorms throw a spanner in the works in the south of the Netherlands. Locally strong showers fell in both the southwest and southeast. Sometimes they were accompanied by hail. Arable farmers who have already sown beets mainly fear a substantial crust. "The advantage of sowing early is that you can also reseed early," a beet grower affected laconically responds. There is no immediate fear of crop damage.
In the meantime, beet growers in the middle and north can continue driving with the seeders. They just got out of the dance. New thunderstorms develop on Wednesday and can strike especially in the central Netherlands. The KNMI has therefore issued a code yellow.
Niels van der Boom
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