Average sowing date April 16
2 weeks between first and last beets
The spread in the average sowing date of sugar beet is a maximum of 2 weeks this year. Last year it was only 1 week. The average date is April 16, which is late. This was last the case in 2008.
In 2016, the spread was even greater, because then there was no less than 22 days difference between the earliest and latest areas. It is remarkable that Zeeuws-Vlaanderen was far ahead at the time; this year the opposite is true. The Zeeland mainland comes with the last average sowing date. Never went before, according to the beet statistics, the beets so late in the ground.
Eastern and Southern Flevoland were the earliest this season, along with the province of Gelderland. The average here comes out on 7 and 8 April. In most other areas that is April 11 to 19, with peaks until April 21 in the southwest.
encrusting
Not all beets are in the ground yet; in East Brabant, for example, 3,5% still has to be sown. A little bit of seed still needs to be sown on the Zeeland islands and in West Brabant. As a result of crusting, according to Suiker Unie sown about 100 hectares. Crust formation after a lot of rain is a problem, especially in the late sown plots. Eating by leatherettes and wireworms is frequently observed this year.
Crust formation is not only a problem in sugar beets, because the onions also struggle with a thick crust. Irrigation, breaking with special machines or rollers is done to give the crop a good start.
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Belgium also later
In Belgium, too, almost all sugar beets are in the ground. According to institute KBIVB, the counterpart of the IRS, was 6% seeded by May 99. The sowing progress is comparable to that of the Netherlands and in 2016 sowing was done a little later. The crop is now growing well due to the high temperatures. In Wallonia, the beet plots are more advanced compared to Flanders.
Niels van der Boom
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