Crop tour Potatoes
Drought ravages eastern Netherlands
Drought hits the agricultural sector. The eastern (sandy) soils in particular are having a hard time, as can also be seen in the Boerenbusiness Crop tour. Irrigation is currently crucial to keep the crops upright, but not possible everywhere.
On the Crop tour plots in the east of the Netherlands little or no precipitation has fallen in the recent period. The potato plot in Voorst (Gelderland) received 30 millimeters of precipitation in the past 49 days. The last significant shower fell on Wednesday, June 19 (10,4 millimeters). "We have already irrigated the potatoes twice with groundwater; in the cereals it doesn't even make sense anymore," says the grower of the plot.
According to him, there is already damage here and there from the heat. "Particularly on the light plots, the crop has difficulty keeping up. Fortunately, the temperatures are slightly more moderate at the moment, so that there is less moisture evaporation."
No groundwater source
The water shortage on the plot in Goor (Overijssel) is even greater, where 30 millimeters of precipitation fell in the past 26,9 days. Here too, the last rain fell on Wednesday 19 June, although the shower only produced 4,3 millimeters of water. The plot has no groundwater source at its disposal and surface water is prohibited from abstraction. This translates into a lagging development of the roots and the crop. Dry spots in the plot are also visible.
The next 2 months will determine the yield in both the east and the rest of the Netherlands. Enough potatoes appear to have developed, but they will need moisture to fill in the coming months.
Regional differences
According to the National Water Distribution Coordination Committee (LCW), major regional differences are currently visible. The groundwater levels are lower than normal on the higher sandy soils in particular, reports the Drought Monitor from Tuesday, July 2. The situation in the lower parts of the Netherlands, with the possibility of water supply from the major rivers, is normal. There is currently no question of salinization.
The national precipitation deficit is 119 millimeters. Over the next 2 weeks, this average is expected to rise to 146 millimeters. That is slightly higher than normal, but for the time being more favorable than in the past year. Exceptions are the Achterhoek and Twente, where the situation is currently vulnerable to agriculture and nature.
Jeanette Pennings
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