30.000 hectares sown
Sowing sugar beets splits the Netherlands in two
During week 14, the sowing of the sugar beets finally got going. In a week's time, almost a quarter of the acreage went into the ground. The division between the areas above and below the major rivers is striking. The southwest has hardly made any progress.
Rain showers have ensured that the sowing activities in Zeeland hardly took place during week 14. The province covers up to 3% of the acreage, according to the beet statistics of Sugar Union. A little more has been sown in West Brabant and South Holland, although it is wet there too. Nationally, more than 30.000 of the more than 85.000 hectares are in the ground.
35
procent
giant blow
In Flevoland, beet growers have taken a huge hit. At the start of week 15, Eastern and Southern Flevoland were at over 90%, compared to just under 30% a week earlier. The Noordoostpolder went from 2,5% to 50%, which shows how great the sowing capacity is for arable farmers and contractors. A lot of work has also been done in the northern growing areas. The south-west is traditionally much earlier with the sowing. In 2016, the average sowing date for Zeeuws-Vlaanderen was 28 March, while in the Noordoostpolder it was only 19 April. This year, that picture is exactly the opposite.
Sowing completed
The national average of 35% is also the lowest in the statistics. Sowing was also slow in 2016 and 2015. At that time, however, 15% of the beets were in the ground in week 60. Given the good weather this week (week 16), sowing work can probably be completed in many regions.
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From the monthly MARS-bulletin of the European Commission shows that in Germany the sowing of beets is delayed by 1 to 2 weeks, compared to the average. Mainly due to rainfall. In Poland it is mainly the cold that prevents sowing. France and the United Kingdom are also experiencing wet conditions. In Italy and Spain it was possible to sow on time, but heavy showers have negatively affected crop development there.
Niels van der Boom
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