In the Noordoostpolder, just enough rain fell in the night from Wednesday to Thursday to give the crops some relief. In the southwest and North Holland, a part of recently sown plots is still dry.
Especially (planting) onions, chicory and beets are affected by the drought. CZAV crop advisor Just Hamming sees in his area (southwest) that some of the onions, which were sown two weeks ago, are dry. 'The seed that is in the moisture grows well, but the part that has no connection with the subsoil is now drying up. Those who can irrigate and have good water can force germination. That is also an advantage for weed control.' According to Hamming, the onion sets are also having a hard time. 'You see that it is difficult for them to get a substrate and as a result they start to dry out.'
Onion fields received rain
Onion fields in North Holland got a little rain last night. 'That does help somewhat,' says Marco van Soesbergen, of CAV Agrotheek. 'Perhaps it's just enough water to get them going, but that doesn't prevent us from getting an irregular turnout.'
Irrigation does not solve everything, says Van Soesbergen. 'You give a lot of water, you get crusting and you have to irrigate quickly, but the potatoes also have to go into the ground and then the onions are forgotten. That causes even more trouble. A better way is to irrigate small amounts twice.' A grower from South Holland reports that his onions are 2 percent dry. He's not going to water for the time being.
Even more annoying
What is perhaps even more annoying is that there is also a difference in emergence in beets. The same applies to chicory. Van Soesbergen: 'If all growth stages overlap, weed control is difficult. You won't make it with a spraying schedule from the book. I recommend, when the time comes, to inspect the fields and determine what wisdom is. Do you say goodbye to the plants that came up last or do you harm others.'
Also positive sounds
Positive sounds come from the Noordoostpolder of Ian Hale of Profyto. 'On the onion fields, which I saw on Thursday morning, I see a good connection between old and new germinated seed. Tonight's 4mm is enough for most crops. I don't expect a two-way street and the ground is in good shape.' Hale is satisfied with the beets. 'They look beautiful. I estimate a turnout between 90 and 100 percent. It just needs to get a little warmer.'
There is little going on in potatoes and grains. The planting runs smoothly in most places. Only in the south-west is the cutting capacity insufficient and we have to wait for seed potatoes. Crop advisors call the soil structure good and have confidence in it. Wheat has also survived the winter well and is developing well. The first chicory and carrot ridges have already been drawn in the Noordoostpolder.
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